At running club this morning it was mentioned that I should have a go Hastings Half next March. I've only been running since Easter and had no desire to run a long way - in fact I only came to couch25k to train for the Army 1.5 mile run!
I feel my running is progressing well and although I've not run a nonstop 10k yet feel that I have it in me - hopefully under the 60min mark if the route is flat 😂.
My question really is about training for it. I love running with my club (10k with some stops and walking. The running is usually around 545 a km) and in parkrun with my son (currently around 630 a km) and am worried about fitting a ready made training plan around these activities.
I've had a look online and a lot of the plans seem to require you to do different distances at different tempos throughout the week which just won't be realistic for me. Is it possible to get comfortable with the distance and have enough miles in your legs by going about the training in a more "freestyle" manner?
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pianoteacher
Marathon
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I’m thinking of HM too but I’m not sure why as it terrifies me. I’ve looked at plans but don’t like their rigidity. For me, I’d just gradually increase my long run. My other runs are ParkRun and interval run on a treadmill. I’m trying to fit some strengthening in at the gym too. I don’t want to commit to anything really; rather just do what I can as and when. I’m starting a new running club tonight. Wish me luck! They do a long run on a Thursday so I’m hoping that I’ll enjoy the company as find long runs boring 💤
That sounds like me Tash - I like what I do and also like to try different things when they come up. I'm going to efforts tomorrow night and hopefully track training on Monday. I think I'd feel too restricted by a rigid plan and just end up getting the arse with it 😂
That bad 😂 I'm doing efforts tomorrow night and it's only 20 mins of running - I don't want to even think about what it might entail 😮 if I survive I'll post x
I am queen of freestyle 😆 In all seriousness, it may not be the best way, I would always advocate a tried and tested plan if possible. But it's not the only way. I'm not very good at following orders and I have to have a very flexible schedule so a plan is out of the question for me as I do a lot of last minute work, often at funny hours of the day. I think as long as you listen to your body and are very honest with yourself—am I doing enough? Am I overtraining?—then there is no reason why you couldn't have a lovely, confident half marathon run in March.
Thanks Sqkr! I realise it's probably not the way to get the fastest time I possibly could but I think for a first one it's probably best to try and just complete it rather than trying to sub 2hr or anything😂
It's also notoriously hilly - you have to run up Hartley Shute Road at the beginning and my car struggles with that! x
I’m working towards a half marathon and haven’t even looked at plans. Mostly I hate them, though c25k worked for me, and if ju-ju- has a plan for a half then I would be interested as the 10k plan was so good and flexible.
There's a thought! I love the flexibility of ju-ju- 's 10k plan - don't think I've actually managed a single week as prescribed but it's given me a really good template for what I should be incorporating in my running week x
I'm doing my first marathon in Tallin Estonia on 9 Sept. I too shopped around a bit for a training plan but gave-up on it as the ones I found all had a focus on running faster/longer and increasing your pace varying the tempo etc. For me, I just aim to be able to complete the course in under 5 hours and will be happy with that as a pb. If it turns out I like marathons then 2019+ will be about improvement of pace/times etc.
So my approach is a freestyle one. 3 runs per week, a medium distance 10-15k, a long run (currently 21km but increasing each week to a maximum 3 hour run or about 30km), then a 5k post long run shake out jog. Pace-wise I'm setting out on the longrun at my marathon target pace which is high cadence, normal breathing heartrate zone 2/3 - so basically easy jog-all-day pace (6:40-6:50 pace for me). I don't plan to run more than 32km in training as I've heard from experienced friends that it can counter-productive to exceed 3 hours in training. So I plan to simply get to around 30km with bags in the tank and then enter the undiscovered country of 30k+land on run day! With my limited experience (did one HM in May) and current longrun distance of 21km I know Im good for a painless and easy HM distance but the next 4 weeks will be illuminating as I move to 23, 26, 29, 32km long runs.
So freestyle is a good way to go too for a HM if you are not fixated on a particular time or giving it 101% and collapsing on the finishing line but rather just getting around the course the first time!
myasics was brilliant for that, but sadly they are closing it down in September. No reason you can't have a look and print off if it seems right for you: my.asics.com/uk/en-gb
I like the fact that unlike other plans it works on distance rather than time (I find running down the clock just makes me run slower and slower). It also gives you a guideline pace to aim for too. when you use the app it adjust later paces based on performances, so you wouldn't get that if you printed it off.
On the subject ogf the Hastings Half, it is one of the most popular HMs in the country, mainly because it is notoriously tough. Thats because, as you know, Hastings is not flat. No reason you can't do it, but train for hills; cos hills are what you will be running on - both up and down.
I’ve just got a plan off myasics it and printed it off 🙂 I line up the runs and tick em off. It might be dull and sensible but these distances are no joke. Be prepared folks 🏃♀️🏃♂️👍
RunkeeperGo are taking over from Sept. They don’t have a printable plan. Yet! I have asked that they work out how to get one 😃. The RunkeeperGo app stores all the data on the phone, but I like it on paper too as i make notes on it Something solid, that I can see and peruse and mull over 🧐🤓🤔😬🙄😲😝🤩😀
Thanks for the link Whatsapp - I'll take a look at that.
The hills do scare me a bit! Hastings is very hilly so we usually manage to run a few on our running club 10ks. A summer holiday challenge Daniel and I have set ourselves is to run up Hartley Shute to home - I estimate about a km. I tried to run up it in about week 7 of couch25k but it totally defeated me and I had to stop. Much stronger now so should get up it - not sure about running another 20k after it though 😂
It’s ok being freestyle and winging it if you are fit and know what you’re doing. Just check out a beginner (“easy”) plan to check the distances per run/per week then work round them at your own speed and pace 🙂. At least it’s a starting point. A guide to what you need to be covering in training
The worry is that with no plan you actually run further than you need to, which for me is the big no-no. I don’t want to get injured before the event 🙂
Thanks misswobble - I definitely don't want to get injured! Although I'd never run before Easter I did have a good level of fitness as was able to run 5k in 30 mins by the time I graduated. I think what I'm going to do is have a look at some plans with a view to tailoring them to my own needs still fitting in the runs I most enjoy. Also my exhusband's girlfriend is a regular marathon and half marathon runner and has done Hastings lots of times. She'll hopefully be able to help me with training guidance as well x
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