Half Marathon Plan: It's getting real! 😮😊 And banish those "taper terrors"!!!

[roseabi]

Hi all!

Huge apologies for the lateness of my post, holidays and general busy-ness have put me a bit behind.

How are you all feeling?

I have been handing out more half marathon badges, so I know a few of you have now run the half marathon distance in training - well done!!!!

If you have not done this yet, or don't intend to, that is perfectly fine - saving it for race day is a wonderful thing!

Either way - tell us how you are getting on 😊😊😊

💥 SOME OF YOUR RACES ARE THIS WEEKEND!!! 💥

I have been making a list, would be most grateful if you could check it via the link below. Some of these races are not currently on our Events list - if you would like to be added please tell me in the comments!!!

docs.google.com/spreadsheet...

I received my race number for the Hastings Half yesterday 🙃 652, my lucky number 😄 There's just over three weeks to go now - it's getting real!!!

I noticed some mention being made of the "taper terrors" on another post. Please DON'T WORRY about this kind of thing! In the last week or so before the half marathon it is best to reduce the long runs and overall distance whilst retaining a level of intensity. This helps to maintain fitness while promoting recovery. This "taper" process is longer and more pronounced in the last 3-4 weeks of marathon training, and during that time many people feel paranoid that they are losing fitness, and may start to fixate on small aches and pains as potential major injuries. Not fun 😢

I tend to think that there is really not much of a taper needed for the half marathon, but in the final week of training we will certainly be running less and resting more. This simply helps to make sure your legs will be nice and fresh on the day - you have no need to worry! Enjoy your rest, and take the time for other things 😊😊😊

Happy running - and good luck!!!

roseabi xx

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

I went for half marathon distance yesterday - had to run around in circles a bit at the end to make sure 😜

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to roseabi]

I am worried..because might not have run far enough before the event! Did 13.7 today before torrential rain forced me to stop at 1hr 50 ish..

I had just planned on a 2hr run...but.. I was drowning and very hungry. I am getting the regular running in now..but feel I'm running... (haha) out of time...the HM is the Monsal Trail on the 24th..🙃

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Oldfloss]

Torrential rain, ugh. But you can do it!! xxx

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

Stop worrying matey. Youre gonna be just fine. Its fairly flat. Don't forget to peer over the viaduct I didn't actually realise i was on it! My husband asked me what it was like "running over the viaduct" Doh!

Wear bright orange fluoro top or similar as those cyclists can't see ya. They go into the tunnel from the light. Hard to see them too if they don't have a light on

Its a lovely route. Lots of peeps about though so plenty of dodging and weaving and trying not to trip over scooters, dogs and kids. Makes for a more relaxing atmos though I think. I found it so anyway

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to misswobble]

Thanks you.xxxxxx

I am really looking forward to it..getting a tad excited..hoping it won't pour on the day...it is a lovely route😊

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

I wish I was doing it now! Sulk! I did look at late entry but there's no places left. Never mind. Shall we both do it next year, and rope in Murph as well, and the other local peeps ?

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to misswobble]

That would be brilliant... I so wish you were doing it... I think Anniemurph would be game for sure

[misswobble Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Tee hee Well done

[MutleyShuffle Half Marathon]

I am taking a few days' break to nurse my butt niggle (sorry to repeat myself roseabi!), doing some self-massage on it with a tennis ball (ouch!) and have found some really good stretches. My last run was Saturday - starting to get a bit restless, this is the longest break I've had from running in months! I'm going for a little jogette tomorrow to test all is ok, then I've got a 10 mile race booked for Sunday - quite excited about that as it's set in the beautiful Bedgebury Forest, I'm so looking forward to trail running again after all the road running I've been doing to practice for the HM.

My longest run so far has been 20k. Apart from the 10 miler on Sunday I might squeeze one more long run in before the HM (butt niggle dependant of course) but I think I will save the full HM distance for the day (24th March), to make it more special. It's been fab seeing everyone's progress on Strava - keep at it peeps, nearly there! 🤗🏃🏃💪🏅

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to MutleyShuffle]

Good luck, and have fun with that tennis ball 😂😮😉💗

Sounds like a fabulous 10 miler, btw

[MutleyShuffle Half Marathon in reply to roseabi]

😂😂😂

[David_G Metric Marathon]

Hi Roseabi, unfortunately I picked up a niggle in my left leg a couple of weeks ago.😟 I had a sports massage on Saturday which helped a lot.🙂 I’ve been resting since doing a short run on Sunday and the leg is feeling better now. Hopefully I’ll get out there this evening and all will be fine🤞👍

Good luck everyone!😀🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to David_G]

Sending you extremely strong healing thoughts xxxxx

[David_G Metric Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Thanks Roseabi! Tonight will be a very slow and steady outing, just to keep things ticking over.🙂 I’m intending to do Parkrun on Saturday if all is well, then I’ve got another massage on Monday evening.😀👍

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to David_G]

There's nothing like a good sports massage 😊😊😊

[Whatsapp Half Marathon]

Enjoying the taper before HM this Sunday. I feel my training has been much more consistent this time around. I'm anxious to just get out there and just get on with it.

