💥IT'S THE BIG HALF MARATHON POLL! 💥... - Fun Beyond 10K & ...

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💥IT'S THE BIG HALF MARATHON POLL! 💥Please select all that apply, and tell us more in the comments!! 😊

roseabi profile imageroseabiUltramarathon68 Voters

Please select all that apply:

86 Replies
roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon

I like half marathons :) The new one at Gatwick is calling to me, and I haven't done the Brighton one yet!!

DiveMonkey profile image
DiveMonkeyMarathon

Running one on Saturday :) and on the 25th :)

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply toDiveMonkey

How many will that be in total?

DiveMonkey profile image
DiveMonkeyMarathon

Number 8 & 9 for this year. I did 2 HM last year

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply toDiveMonkey

Wow! I've only done 4 :D

DiveMonkey profile image
DiveMonkeyMarathon in reply toroseabi

I have been using most of them as training runs towards the full marathon. Cape Town has such a big running community there is a race every weekend so lots to choose from.

Last year I did my first HM and decided on 6 HM I really wanted to do this year and then was convinced to try a full...

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply toDiveMonkey

Awesome, so impressive!!

GoogleMe profile image
GoogleMe

I like the idea of getting to that distance (and I do have the option of a medal for 20k in one go in October (or in multiple runs) but haven't run in an 'event' of any distance and not really sure I want to.

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply toGoogleMe

Fair enough :)

GoogleMe profile image
GoogleMe in reply toroseabi

Might be something to try at least once. I think all the road surfaces put me off as much as anything.

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply toGoogleMe

Maybe a trail hm?

Zest profile image
Zest

I have never run one, but I'm cheering all you people who do them on! Especially you, DiveMonkey :-)

Zest :-)

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply toZest

Thank you! And a big cheery welcome to the forum!!!

DiveMonkey profile image
DiveMonkeyMarathon in reply toroseabi

Thanks Zest ! I am more terrified for my 30km race next week... Big Hills!!!

mcgurranhouse profile image
mcgurranhouseMarathon

I have completed the Belfast half twice and hope to complete the Great Scottish Half in September

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply tomcgurranhouse

Awesome

Whatsapp profile image
WhatsappHalf Marathon

Completed my first HM in March this year. I was never really interested in doing more than 5k but had to take a months enforced sabbatical from running and was warned I may not be able to carry on running. Over that month it made me want to run more. I saw an advertisement for a local HM in the paper and decided that if I was going to be able to carry on running I would do something big.

After the HM I decided that I would be back next year, but I would be better prepared. This year I have mostly been training for and running 10ks in order to build a strong base so that I can spend the winter months training for that same HM again and this time improve my time.

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply toWhatsapp

So determined - I love it!

Cazzer60 profile image
Cazzer60Half Marathon

I ran my first half just last week (on that wet and windy Sunday)!😬 and have signed up for my second at Goodwood in October.

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply toCazzer60

Well done!! You have the bug, then :)

secksy34 profile image
secksy34Marathon

i have done 3 "official" half marathons and also a Half marathon distance in an official challenge event ( use 6 hrs to do as much or little as you want ) 1 road , 2 trail and 1 not quite a trail ! , i also have a couple more in the pipeline :P even though yesterday ( after hot half ) i said i was never running again !! .. i like a half its a good mental and physical challenge for me !

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply tosecksy34

Brilliant!!!

Sandyscroll profile image
Sandyscroll

I was slowly increasing my mileage with half an eye on reaching the HM distance when I ruined my left buttock muscle at the end of Feb. Still not right so going to a physio next week. If it gets put right maybe I'll get some confidence back and have another try... We'll see.

SW16 profile image
SW16Half Marathon

I last ran one in 2004 in preparation for London marathon. Then didn’t run again til C25K in October! 🤷🏻‍♀️Now signed up for Royal Parks HM in October and wondering if I’m going to be able to run the whole way. This heat is sapping my confidence as I get slower and slower! But I am on track distance-wise so I’ll just carry on!! 9 weeks!! Eek!

Irish-John profile image
Irish-JohnMarathon in reply toSW16

Did you run the London Marathon SW ? ☺

SW16 profile image
SW16Half Marathon in reply toIrish-John

I ended up running it with a minute’s walk every mile, so it wasn’t particularly speedy( my running’s not that fast either!) and afterwards my osteopath said I’d done it with my pelvis about an inch out of alignment- who knew?!! (there had been no clue except perhaps for my leg giving way in the tapering week beforehand- thats my excuse!) But I’m a stubborn old thing, it was my *0th birthday present to myself and I had sponsors to make happy. Still, one of the best days of my life😁

Irish-John profile image
Irish-JohnMarathon in reply toSW16

That is a very encouraging experience for those of us thinking about possibly doing a fm one day :) It really should be all about just having a great experience but somehow I keep letting "must do better" cloud my perspective...and then the fear of failure creeps in leading to "you can't do it" and the only failure which is not even trying..

