Half Marathon countdown!

[lardofale]

Well the countdown to my first half marathon is well and truly speeding up! I graduated from the Couch to 5k programme back in August having never been a runner before, well apart from chasing after a cricket ball from time to time! The 9 weeks had programmed me to run 3 times a week and so before I could go 'cold turkey' with having no structured programme I set myself another challenge.10k seemed the natural progression so I went for that and achieved it relatively comfortably. I'm not somebody who sticks the trainers on and expects to look into a mirror and see Mo Farrah staring back at me, I'm realistic enough to know that these things take hard work and determination, so the road (excuse the pun!) to that milestone took a few weeks of incremental increases in distance and variations in pace. Rather than following any programme I read the advice on here, followed the stories of success and failure, learned from those and did my own thing. Now 10k seems to be the most enjoyable distance to run!

In January I started training for the City Of Norwich half marathon which takes place on 15th April. I was under no illusions that the training would be hard and so I joined up with this forum and again read the advice and tips. My last long run at the weekend took me up to a mile short of the full distance and at a pace which I found to be comfortable. I'm now in tapering mode and looking forward to the event, I've also managed to raise a few quid for charity!

Now for a raid on my local supermarket to top up my jelly baby mountain.........

[Cornet-Carolyn]

Ooh best of luck with the Norwich half 🍀 I have a friend doing it as well. He tried to persuade me but it seems like such a long way!

Mega impressive and I hope it goes really well. Don't forget to post a picture with your new bling 🏃🥇

[lardofale Half Marathon in reply to Cornet-Carolyn]

Thank you! I had moments when I thought that it was a bit further than my brain could cope with!

I'll definitely put a photo up with the bling, mainly as a warning to people that this is what C25K can get you into!

[Decker Ultramarathon]

Brilliant progress LoA! Sounds like you are doing all the right things and the distance looks fully attainable. Best of luck with your race!

[lardofale Half Marathon]

Thank you! Yep, very pleased with the training, just want to get to the start line now!

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to lardofale]

Will probably come faster than you think now 😀 Looking forward to your race pics and bling!

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

Hello, and a big warm welcome to the forum!

You certainly seem to have things well in hand. I agree, 10K is a wonderful distance to run - I suspect you will enjoy your half marathon too

Would you like me to add you to our Events calendar, so that we can give you a big cheer on the day?

[lardofale Half Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Thank you, I'm still a novice but getting there!

The events calendar thing would be great thanks! Cyber and physical shouts will be much appreciated 👍 😀

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to lardofale]

Yay, done!

[Madge50 Marathon]

Oh good luck to you, have a great time and don’t forget to enjoy it! I’m sure you’ll have a blast, the city events are usually well supported, it’s always a delight to have complete strangers encouraging you along.

I will look forward to seeing the bling! 🏃‍♂️Go you!

Mx

[lardofale Half Marathon in reply to Madge50]

Thank you! I'm looking forward to it, those 4:30 alarms in the freezing winter mornings better have been worth it! 😁

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Lots of luck on the 15th - very exciting! I remember when I tapered for my HM last year that it really messed with my head! Am I losing fitness? Will I still be able to go the distance, etc etc. But I felt great on the day and ran a PB for the distance. Trust the taper - you will be fab!🙂

[lardofale Half Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Wonderful, thank you! Some people tell me my head is messed up already so I reckon the taper time will be a breeze 😁

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon in reply to lardofale]

Ha ha! 😂

[Lisaloopy9]

Well done! Exciting isn’t it?

I graduated C25k last year and am now training for my first half!! Current long runs up to 11.5 mile, still worried about the distance, hope I’ll be more comfortable by 13th May!?

Good luck, look forward to seeing the photos! Try to enjoy it!

You’re totally right about, this is where C25k leads you!!! Lol 💪🏻🏃‍♂️ 😃

[lardofale Half Marathon in reply to Lisaloopy9]

Thank you 😀 I'm more excited now with the 'race' only 11 days away than I was getting up at 4:30 in the morning with -5 temperatures and snow!

I've tried to focus mainly on running for longer times each week than focusing on distance. Probably just as scary but you adapt to it (eventually 😉)

Good luck with the rest of your training you'll smash it! 👊💥😉

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

Oooh exciting! Not long now!Will look forward to reading the race report!have fun!😊

[lardofale Half Marathon in reply to aliboo70]

Thank you! My standard having fun chip is away being upgraded to immense fun level!

[C3PO Marathon]

Congratulations on your upcoming HM. It sounds like you're on track, so I'm sure you'll have a great time. Graduating to that distance is quite a milestone, but not too difficult to maintain once you've done it.

[lardofale Half Marathon in reply to C3PO]

Thank you! I've followed lots of advice and adapted it in my own way. Amazingly I haven't felt any reluctance to crawl out of bed, even with the horrible weather, so this may be the first of many!

[Whatsapp Half Marathon]

It'll all be worth it. You've done the hard work now, you just need to rest your body so it feels a little strange I'm sure, but you will reap the benfits of that when you get to the start line

[lardofale Half Marathon in reply to Whatsapp]

Thank you! I certainly hope so, the training has been hard but fun, I don't want to waste it so I'm definitely taking the tapering section seriously.

[Anniemurph Half Marathon]

Ooh, I'll be waving pompoms for you! I was at UEA a very long time ago so Norwich is very dear to me

[lardofale Half Marathon in reply to Anniemurph]

Thank you! I'll keep your pom poms in mind when I hear the starting gun! I'll be at a gig at the UEA 4 days after the race, it's still going strong!

[Hidden]

Well done on your running journey. Your hm is a week before mine and reality is hitting. Training has been dedicated and tough so looking forward to tapering, I think. What do your runs look like during your tapering? It was suggested I drop to 80% mileage in the first week and 60% in the second week. I wish you all the best for the 15th.

[lardofale Half Marathon in reply to Hidden]

Thank you! All that time training then it just creeps up on you doesn't it! Based on what I've read I'm aiming at a similar, if slightly smaller percentage, than yourself. 70% & 50% with my last longish run at around 10-12k this weekend. Having said that the advice varies wildly so I'm not getting too hung up over specifics! Best of luck for your HM too, no doubt notes & bling will be compared soon!!

[mfamilias Half Marathon]

Congratulations for your awesome journey - that first HM will me a sweet victory over your pre-C25K self Say hello to Norwich from me - I studied there, and loved it.

[lardofale Half Marathon]

Thank you! I thought C25K was a major victory, this will be off the scale! I work in Norwich so i'll have a quiet word with it for you! ;0)

[secksy34 Marathon]

you will have a blast xx enjoy every mile remember why your doing it and keep your head in it 😁 x time to get excited 😃 Ps if you can get your name on your shirt the individual shout outs are very encouraging when your flagging 👌

[lardofale Half Marathon in reply to secksy34]

Thank you! I'm determined to have a blast, I've trained to hard to pressure myself so it will be a 'grin day' I reckon! I'm raising a few quid for Macmillan so I've got one of their green shirts with some iron on letters, so hopefully I'll get some personal shouts (more pleasant shouts than I usually get I'm hoping!!)