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Whatsapp]

Exciting!!!!

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Whatsapp]

Me too. Although I was supposed to run at race pace today! tut I didn't

It was flipping cold out there and I got drenched. I only had my hair done yesterday Bah

[SlowLoris]

Total for Feb is 86 miles run so a good month. Did my first 10 mile run last Sunday which was a nice mental milestone to reach, albeit at a very easy pace. My local HM is not until September so I will look out for something to do before then. Next week is an enforced recovery week as I'll be skiing. Probably quite heavily focussed on rehydration as well.

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to SlowLoris]

Well done!

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

homlyme , Sandraj39 , Teri73 , MatildasPb - how you doing? xx

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon in reply to roseabi]

You took me off the upcoming race post Roseabi - out for weeks with flu and chest infection. Back running again but nowhere near ready to train for another HM yet☹ - hey ho - at least I am out there running again!🙂

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Ohhhh I'm really sorry, I should have made a note of it!!! 😥

Glad to hear you're back out running xxx

[Teri73 in reply to roseabi]

Don’t want to tempt fate but I am feeling good, will do my last long run today, planning to do the full 21km, then start tapering next week, ready for the big day on the 17th. Not sure why but I am already feeling nervous, silly as I know I can do this, even if I have to walk the the last km.

Good luck with your upcoming races everyone, I am sure you will have a ball!

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Teri73]

Yay, well done Teri!!! I'm sure it's mostly excitement you're feeling 😊💥

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Still here! Still hanging on to the rollercoaster - first attempt at the full distance was reminiscent of my GSR misery; this Saturday was an absolute high, having run the full distance, under my 2h30m goal, feeling strong (and no migraine); yesterday I felt tired and broken (sore legs and email from Jeff Gaudette telling me it was normal to be tired 4 weeks out), today I'm itching for my next run tomorrow!

My quad isn't right, but it's improved on where it was, despite the increased distances. I seem to have developed a large Bakers cyst behind the knee of the other leg which is uncomfortable, but not a show stopper (not yet anyway). I'm definitely feeling the increased distances though.

So, another week and a half of running (including one more SLOW full distance planned for next week), a week of skiing where I hope and pray not to get injured, then a week of 'taper treats' and it will amost be over!

I'm still keeping an eye on the Coast HM entries, so there's definitely a part of me believes I will be able to do this on 24th March, and enjoy it enough to want to do it again three weeks later!!!

Congrats to everyone who's got this far (as a solo runner I love being part of this team), healing vibes to all niggles and most of all good luck, especially to those racing this weekend x

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to linda9389]

"Rollercoaster" and "taper treats" - love those!!! Very half-marathon-training 😊😊😊

Fingers crossed for your quad and cyst - pain pain go away!

It's lovely to have you in the team xxxxxxxx

[misswobble Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Rotten luck with the gosh-darned cycst! We'll have to wish it away

(((((((()))))))

Solo runner these days too so yeah it's good to have a channel for our running stuff

[MutleyShuffle Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Good luck with keeping the naughty leg and cyst under control! Happy rollercoasting and taper treating, cake will soon be ours! 🍰🍪🥞

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to MutleyShuffle]

Ahh. That makes it all sound worthwhile. There may be a national cake shortage that weekend 😀

[misswobble Marathon]

I love a taper meself

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Is that when we get to eat lots and lots of cake?

[misswobble Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Nooooo 🙈. That’s after the race itself 😁🏅🍰☕️🏃‍♀️☝️Wags finger 😁

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Where's the dislike button 😥😥😥😥😥

[misswobble Marathon in reply to linda9389]

You wanna be light on race day 😃

[misswobble Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Speaking of cake, I made vegan biccies for my guests last night. Flamin lush 😋😋 but I’ve had to wrap up, seal and box the ones that were left. I told OH to take em to work but he didn’t So pointedly ignoring them La la la la 🙈🙉🙊

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to misswobble]

🍪 "Eat meeeeeeee"

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to misswobble]

There was vegan choccy loaf at the Hassop cafe on the Monsal trail yesterday...

