In fact the same way I ended up on the bridge to 10k forum, following a thread someone had suggested, and look where that led! I'm pretty sure most of you know me anyway - I'm the one with a lycra addiction and a garish wardrobe Hello xxx
But since I'm here, yes, I have been thinking of working towards a half marathon. I started c25k last October. On the 28th of that month we went to Iceland and I actually did a tiny 0.77km run, borrowing my partner's trainers, which were too big for me, and bundled up in my ski jacket. But I will never forget it, running on black lava tracks under enormous stars, puffing clouds like a dragon in the frosty air. I graduated c25k in mid January this year and ran my first 10k in mid April, accidentally, halfway through ju-ju- 's excellent plan. I've had the benefit of living in a hilly area, and i think that's really helped me build stamina.
I've run several 10ks two 11ks and a 12k since then, as well as lots of shorter runs. I'm not fast, I wasn't fast when I ran in my teens, but once I get going I can just keep running and find it easier to keep running than to walk, including up hills (of which there are many round here). But I am slow! The 12k took me 1hr 54min - mind you it would probably have been faster but I forgot to take fluids, not having planned to run so far, and I was dangerously dehydrated, panting, fainting etc by the time I got home (shan't do that again!). I was hoping to have pushed my distance further this summer but it's just been too darned hot, though now I'm using my hydration backpack with electrolytes I'm better equipped to cope with the heat and humidity.
I'm running 3 to 5 times a week now mostly and have done a couple of short runs on consecutive days a couple of times. I've paid up to do 50 miles in August (I've done 44 miles so far this month) and I shall do it as I want the bling and the compression top! I'm doing a 10k charity race at Blenheim at the end of September, my first public event of any kind as we have no parks here and I don't drive.
So, I would really like to think of a half, but I'm worried I will be too slow and won't beat the cut off time. My pace is partly down to age (I'm 71) but also partly down to having a weak leg with muscle wasting and shortening, due to having had a fractured femur in my youth; this makes my left buttock less developed too, and i have a slight scoliosis as a result. I have a problem building the muscle up on that leg, though it's very much improved since I started running again. One factor is that I have to use support for that knee because it was badly damaged at the same time my leg was broken. Unfortunately the bandage covers the area just above the knee where I have the worst muscle wastage, a visible and serious dip on the inside front of my thigh. I think the bandage is restricting the muscle (in the same way a ring stops your finger muscle). i think i need to look into alternative strapping!
So, should I keep gradually increasing my distance for now and think about edging towards a half next year? Do I need to consolidate the longer runs or just keep increasing gradually? I find pace is slowly improving the more I run, and if I feel the need of a longer break between runs I respect my body and take it.
Yay, it's Flick!! An enormous tiger-striped, psychedelic paisley, red, yellow, green, blue, turquoise, purple- striped welcome to the forum!!!!
If you would like to do a half marathon then you must!! There are some that have four hours plus cut-off times (I've spotted the Dorchester Half, and a Race for Life half in Hertfordshire, after a quick search) - although I believe you could do this comfortably if you carry on as you have! It might be helpful to pick one with a generous cut-off for your first one, to stop you worrying about it. But I think the Oxford Half is local to you, and I can personally recommend that one! It has a 3:30 cut-off - could be a good goal for next year?
Anyway. I think you should carry on increasing your long run - much more rewarding and encouraging than repeating the same run. Drop your mileage every three or four weeks to give yourself a recovery break. Have you seen a running physio about your leg issues?
Thanks so much for the advice and encouragement. and, yes, Oxford is pretty near. And if I can sell this flipping house, we will be heading back there ASAP. i think it makes sense for me to pick an HM with a generous cutoff time. I'm already stressing about the Blenheim 10k, even though I've run that distance and more quite a few times. I have visions of trailing in last with a very red face!
I haven't seen a running physio, butI'm pretty sure my GP is a runner and I'm seeing her in August, so will ask advice then, plus my sister was a physio before she took up teaching and has been able to help. It's a problem because there is no flesh on that knee, just a thin layer of scar tissue over bone.
I’m no expert but a big fan of developing slowly and steadily. I go to the gym now as well to try and beef up my upper body and strengthen everything. Cross training is a good plan now you’re running beyond 10k 🙂. You could factor in some intervals, fartleks typa thing
Your trail runs do help make you stronger in your core, especially the hills
thanks Miss Notwobble! Gym is difficult because my injuries mean there are very few activities I can take part in, but I was thinking of swimming again. i bought a season ticket last year and went every day, but can't afford that now, but once a week would be possible. I shall certainly do fartleks. All good advice. thank you
You can do all sorts strength wise, at home or gym. Much of the stuff at the gym is in the floor and uses your own body’s weight. Yoga and Pilates are great as well.
I did yoga regularly but fell off the stepladder to our loft bedroom a few years ago and further bu**ered my already bu**ered knee. Now I can't kneel on it, which rules out quite a lot of the yoga i was doing, so i kind of gave up. Running has improved it (who says running is bad for knees) so maybe it's worth taking it up again. Can't afford the gym. i know that sounds silly given my extensive running wardrobe but those things were got instead of other stuff like ordinary clothes and the occasional takeaway. My sister just gave me some useful exercises to strengthen my weak leg, so that's a start. thanks so much for the help- and advice
Oooh hello Flick! We’re all inadvertently landing in this forum these days, aren’t we? 😂 I’m going to go on an 11-12k run on Wednesday night (so it counts to my August medal mileage) and see how I feel after that. Dreadful probably, but the last time I did 11k I thought I was about to drop down dead. My problem is I keep pushing myself at the end of a long run to go faster, instead of plodding. I need to learn to plod. That way I’ll feel not so ill after, and might be able to go further. I think you’ve got the technique just right to do this. And hasn’t your pace been naturally improving of late? I wonder where we all are in one year 🤔😂
I think the key to my endurance is definitely my slowness 😂 I just keep pegging on, hills and all and, though I might be tired later in the day after a long run, the only time I felt terrible was after the 12k run I did without taking hydration. I think you have to realise that a long run is not a sprint. You know you are a fast runner, you have nothing to prove with that, but speed and distance require different approaches. You’re incredibly motivated and push yourself. I would be like that too but I know I’m never going to break any speed records, so I’m more relaxed about it. I would say push your speed in short runs but hold something back for longer runs so that you can go the distance. Your speed will increase anyway over time as I’ve discovered. My daughter is like you and has had to work in bringing her pace down for longer runs. She did Oxford Town and Gown 10k race in 1hr 3min. She said she could have done it faster but wanted to enjoy herself, not be pushing. She’s right. There were ambitious students running for their colleges who were incredibly fast, but I bet they didn’t get to see the beauty of ancient Oxford, closed to traffic for the race. And this is kind of the point too. I see all the time people saying they get bored if they don’t have music while running and I kind of wonder if it’s because they are more focused on stats than on what’s around them.
We will do it, we will increase pace and distance 😊
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Hello xxx
but those things were got instead of other stuff like ordinary clothes and the occasional takeaway. My sister just gave me some useful exercises to strengthen my weak leg, so that's a start. thanks so much for the help- and advice 
Fining a happy place
Kinesiology tape - advice please from those of you who use it. 
The first half looms.
Garmin Coach plans?
Advice please
