First 1/2 marathon

[Andy6659]

Just registered for my first half marathon in April

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Hi Andy6659 Have you finished ,C25k now ?Your last post I think you were on week 6 ?

[Andy6659 Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

No but I am going be finishing it by mid jan and then it will be running every day

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Andy6659]

You really should NOT be running everyday straight after C25kOr you WILL very likely end up taking yourself out with an injury !

You really need around 12 months running before starting to run on consecutive days and even then NOT every day .

Your HM plan for April is sensibly unrealistic if you want to stay uninjured .

Ideally after C25k you would be well advised to consolidate the 30 minutes running for a few weeks (and having rest days) BEFORE increasing your pace or distance.

Then increasing your workload by approximately 10% of your previous weeks total.

Please do NOT make the rookie runners mistake of too much too soon and end up taking yourself out for days , weeks or even months.

[Andy6659 Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

I will take ur information on board

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Andy6659]

Please do Andy Yes it's great to have the ambitions.

And I hope when you are ready that you do it.

But please do it sensibly ..

You can't take a shortcut to HM and expect to stay uninjured.

I can point you to many posts from people who have ignored sensible advice and proven methods and come unstuck...

Then spending weeks or months regretting it , please don't join them .

Take care

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate]

Have your knee issues completely resolved? I did c25k then a half marathon ten and a half months later having been fit and injury free before starting running. It was still very hard.

I don’t want to put a dampener on your excitement but this is quite an ambitious target very early in your running journey while you’re nursing a knee problem.

[Andy6659 Graduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

No but u got carry on I think

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate in reply to Andy6659]

Sorry, I’m not sure I understand. Do you mean your knee problems aren’t resolved?

[Andy6659 Graduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

No

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate in reply to Andy6659]

It's risky enough to try a HM without knee problems so soon after you graduate as you say in mid January, even then its not advisable to run every day until 9 to 12 months to avoid going onto the IC, injury couch, excellent advice from MissUnderstanding and Instructor57, even running a 10K, let alone a Half marathon in April would still be a little risky, do take the advice from the experts on this forum.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate in reply to Andy6659]

I can see that you’re rethinking your plans now which I’m really pleased about. It’s easy to get carried away with excitement and want to try things a bit early. Keep your half marathon goal but just change the time frame until you’ve been running long enough not to risk hurting yourself doing the training too quickly. Really good luck to you for when the right time comes.

[Hidden]

Got to love ambition! Like others, I do think that you are being a bit over optimistic however. Maybe if you were 26. .. . .

If you graduate in January you will need a few weeks consolidation. That's February. Then increasing by 10% a week, won't bring you anywhere close to 1/2 marathon distance. Please don't run every day- that's a terrible idea at this point!!!

Would you rather build steady or be a bright star for a moment and then burn out?

My advice would be to find a 10k run for Summer next year, enjoy becoming a good runner and then a permenant feature in the firmament 😀

[nowster Graduate]

It took me nearly a year after graduation (with several setbacks) before I did my first Half Marathon distance.

Theoretically you can double your distance (after graduation and a suitable period of consolidation) every eight weeks, but that's really pushing it, and to try to do that on an unhealed injury is really not a good idea.

I had plans of extending my distance last spring. I got to just over 26km and then progress just sort of stopped. I can't give you any reason why. Possibly the weather turned, or I felt strained, or something. You simply have to work within your limitations.

[Andy6659 Graduate in reply to nowster]

With a lot of thought and listening to everyone I have now decided to not do this one but I have one pencilled in for October in Amsterdam where it is more flatter so hopefully by then I should be ready for it

[Chinkoflight]

Hi Andy6659, sounds like you've got the running bug big time and are really motivated to go further faster.This forum is linked to making health gains in a safe way and essentially is about gaining endurance and stamina through improving your cardiovascular system.

The advice you are receiving is not only well meant it is what this forum is about.

However, I can hear where you are coming from and think you are right to have ambition but where to go to channel this to the outcomes you want.

I have been surprised to find out, my ignorance really, that running clubs and athletic clubs have a very wide profile of runners and programmes to support runners. They frequently turn up en mass in Parkruns which is where I found this out.

