What would you like to learn about to... - Fun Beyond 10K & ...
What would you like to learn about to prepare for a Half Marathon? Tell us more in the comments! 😊
Please select all that apply:
Thank you for this poll! I was just thinking about entering a HM but wasn't sure if I could manage it just yet!
That's great! We are running a Spring Half Marathon group on here currently - might be worth you taking a look at the posts!
Last week's one is here, but there should be a new one going up soon:
My physio said I was too fat to run a HM without injury. I wonder if anyone has thoughts on that? Not about my weight but just about being overweight and training in general.
I think a lot of 'overweight' runners would disagree!
However, I don't know how much over you are, and I understand that your physio has a sound basis for their thinking. Carrying a lot of weight during a high impact exercise like running can cause problems, and you would be wise to take it slowly and carefully. But adopting a good exercise regimen, combined with attention to energy intake, can really help weight loss. Perhaps you should seek a second opinion and have a careful think about it?
Your doctor probably knows you better than any of us here, so I'm reluctant to give you opposing advice, but I'd have thought if you were to train carefully, take it slow and focus on completing the 13miles as opposed to getting a time, even if it means walking most of it, then I would have thought it'd be good for you. May even help to shave off a bit of that excess weight.
Maybe look to do one later in the year, or have it as a goal to work towards for 2021, giving yourself plenty of time to build up to it and get you body into a healthier state that your doc would have less concern about.
Thanks both for your answer and totally appreciate that you don't know me physically and are not medical practitioners but I am interested to here from runners. I'm not interested in a time and certainly not the first time I do a HM and can easily walk 21km. I think as usual I only listened to the negative part of what she was saying, I think she probably told me to do more strength exercises which with swimming 2-3 times a week and yoga most days I am probably doing. I was trying to reduce my impact by upping my cadence but then my HR is quite high. Having looked into it long slow runs or just slow runs are better for the consumption of fat so if I just train slowly towards it then I should be getting fitter and hopefully toning up at the same time.
I'm thinking or a late autumn HM which would give me time to train, build up some km and then drop back down and increase again to do a slow consolidation. I keep getting offers to run in the LLHM which is very tempting but it's too soon I think.
I'd like to sign up for one and have a goal, it would help me I think. I'd hoped to do one last year but had to stop due to "injury" (really a weakness) so I would really like 2020 to be my year...
Are you familiar with Jeff Galloway's run-walk plans? They are designed specifically with injury mitigation in mind, and they could be just what you need to get you training for your first half marathon. You do not have to worry - at some stage, as your fitness increases, you can ditch the walk intervals if that is your desire xxx
yep I've heard of jeffing and I had initially thought that it would be a good idea to do for a longer distance. I didnt realise the idea was to reduce injury but makes sense. I'll think of a rhythm that suits me. Maybe 50' run, 25' walk (I'm happiest after 20' running). It will keep my mind busy on my next run! xx
Great - enjoy experimenting! xxx
I've started my training plan, building up the miles while also having a shorter easy rest week every 3-4 weeks. But I'm still at a bit of a loss as to what my longest training run should be, and how many weeks before race day?
Noted! Would you be happy if we save this to discuss next week?
Of course 👍
Fabulous! xxx
Feeling bit of a fraud replying on here as just had to take two weeks off until I saw my physio who has diagnosed inflammation on both Tibias, due, she thinks to increased stride length as I tried to go faster. So back to start of training plan once more, and a gradual work up to where I was on Christmas Day albeit without trying to run faster, so my HM is now going to be late Spring, early Summer I would have thought ☹️
Having never run a race before I would be interested in on the day logistics
Great idea - that will definitely be coming up in the HM Group! xxx
I chose motivation; I have no problem working through a training plan (although it can be a bit tying towards the end), I do struggle with motivating myself to do strength training of the reps and circuits variety, but what I'm most interested in is motivational (distractional?) tactics for the last 2 to 3km of a long run 😱
Thinking of those reasons you really want to finish or those inspirational people who have done such amazing things that suddenly what you're doing doesn't seem so big after all.
My first marathon distance I kept saying "if that guy can do 50 ironmans in 50 days I can do 3 more miles" over and over for the last 3 miles!
Another one I just kept thinking of Fiona Oakes on the Marathon de Sables and the huge amount of pain she was in and still carried on... even my sister in law, she completed an ultra after a stress fracture in her foot about 2/3yards round and she finished walking...and still beat her previous time! 😮
I also have a terrier-like attitude, a started so I'll finish mentality. I do cheer myself on "we can do this, we did it before, we know we can" that kind of thing 👍🏻
I'm interested in how to pace my HM. It's the very hilly Hastings Half and as it's my second attempt I do have a goal time in mind. I know what my average speed needs to be but don't really know how to achieve this as I will obviously be running slower on the uphill sections - but how much slower?? Worried if I push too hard uphill I'll knacker myself early on and if I'm too cautious I'll leave myself with too much to do in those last 3 miles.