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

There’s a cafe en route and I thought it was the finish line as i saw those tall billowly sail-like flags They probably said Wall’s Ice’s or sommat 🤨🤓

[Langley-Loper Half Marathon]

I did my first and only HM last year. My longest run in training was 12 miles. I wanted to save the full distance as a real achievement on the day.

So no-one panic if you don't manage the distance in training.

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Langley-Loper]

Absolutely! xxx

[MutleyShuffle Half Marathon in reply to Langley-Loper]

Yes I'm doing the same - I have got up to 20k so almost there but saving the full distance for the day!

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Langley-Loper]

Useful thought.. thanks...

[MadDave]

I’ve been hit by a very bad cold this week coughing and sneezing relentlessly. Being doped up to the eyeballs in Day/Night nurse means I’ve not done my final pace run as planned. Will try to stay off the meds today and get a short run in - 25 mins with 2x5mins at pace, then an easy run & lots of steam room / spa pool tomorrow🤞

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to MadDave]

Take it easy xx Hope you're not still contagious going into the spa pool...

[MadDave in reply to roseabi]

😷

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon]

Going well here although my stupidity at parkrun last week has aggravated my previous calf and heel injuries which is annoying. Nothing too bad but I might knock the 10 miles I was planning for Monday on the head if it doesn't improve.

I haven't got "taper terrors" but rather "new Army Selection requirements terrors". According to the media they've taken all of the pushups, pullups etc out of army fitness to make the tests more practical and allow women to serve in the front line but according to what's up on our wall at the barracks selection has got a million times worse! I'm going to have another look at it all when I go over there later as I'm really hoping that someone has made a mistake and they're infantry requirements. The run has been reduced to 2k and musicians only have to make the very conservative time of 11:30 mins so I can't really see why they would then require me to be able to 45 pushups! Sorry none if this is running really related - just need to vent 😂🤣

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to pianoteacher]

Sending strong calf and heel thoughts your way xxx

Re. the pushups that does seem odd - hope it is a mistake!

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Thanks Abi xx

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Phew!! Apparently they are just a training exercise to help you get ready for one of the actual test (medicine ball throw) so you don't have to be able to complete them. Having said that the test will still be very hard for someone of my stature but nowhere near as daunting as all those pushups! 😁

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to pianoteacher]

Crikey! Good job you double checked 😳. Take care of those niggles - hope they disappear very quickly

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thanks Linda xx

[MutleyShuffle Half Marathon in reply to pianoteacher]

Sorry to hear the calf and heel injuries are back, take it easy now xx

[Oldfloss Administrator]

Did my HM course yesterday..BUT on my bike....

It was brilliant...freezing cold and the three tunnels...icy.... It is a long gentle incline to the turn around point...and the return trip, slopes downhill

Yeyayayayay ! I can hardly wait!

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Oldfloss]

Awesome!

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to roseabi]

I was slightly over excited...especially with the downhill bit It would have been great if misswobble could have got a place... but..next year?? Did I just say that out loud? 😏

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Oldfloss]

It's got to happen now!! 😊😊😊

[misswobble Marathon]

You probably won’t feel cold in the tunnel. I didn’t. I was well warmed up before I got to it, so the coolness was welcome

See you there next year 💪😃👍

[HoagyM Half Marathon]

Hi Abi - 2 weeks to go for me! (gulp!)

I'm planning one more long run today (I managed the HM distance for the first time a week ago) before winding down/tapering. So something like 20km today, 5k Thursday, 10k Sunday and then a couple of 5k's next week, ahead of the HM on Sunday 17th. With 4-5 rounds of golf thrown in there to keep me active on non-running days.

Have been keeping a very close eye on my Strava "fitness and freshness" curve and the above plan should mean I'm in peak form (fitness vs fatigue) for the HM. For those who don't know what I'm talking about, it's a Strava premium function which you can only see on the website, not the app. Don't know how accurate it is, but I find it useful.

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to HoagyM]

Two weeks - exciting!!! Good luck with the rest of your training.

Sounds interesting, I was thinking about giving Strava premium a try...

[HoagyM Half Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Yeah, not sure how good value for money Strava premium is, but given I use Strava at least a few times every day, I don’t mind paying a bit. There are quite a few on here who are also premium members. I initially took out a month-by-month membership to try it, which was quite expensive (£6 a month), but have now switched to annual membership which is £48.