Am I on track?

[Cianalas]

My half-marathon is in four weeks time.

I run 3-4 times a week - my short runs are usually 10km, occasionally 7km.

I've been slowly increasing the distance on my one long run each week and reached 10 miles / 16 km this weekend.

I've just been reading through the posts here and wonder if I'm on track. For instance I haven't thought about tapering.

Also - hangs head in shame- I haven't incorporated any stretching. core strength exercises or, apart from dog walking, any cross training in my running.

Any advice will be much appreciated!

[Fifitat50]

Will see you as you fly past me! 🏅

[Cianalas Half Marathon in reply to Fifitat50]

Hmm, you would need to be stationary for that. Hope your training is coming together, it feels really close now.

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

Looks fine! Long runs: 18k next week, 21k the week after (or as you feel), then reduce your distances for the last two weeks, and make sure you drink plenty of water. Think about adding strength and cross-training into your next training plan

[Cianalas Half Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Thanks @roseabi. I'll do all of that.

This is my first HM and I only took the plunge last night to sign up for it. Mild panic setting in now!

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Cianalas]

It'll be fun! Just take it easy Which half is it?

[Cianalas Half Marathon in reply to roseabi]

It's the Inverness HM. I'll try to remember its supposed to be fun. Thanks!

[C3PO Marathon in reply to roseabi]

I agree with this plan. I don’t generally taper much before a HM. if you can’t hit those distances for any reason, don’t worry. If you can run 16, you can run 21.1.

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to C3PO]

Oh yes, and I'm another one who only got to about 16k before my first half. 21k in training is not essential, just a nice-to-have

[Cianalas Half Marathon in reply to C3PO]

Thank you C3PO, that's reassuring.

[Beccym Marathon]

Last year I had not run more then 10 before my half. This year I have trained less but have done a 13 and a couple of 10s and 8s miles on long runs (once a week) do 5k twice a week. I think you'll be fine if you don't worry about times.

[Cianalas Half Marathon in reply to Beccym]

Thanks Beccym, I'm just hoping to get round and not be last. 🤞

[Beccym Marathon in reply to Cianalas]

That's a good plan 😃

[Rignold]

I think the furthest I had run before my first HM was 16km and that perhaps twice.

If you haven't felt any great detriment from not stretching and cross-training then you clearly didn't need it.

Good luck with the HM.

[Cianalas Half Marathon in reply to Rignold]

Thank you Rignold. It helps to know you were successful after training up to 16km. No, I haven't come to grief from missing out stretching and cross training etc...keep thinking I might be pushing my luck on these longer distances though!

[Decker Ultramarathon]

You seem to be doing great. I am also all over the place with off day training. I think you will be great based on what you are doing and roseabi’s advice. Good luck!

[Cianalas Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

Thank you for the encouragement Decker. Are you training for an event too?

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Cianalas]

Yes, the Toronto HM. But mine is way off in May. Its my first one like yours, so I’ve no idea what I’m doing either😀

[Cianalas Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

You still have time to work it out! Hope it goes well, good luck!

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Cianalas]

Yes or break something trying Hope yours is great as well! It will be👍🏼

[Gabby08 Half Marathon]

Sounds fine to me. I’m certainly no expert, having recently done my first HM, but I run similar distances to you - 2x10k, a parkrun and one long, slow run per week. I kept increasing the distances until I hit the 21km but it wasn’t really necessary - I’m just a bit of a control freak! My cross training also largely consisted on dog walking and I lived to tell the tale so I reckon you will too! Good luck!

[Cianalas Half Marathon in reply to Gabby08]

Thank you Gabby08. I think you're doing a parkrun more than me each week, but it sounds like I'm on track. Hope your recent HM went well.

[benwill Marathon]

Sounds ok to me, you don't normally have to do the distance you are going to race only if you can but remember to taper it does help a lot. You will get an extra boost from being in a race with the excitement that brings.

As for streatching and core exercises then you must do them its the law as well as foam rolling. The fitness police will come around and arrest you otherwise!

Or just not worry about it as long as your not having any issues

[Cianalas Half Marathon in reply to benwill]

Thanks Benwill. Think I'll slack off the week or so before the event.

I keep hearing about foam rollers, so will have a Google tongit. I wondered if someone might call the fitness police after my confession - never been on the run from the law before!