Well done, Croydon Strong! :)

SW16 profile image
SW16Half Marathon in reply toIrish-John

18 months before London I really couldn’t even run for a bus- it is truly amazing what you can do if those pesky gremlins can be kept in a closed box! It might have helped that I was a complete novice and had no idea what running a fm really entailed. But if I could ( sort of) do it, then honestly anyone can and if you’ve half an inkling to run one, just do it! You will amaze yourself and it will still make you smile 14 years later!! 😄( Mind you, not doing another one- honest 😉)

Irish-John profile image
Irish-JohnMarathon in reply toSW16

That is very encouraging :) 2020 won't be long coming - it'll be interesting to see how all this goes :)

LittleNell83 profile image
LittleNell83

I am signed up for a Half Marathon in March... Whoops :o hopefully when it's cooler I can get running more

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply toLittleNell83

Yep, you'll be fine xx

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubMarathon

I’ve done 4, hackney half is my all time favourite event. I did say a few months ago that my HM days are over, they just seem to be taking such a toll on my body BUT now I have new orthotics on the way and they will take away some of the pain maybe I don’t have to give them up. Hehe really found out everyone is not totally onboard with me doing HM’s after comments when I said I was quitting so I might have to work at bringing some people round to my way of thinking again if I change my mind 😂😂😂😂.

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply toRealfoodieclub

These people... 😊

Irish-John profile image
Irish-JohnMarathon

Last year to put a bit of fun in my running I set three goals, but not seriously going to fret if I didn't/don't make them.

Was convinced because of earlier long IC detour would not make first one - to manage a non stop ten miles this year - but just ticked that off :)

2019 is- Half Marathon. And is this running lark ever addictive Lol 😂 We're I not going on another month long trip where no opportunity to run, I'd be seriously contemplating getting the HM in this year also :)

The absolute wildest goal is a full Marathon in '20 for my 60th (and how the hell will that number have sneaked up on the cake! ☺) in '20.

We live, we run, we have fun :)

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply toIrish-John

Yay!!!

APScotland profile image
APScotland

It's over 30 years since I last ran a half marathon, but would love to run another one sometime ... if my feet and knees will allow it!

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply toAPScotland

Anniemurph profile image
AnniemurphHalf Marathon

I should have run 3 by now but my op earlier this year put paid to two of them so I've only done the one. I have two planned for this year and I am bricking myself (oops - am I still allowed to say that? :O sorry) because I am about 6 weeks adrift on my training. The first one is the one that counts (Tissington) but the second is just for fun - the Dramathon, the one where you get a stamp on your hand for every distillery you pass and at the end you collect the miniatures of the malt whiskies - woohoo! :D I'll make that one if I have to crawl up the hills!

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply toAnniemurph

Feel free to brick it on here, but don't really brick it 😊 Slow and steady...

Dramathon is so on my list!

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon in reply toAnniemurph

Am I doing the Tissington? Is it a HM ? ☺️

Anniemurph profile image
AnniemurphHalf Marathon in reply tomisswobble

Yes, it's a HM. I've just this moment received an email from the organisers. Have you? :D

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon in reply toAnniemurph

Oooh Dunno, best go see ...... listening to the footy. 🙂. Are you doing the Monsal tunnel one? Not had a look to see if it’s open mind you

Anniemurph profile image
AnniemurphHalf Marathon in reply tomisswobble

Nope - learned my lesson last year! Won't sign up to anything that requires me to train through the winter, wimp that I am :D

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon in reply toAnniemurph

I enjoyed the race but not relishing the winter training 🙄. I’m dithering 😁

Anniemurph profile image
AnniemurphHalf Marathon in reply tomisswobble

And yes, it is open - go sign up!

Sqkr profile image
SqkrHalf Marathon

I will be doing my first two this September 🙂 I'm not sure yet, but I think this will be my preferred race distance. Please don't remind me I said that though if it all goes to pieces 😂

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply toSqkr

I'm not sure I'm able to promise that... 😋

AndyD profile image
AndyDUltramarathon

9th this year on Saturday... all trail HM's ... :-)

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply toAndyD

Wowsers, fabulous!!

SaskAlliecat profile image
SaskAlliecatHalf Marathon

I’ve always wanted to run one of the Hypothermic Half events ever since I saw it in the news a few years ago, with the runners all bundled up and icicles on their eyelashes, but haven’t managed to do it yet. I’ve become one of those crazy winter runners so you never know. Maybe this year....

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply toSaskAlliecat

Do it!! :D

AnnieW55 profile image
AnnieW55

I’ve done lots of HMs (queue song 😊) “all by myself “ just as runs because I like the distance and a few actual events.

I’ve always said I’m doing an event as there’s no way on this earth I’m ever going to race them. It also takes off any pressure.

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply toAnnieW55

That's very cool - they can be so much fun without that pressure :)

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon

I don’t mind halfs. I trained through hell and high water last year for a November marathon - and early new year events - that I now think bring it on 💪😃👍🏃‍♀️

All my training runs seemed to be 18k, the weather was always vile, but I did it 💪👍😃. Me and Bob Dylan 😁

How nice to be out in the sunshine training for a half event as i type Life’s good ☀️

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply tomisswobble

It's a hard rain that's gonna fall, but it's all right ma! :)

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon in reply toroseabi

😁😁. I need wordy, long songs on long runs so to,turn to the wordsmiths, eg Bob, Chuck Berry and Rodders. Zep of course 😎

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply tomisswobble

Of course!