I know you have done this HM in the time I'm aiming for roseabi so any pointers would be greatly appreciated - although I obviously don't expect an entire post dedicated just to my HM and goal time 😂🤣
We will certainly be posting about pacing soon 😊😊😊
I'm more than happy to talk about my pacing at Hastings, in fact that's a great idea - thanks pt!!
I have looked at a training programme for HM. Running.com
There is no point in the training when you actually run a HM distance. The most you do is 10 miles in the training.
I’ve not done a HM before and I want to know I can do that distance before the day of the race. I will do this anyway even though the training programme does not suggest it, but I am wondering why the training programme is designed the way it is and if it’s the same in most HM training programmes?
Hi there!
Which half marathon are you going to do? We are currently running a Spring Half Marathon group which may be of interest to you - even if your marathon is later in the year! We aim to post each Tuesday, and in response to this feedback we will actually be posting about the longest training run next week. The latest post is here: healthunlocked.com/marathon... and you will find all the details and past posts linked at the bottom of it:
It is generally felt that, for a very novice runner doing their first half marathon, it is safer if they save the full distance for the actual race. But there are plenty of training plans that go further than the HM distance, in fact the beginners' plan I drew up for a previous HU HM group does include the option to go just beyond the full distance in training:
docs.google.com/spreadsheet...
Hi Roseabi
Thanks for your reply. Doing Edinburgh Half Marathon on 24th May. The training plan you sent the link for looks interesting and does go up to 22k. I will check out the Spring Half Marathon group too. The timing of it is perfect for me.
Thanks again, Mags
Hi Mags! That's great, I will add you to our list of Spring Half Marathoners - we also have runningdad entered for the Edinburgh half. And if you follow linda9389 and me you will get email notifications when we have posted xxx
Hi Roseabi
It would be good to get some feedback if possible about this issue.
I have had a sore knee since February 2019, following an injury when kayaking. I started running, for the first time ever, in April 2019.
I felt by then that my knee had improved sufficiently and I started off gently doing C25K. I have now done 10K and 10miles and signed up for Edinburgh half marathon in May this year.
I have had my knee problem investigated and yesterday, following an MRI scan, I have been given a diagnosis of a lateral meniscus tear with a cyst. I have been offered knee arthroscopy surgery to repair it. Surgery will be at some point in next 12 weeks. I have been told the recovery time is 6 - 12 weeks so I would have to pull out of the half marathon and some of the other races I have signed up for before that.
As I can still run despite the tear and cyst, I am thinking about delaying the surgery until after the half marathon, or even not having the surgery at all. My knee is most sore after being sedentary and when walking or running on uneven ground. Overall it does seem to have improved rather than got worse over the months, despite the running (or because of it?!).
Any view on having/not having surgery and on the timing of the surgery, if I go ahead, would be appreciated.
Thanks very much.
I'm really sorry, but there is no way I can in good conscience advise you on this.
Thanks. I was not looking for advice as such, just any anecdotal experience of this issue that was available in the community.
I’m not very good with using apps and social media. Is there a way of me sharing my post with other runners who may have had a similar diagnosis?
Thank you.
No worries - and I do feel for you!
When it comes to Health Unlocked there is not really possible to narrow down a post in that way. I have just tried a search on Couch to 5K (via the Posts page) and have found a lot of people posting about meniscus tears, so that may be worth a look:
healthunlocked.com/couchto5...
Alternatively you could try writing a post of your own to ask the question, but do bear in mind that we cannot give medical advice on here, and we always encourage users to check their query with a medical professional.
As for other social media, a quick Google tells me that this subject is discussed fairly frequently on chat boards, so again maybe worth a look? You could join a chat board and post your question there - for example:
Let's Run: google.com/search?q=running...
Runners World: forums.runnersworld.co.uk/d...
Finally, our very own Oldfloss had a meniscus tear diagnosed a while ago, although surgery was not needed in her case. She may be able to offer some tea and sympathy at least 😊
Anyway - good luck! xx
Hi Roseabi.
Thank you very much for providing these links, just the sort of thing I was looking for.
also how to improve pace! This snail pace I have is fine for 10k, but 21 would be killer!
Great poll. I chose "What it's like to run a HM", just because I enjoy hearing about the actual experience of running in these events. They are quite difficult to "imagine" if you have never done one.
Thanks Stephen! xxx
