So my hm was almost three weeks ago and my plan post hm was to maintain long runs of 8-10 miles as I would like to retain some of the fitness I gained during training rather than starting again for October. My training schedule was a 5 mile Monday, a long run Thursday and a 3 mile parkrun Saturday. These all fit in my weekly routine. The reality is that I had 5 days off running post hm. Then a parkrun on the Saturday which felt fine. Monday was approx 4.3 miles, Thursday a 9 mile which felt tough then a 3 mile event on Sunday. This week was 4.3 mile Monday and my planned 9 mile yesterday became an 8 mile. I was finding it tough, was too fast but struggled to slow. My legs felt heavy and my head wasn't in it as it was my brothers birthday up in heaven.
In my ideal world I would have a weeks break post hm and then pick up where o left off. But I am finding the long runs tough mentally and physically. My hayfever has pitched up a gear and the weather is much warmer so I guess that may be affecting me? What should I do differently?
I found running after my HM tough. Like you I gave it a weeks break only. I will not make that mistake again. The race takes more from you than the training. Advice out there suggests a days rest for every mile of your race. Two weeks break after a HM for me from now on.
I read that somewhere afterwards, I thought a week would be fine and even that made me feel lazy! I think I will have a cut back week next week as I cannot run Monday as working and oncall. I will do maybe a 6-7 mile on Thursday and parkrun Saturday, so only 9-10 miles next week. I guess our bodies have to acclimatise to the better temperatures too.
Have to confess I dipped after my HM last year too! My plans were similar to yours but soon after I was poorly, developed a very nasty sinus infection (which I should have got treated for sooner), then injured my back resulting in sciatica and nerve damage which kept me out of running for a couple of months. 😫 Building my fitness back up after that was slow and hard work - as nerves are slow to repair. I did wonder, with hindsight, if I had become run down with all the training - especially as I later found out I had a thyroid condition which had not been diagnosed at the time (😮)! All my plans were scuppered and I lost all my hard earned endurance!! HOWEVER! I am still out there running and back up to 8milers. Like you, I would like to be able to do an 8/9 miler every few weeks so that I have a base to train from. ...we shall see!!
Sometimes I think we can have a dip in our form and it can be good to ease off for a while to let our bodies rest and repair, so don't be hard on yourself. You have done fantastically well with your running through some very emotional times recently and I am sure you will soon be feeling stronger gain!🙂
Thank you for sharing you experience. I know the training was tough on me but it did give me a focus which I don't have now. I feel a bit emotional at times but not too run down, I will monitor this carefully.
With hindsight, I think running 3 x HM distances in the space of 5/6 weeks might not have been the right decision. Next time I will run it once in training, I think! Pity, because my actual event run was my PB too!
9 miles is tiring at the best of times, and you have warmth, hayfever, and a sad anniversary to deal with
I wonder - what's going on with your strength training? Maybe it's time to swap a running day for a session with the weights (preferably in a nice cool room) and build up some extra oomph
I have wondered about weights or maybe a static bike to add leg strength. I have been doing some strength exercises from the physio but I feel I need more leg strength. Something to look into. I think I need a pt to sort me out!!
I am dreadful after an event I have worked towards and sometimes virtually tail off to nothing. My last HM was booked to get me going again after the previous one. Same this time have booked a10k and a 10 miler. Maybe taking official time off is the answer. You did very well to do 8 miles.
I booked a couple of small events, a 5k run last week and a relay marathon tomorrow. I am looking at possibly gsr for October and hoping training will be better at the end of the hayfever season and cooler weather! I have nothing yet inbetween, maybe I should look for a 10k.
I have done far less long runs then you Helen since Southampton! You sound like you are being hard on yourself, a rest the week after was good but don't worry too much if you don't keep it up for a couple of weeks after, you won't lose your fitness that quickly. I find most of my runs are a max of 6 miles most weeks , have a HM on 3rd June . It's been a very hard time, especially this last week, for you,cut yourself some slack. Take care love Ali xxx
Thanks Ali. I just feel I need to keep going but I will have a cutback week with shorter runs and no pressure. Good luck for your hm in June. I have no doubt you will do fabulously given all the miles you run! I would like some of your energy 😁
Ohhhhhh... this is interesting. I may have made a rookie mistake then I have a HM booked for 29th September and then another one on 20th October. My reasoning was that I would be still reasonably conditioned so should be able to run another HM three weeks later. The second one is just for fun as it is the Dramathon and I'm only doing it for the scenery and the malt whisky but even so, given your experience and the other comments on here, I might have bitten off a bit more than I can chew. We'll see.