Perhaps you are ready to join a running club where you will receive clear guidance, support and training programme for your goals. You may find this more supportive for your wants and needs and fantastic ambition and enthusiasm. I'm sure they will also offer similar guidance about speed of progress but ateast you will be able to be amongst fellow runners at a similar stage in development.

Hope this helps and remember the HU mantra, above all No Pain', No Pain'!!!

[Andy6659 Graduate]

No pain no gain but have decided to put April on hols and do 1 in October all being well

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Andy6659]

'No pain no gain' is absolutely NOT the Motto for a sensible running plan .

'No pain No pain' is what we say here .

Take care !

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate in reply to Andy6659]

Nike Run Club have a brilliant app that a lot of us use after graduation. There’s a run called “Worst Advice Ever”. “No pain, no gain” is one of the first things dealt with. Well worth a listen (not while running!).

It’s really frustrating to have to wait for injuries to heal or adapt your plans but take the long term view. Do you want to still be running in a year? Still be running in ten years? If so, you need to get the root cause of the pain sorted before running. You don’t want to regret making it worse and setting yourself back weeks, months, or even years on the injury couch.

[Andy6659 Graduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Ok I understand everyone and have decided April to early, so I have 1 in October to concentrate on. I have arthritis and I know things won't be easy but I going try and see how I go

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate in reply to Andy6659]

Just to be really clear, nobody is saying to ditch your ambition for a half marathon or not to try. It’s about how you go about it.

Just take it step by step. The first sensible step would be to get some advice regarding your knee pain before continuing running. Then you can graduate, build up to 10k, build up to half marathon etc safely. Everyone will be cheering you on but we don’t want you to risk hurting yourself more when you’re already in pain.

It’s obviously up to you-you can decide what’s a risk you’re happy with but for anyone reading this thread and wondering whether to do the same, running in pain is really not advisable.

Good luck.

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Andy6659]

Andy, All we can do is give well meant sensible advice based on well proven methods.

What you do with that advice is of course ultimately your decision.

We also have to take into account the general readership on this forum which is predominantly for new runners embarking on the NHS Couch to 5k program (Such as yourself!)

I/we of course hope you achieve your running ambitions safely .

But we will Always point out for your benefit and for others when someone posts anything that suggests unwise methods or plans .

Take care ,

[apatsyf Graduate in reply to Andy6659]

Well done Andy for rethinking - very brave. Though you will be disappointed, there are lots of other events you could do as you work towards your HM. Enjoy that journey 🤗🏃🏃‍♂️🏃

[Folkylass Administrator Graduate]

Hi Andy. Very sensible to defer your HM till October 2023. However don’t be in too much of a hurry to get there. Just enjoy your running and gradually increase your fitness and distance . I’m sure you’ll do it.👍😀😀. Why not enter some 5k and 10K races before October?

[StringsandKeys Graduate]

Good luck Andy. i did a 10k 8 months after completing the CT5K - using the Nike running app. I just fancied a 10k which was flat so did it on a race track perfect! No rhyme or reason for the timing really but I loved getting that goal. That was in the November then I thought I’d go for a half narration in the June. So reasonable time to do it I thought and paid for a place - races are pricey - now wish I had given myself more time. Sounds ridiculous and by this time I’d bought a Garmin watch so was following a running plan but I never quite met the goals it set me. Also I’d had a cold just a few days before and should have pulled out but didn’t as I’d have lost the money I spent on the race. So did it and was slower than I wanted to be and was massively disappointed with my time. I used to run HM in my twenties and go sub two hours. I had hoped for 2:30 or at least sub 3 but think it was 3:20. Now still running three times a week but need a new goal. In a roundabout way I’m saying good luck with the next goal but don’t fall into the trap I did by thinking the next step was a HM when maybe should have done more 10k. And if you don’t already you could give Park Run a go. I did my first park run the weekend after my HM and just wished I’d gone sooner. I’ve only done three of them since but it’s handy to know you can just turn up and get your run in while getting the same vibes as a race. Good luck!

[Andy6659 Graduate in reply to StringsandKeys]

Have decided to do the fun run instead