Madge50 profile image
Madge50Marathon

Half marathon is becoming my favourite distance for a challenge, I must confess I like a well organised town one, Cambridge was my first, I’ve done that twice now, the atmosphere is great. I’ve done one trail HM, hard work! Got one more to do this year - Peterborough, then I’m planning to do 3 next year, Cambridge, Edinburgh and Swansea - all flat! And edinburgh is down hill , hurrah! 😂🏃‍♀️

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply toMadge50

Downhill, awesome. I have only done one proper town one but I loved it - Oxford! Really must do the Cambridge one sometime... :)

Langley-Loper profile image
Langley-LoperHalf Marathon

I've done one in June. I enjoyed it but was glad when it was over. I like to prepare properly for everything in life and my training for it was time consuming and difficult to fit around work and the family. Mr L-L doesn't want me to do any more but I would like to do one per year just to see if I still could.

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply toLangley-Loper

Run-life balance can be tricky - hope you can manage to do what you want! xx

Frostie2560 profile image
Frostie2560

My fourth and last GNR this year. Most I’ve ever trained this time and am tinkering with the possibility of a Marathon early next year but I’m still debating that one!!.

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply toFrostie2560

:)

Lordi profile image
LordiMarathon

I've run the HM distance twice in training and run one HM race event this year so far. I will be doing a HM+ distance every week for the next month as part of my marathon preparation (23, 26, 29, 32k or longer) and may push one of those training runs towards the full 42k if it feels right.

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply toLordi

Looking forward to hearing about it!!

Hillrunner2201 profile image
Hillrunner2201Marathon

I love hm's, it's my favourite distance. I like the more relaxed pace than for 10k and the training is less time consuming than for a full marathon. The distance is still a good challenge without being too draining.

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply toHillrunner2201

Absolutely!

PippiRuns profile image
PippiRuns

I ran three HMs in 2017 but now I'm injured and might never run again :-( Still have some hope though.

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon in reply toPippiRuns

Oh my goodness. 😬. Fingers crossed 🤞 🙁

PippiRuns profile image
PippiRuns in reply tomisswobble

Thank you. The physio says no. The doctor says I might. I hope the doctor knows better :-)

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply toPippiRuns

I am so sorry :( Try another physio maybe?

PippiRuns profile image
PippiRuns in reply toroseabi

I'm seeing my third since November...

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply toPippiRuns

:( xxx

Anniemurph profile image
AnniemurphHalf Marathon in reply toPippiRuns

Oh no :( I am sorry to hear that. I hope the doctor is right.

PippiRuns profile image
PippiRuns in reply toAnniemurph

He better be. I am going nuts here!

Tbae profile image
TbaeMetric Marathon

Ran just the one HM distance on the 17/07/18 and recorded it on Strava.

Wanted to taste what it felt like at my slow pace and test my stamina.

Big shift of 3 hours 39mins.01 secs. 🙈

But I also did it for the macular society who will open a new branch in Holyhead in September and I will present a personal check.

I had planned to do Crib Goch Arête for my 75th but decided to concentrate instead on this HM in the Penrhos Coastal Woodland Park on Holy Island.

May think about doing 2019 Chester HM and the 2019 GNR if I can improve my pace.

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply toTbae

Coastal Woodland Park - sounds beautiful!!

benwill profile image
benwillMarathon

Done a few (can't remember the exact amount) it's the best distance of the lot!

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply tobenwill

Wow, too many to count!

benwill profile image
benwillMarathon in reply toroseabi

Errrr to lazy 🤣it's about 6 I think

Berksrover profile image
BerksroverHalf Marathon10 Miles

I like the idea, but at the moment struggling to run slowly enough to run longer distances, keep doing 5k in c. 30 mins, any tips on how to slow down?

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply toBerksrover

Do you mean you can't run longer distances at that pace? Don't you find you naturally slow down as you begin to tire?

When I want to slow down I generally shorten my step a little, relax my whole body, and let my mind wander 😊

Berksrover profile image
BerksroverHalf Marathon10 Miles in reply toroseabi

I can barely do 5k at that pace, I am still a novice (and 58), have done 10k in 64 mins, ideally I prefer to start slow and go slower, but am finding it increasingly difficult to settle into a 6.30-6.45 pace, just need practice I suppose

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply toBerksrover

Yes.

Also, there's run-walk to consider. If you'd really prefer to run the whole thing you could work on shortening your walking intervals as you are progressing your distance.

Berksrover profile image
BerksroverHalf Marathon10 Miles in reply toroseabi

More confusion! I was in the 'if you don't run the whole way it doesn't count' camp until recently when I joined the 'it's OK to stop and take a photo every now and then' camp, must admit I prefer the it's OK to walk every now and again camp

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply toBerksrover

I like to camp there too 😊

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