A tough week for you though - look after yourself.
Hi Annie, I think if you get the training right you will be fine. I trained up to and ran the full distance twice before my HM and my third run (BathHalf) was a PB. I wanted to know I could complete the distance for my own self- confidence but with hindsight, maybe running it just once before the big event would have been enough! Good luck with your training!🙂
Thanks, Sandra. This was definitely a problem for my half last year, although I didn't know any better I did run the distance before the HM but I didn't do any other training e.g. core or cross training and it really showed because I got really tired in my middle at about 16km. This is something I can learn from and in fact my HM plan which starts now is the Garmin one which builds in cross training and things like yoga and pilates. Hopefully it will make a difference!
Yes, except the only time I tried yoga, I was immobile for a week because of the floor work and my bad back I will try and substitute ballet and tai chi - not sure if they are equivalent but it's at least something!
Annie, I thought I could keep it up and if I had another hm i am sure the atmosphere would drive me more. I guess you need to review what runs you will do inbetween to optimise yourself for the second hm. People do run a second hm off the training for the first but maybe they are more seasoned runners. Roseabi was mad enough to do two marathons!!
Thanks, doyle. I know I hadn't trained properly (at least I know now ) for my first so I will use what I learned to be better prepared, and perhaps that will help - also, as you say, the atmosphere may carry me through.
It’t time like this I wish I lived on that side of the pond! That is worth the pain. Three weeks seems close though. Maybe go easy walk/run on the second one?
‘I’m only doing it for the malt’ 😊 that should be a tee shirt for the race - there is a group here that just runs to craft breweries in 3, 5 and 10k groups. I’ve seriously considered joining them but it seems more a young person’s game: runtobeer.ca
Decker, you know you have to. You've run to pancakes, the next logical progression is to run to beer 😁. I agree with Anniemurph , go for it! You have no problem keeping up with those young whippersnappers in the ninjas.
I’m no expert but I would say cut yourself some slack. You had a great HM in spite of all your worries and you will have a great recovery too. Wiser people have already commented on distances and rests etc. to make it work. You also had to get through a tough day there. Go easy on yourself and it will all come together.
Of course I also just finished a week off and ran way too hard this morn to try and get a pb 5k and now my shins feel like King Kong just kicked them😁. That was smart!
Ahh Decker you should learn by my mistakes 🤣 I felt rather like an elite athlete that could conquer all after my half marathon debut but reality has kicked in. Nice and easy with the hope that I will be flying again soon! Hope your shins recover soon!
Hidden , I do apologise, I seem to have hijacked your post somewhat with my own worries. I hope things pick up for you and that your hayfever eases off. Take it gently on the running and I'm sure that will pick up again soon too.
I took a week off having completed the distance and then started another HM program, again by Hal Higdon but on a different level.
I repeat everything twice, every program, but also change running times and routes to keep it all new and fresh. That works for me. The key is to motivate your mind and keep it entertained. Once you manage that, your body (if fit) does as told.
Enjoying my post Helsinki HM few days off. Legs a bit achey so I'm in no rush to slip the runners back on yet. About to sign-up for another HM in 3 weeks time though! I think I'll leave it for a week at least until I try a short run. Could hardly walk dowstairs the day after the HM!
I took 6 days off and then did a 3mile parkrun, a 4.3 mile on Monday then tried a 9 mile on the Thursday. It was a tough 9 mile so maybe hadn't given myself enough recovery time before a long run. My legs were feeling it. Do take it easy and listen to your body. Good luck for your next hm.
Three weeks to the next HM might be pushing it a bit but we will see. It is strange how much a "race" level of effort is so much more than achieved in training...hence all the damage. I sort of imagined I'd be pretty ok after all the training but my legs feel like the day after my c25k week 5 jump up from 5 mins to 20 mins continuous running. Ha ha! Remember that? Never thought we'd be running for 2 hrs + way back then did we? Bonkers!
We have come along a huge journey to run 2 plus hours. It is amazing that my initial outlook was to be able to run parkrun 5k. A hm was way too ambitious! Now I need to do another hm 😁
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as it is the Dramathon and I'm only doing it for the scenery and the malt whisky 
but even so, given your experience and the other comments on here, I might have bitten off a bit more than I can chew. We'll see.
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