[ju-ju- Marathon]

I think you are on track. Some like to get to the full distance before the race, others don’t. You certainly don’t have to. Make sure you have time to taper at least for a week where you do very little. And you can make a plan for the strength stuff after the big day... dog walking is good 😎

[Cianalas Half Marathon in reply to ju-ju-]

Thanks ju-ju. That's good to know you think I'm on track. Yes, must make a plan for the strength stuff...I haven't really been thinking of myself as a proper runner, but an HM sounds serious!

[Hidden]

Looking at quite a few hm plans a few months ago, many only train up to 10 miles/16km. My asics that I was using went up to 11.5 miles/18.4km. I have been running 3 times a week with an 8-10k, a 5k parkrun and my long run starting at 8k up to 16k with one 19.5k run so far. I have 10 weeks left before the event but I have 2 weeks abroad with no long runs due to the heat hence I am trying to get distance in now and again when I return. It sounds like you could put a longer run in between now and tapering? Otherwise you will be fine. I always think that worse case I run 10 miles and walk three more!!

I have done some strength exercises only as I have physio to do for my si joint and ankle injury including squats. I also walk lots on my non run days.

[Cianalas Half Marathon in reply to Hidden]

Hi runfasterdoyle. That's helpful to know most plans train only up to 10miles / 16km. I started off with the ASICS plan before Christmas but didn't stick to it as the first runs were so short, and I couldn't work out how to adjust the plan so that I ran every other day, which is my preference.

Yes, I think you're right ...I will fit in one or maybe two longer runs before tapering. And oh yes, I could always walk part of the way!

Hope your physio is paying off and good luck with your HM when it comes.

[Lordi Marathon]

I've got my 1st HM in May (Helsinki HM) and talking to a few people who've run it before it seems that we ( on this forum ) seem to take a belt and braces approach. Many other people I've met seem to try a HM from just a basic level of fitness (ok -C25k+ level based and on being "sporty" or "youngish" ) . So maybe we sometimes focus too much on a finish time on here instead of just focussing on finishing fullstop?

I suppose I want to ask is ....It it your 1st HM or are your seeking to improve? If not improve, then why not just do it and see what happens?

The reason I say this is I'm sure that even at my current level of fitness (pretty poor, 55 year old, max end of bmi range before being "fat" etc) I'm pretty sure I could carry on at my super-super-slow jog pace right upto 21.1 km. Trouble is my Asics plan has me doing faster, and faster, and longer training sessions to deliver me as a quivering lump of sports flesh to the startline on 19 May 2018. Pretty sure I could do a HM tomorrow at super slow jog pace 7:00 or 2:30:00 ++ and I'd be happy with a "time" whatever that turns out to be.

Edit 10 mins later - Bollocks. Now look what I've gone and done... only signed up for the Feb Strava Half Marathon challenge!

[Cianalas Half Marathon in reply to Lordi]

Hi Lordi. This is my first HM and I'm 50. I run at quite a consistent speed whichever distance I go, so am hoping just to sustain that and get over the finish line. I selected 2:15-2:30hr finish time on the entry form. Fingers crossed. Thanks for your wise words!

[Cianalas Half Marathon in reply to Lordi]

....Oops, how did that happen? Is that a virtual challenge? Good luck with both HMs.

[Lordi Marathon in reply to Cianalas]

Yes, one of the free to enter challenges on the Strava app. Good luck to you too.

[John_W Marathon]

All good advice above. I ran my 1st HM a few back at Helsby - the 4 Villages in miserable conditions. Your training looks good. Agree with Rignold that if you aren't suffering from not doing any cross-training then don't worry about including it now - but it certainly won't harm you to include it.

As for tapering, just take it VERY easy in the week before and have a 'loosener' the day before - 2-3 miles at the most, of jogging. And try some carb-loading in the 2 days before - so some oat-based cookies, white bread, potatoes (chips!), white pasta etc. Nothing excessive just a bot more than normal.

Good luck!

John

[Cianalas Half Marathon in reply to John_W]

Thanks John. Good to hear from more experience runners that you think I'm on track. I'm going to enjoy tapering and carb-loading. Hope your running is going well

[HeleneCorsa]

No advice here at all as you're way ahead of me, but just wanted to say good luck, and keep us posted! I'm sure you'll be fine.

[Cianalas Half Marathon]

Thank you HeleneCorsa! 😊