I hope you're all getting on well with your training - please tell us all about it 😊😊😊
More than two weeks ago we had the first member of the group to complete their half marathon! A huge well done to Lavender1962 for running in the Lanchine Half Marathon. You superstar!!!! Here is her lovely report in case you haven't seen it yet:
I love how you decided to enjoy yourself, Lavender, and use this first half marathon as a fantastic learning experience. I look forward to reading about your next one!
This has made me think again about how wonderful it is that we have the benefit of so much experience at our fingertips! I love to read the race reports here on Health Unlocked, and I often look for YouTube videos of upcoming events I have booked. I also follow loads of Instagram accounts, podcasts, and blogs, of inspirational runners. The web is such an amazing resource, and I encourage you all to make the most of it 😊😊😊
I will have a dig around later and share some of my favourites in the comments - do please feel free to add yours!
Happy running, cross-training, resting, and sharing, everyone!!!
Hi Roseabi, so far everything is going according to plan😊 I did a relatively medium run (11.5K) last week, following the Croydon 10K/HM course to a large extent. It's more hilly generally than the Bournemouth HM route, though I know Bournemouth has a hill at the 10 mile mark which seems a little harsh!
We had no trams and there were major roadworks in Croydon last week and Saturday/Sunday so I ran to Lloyd Parkrun (2.5K), ran Parkrun (another 5K), followed the 10K route back towards home (3K) then walked for a bit before finishing with a run (final 1K). Surprisingly enough I've had no aches and pains so I must be doing something right!
This week I'm doing two shortish runs (5K and 8K) and marshalling at Parkrun on Saturday. Happily we have the trams back now, although there are still roadworks and diversions.
Good luck everyone, keep up with your training if you can and lastly stay hydrated (I found that last one out the hard way a couple of weeks ago).
Hi roseabi I think you do a fabulous job and no need for any apologies! I’ve been looking for a YouTube about the Cardiff half but haven’t spotted one yet. If there are any friends out there who’ve done it previously any advice, suggestions, points of panic!! I like to be prepared and whilst the official website is great it’s good to hear from the actual runners. Thanks 🙏 x
Hi Candy. I’m a first time HM runner at Cardiff so no direct experience. I know quite a few people who’ve done it and they all say ‘don’t get carried away at the start- crowds are huge- course is flat it’s tempting to go out fast but hold enough back for the Roath Park Loop and Cathays cemetery hill at miles 10-12 because it can be tough at that stage’. I’ve been doing parts of the course in training to get familiar with that section and I think it’s helping. Good luck on the 6th October! xx
I’m doing Cardiff too (will be my second HM), so watched the video with great interest, and it gave me a good feel for the route. I noted that it is is pretty flat (total elevation gain only 81m), that the very scenic bit over the barrage is exposed and can be very windy, and the big hill (steep both up and down) is right at the end and (in the words of the commentators) “brutal”! Best keep something in reserve for that bit 😀
Have also checked whether there’s any similarity between the HM route at cardiffhalfmarathon.co.uk/p... ...and the Cardiff 10K (which I’ve done twice), but apart from a short bit at the start of the HM, it’s completely different.
Thanks both. I agree the barrage can be windy I’ve walked it a few times and agree a hill at the end might be my undoing. But if I stick to my current plan I’ve got 45 mins for the last 4K and I’ll still be at 3 hrs which is what I’m aiming for...as a first HM and as a fairly new (2years) runner and at 62 it seemed the best approach. I can always walk the ‘hill’! 👍😂🎉
Well, thanks to the heads-up from Irishprincess yesterday saying that entries for the Bath Half were filling up, I bit the bullet and entered! 👏👏 Ok, it’s not until March, but the mere thought me of entering a race of that distance is still unbelievable. 🏃♀️
I will be running my first ever HM distance later on this month. I’m waiting for UpTheStanley to give the nod and we’ll be running it on the same day in different parts of the country! 👍🏃🏃♀️👊
So yes, training is going well, and I hope everyone else’s is too. 😀
Hi Cheeky, Weds 18th Sept looking favourite, but as you know I really need my pacer 🏃🏽♀️🏃♂️ to keep me under control for the first half at least ……. hopefully she'll be feeling it's a good day for extending out to the magic 10 miles herself .
Realise now I mistakenly put my HM training update on your “fabulous!” weekly thread by mistake. So keeping it brief - ran Cardiff 10K on Sunday, best chip time to date, training seems to be paying off! Now in Pembrokeshire for some hiking and trail running, which started this morning with a very scenic run along the coastal footpath. Aim to do another HM distance run this week sometime. So all good, now just under 5 weeks to go to the Cardiff HM 😀
I'm still procrastinating about entering the Folkestone HM. I have decided to do a 10 mile run this weekend and if I can achieve at least 9 min/mile average pace*, not poo my pants and feel like I could do another 3.1 miles then I will enter. I have bought some Tailwind to try as my local runners think I am not fuelling enough (I dont fuel at all) during these longer runs. If it gives me bad guts and I fail my second point above, I will try again without the Tailwind.
* My target is a 2hr HM, which I know is slightly slower pace, but I want a safety margin.
I suggest you try the Tailwind a few times to be sure, because you may well find it helpful to have something during your runs. As you are running sub-2hr half marathon pace in training you shouldn't need a great deal for an actual half marathon - the equivalent of one gel would most likely be fine xx
It’s been a bit pants to be honest. My plan went completely awol over the middle part of the school holidays and then my right leg started seizing up at the end of my second 17km run. I tried to run another last week but barely managed 10km. Mojo went on strike and I seriously doubted whether I could do long runs. Had some really lovely encouraging comments on my Strava feed though and they really helped pull me through. Off to the osteopath today to get it pummelled. 5km runs are fine, only marginally slower than usual but I daren’t go further until I’ve had it seen to. I suspect it’s my ITB but I think disappearing hormones are also playing a part, not sure what I can do about that.
Need to get it sorted for my 50th Parkrun on Saturday and Sunday’s Big10k. Big running weekend, but will probably have to be my slowest parkrun (not sure I can mentally do that though 😂)!!
Meanwhile, I’m having fun with the strength exercises, using equipment at the gym I’ve never used before and finding new yoga videos to workout to.
Now the summer holidays are over I might hopefully have more time to catch up and contribute to this wonderful forum again. Thank you!!!
Training going well thus far. I did a short hill race last Sunday and felt ok afterwards. Ran yesterday and all ok but I do have a new blister. Sigh.
I have a 5k race by the seaside next weekend, with my niece, which will be fun as it's a day out for everyone.
I have a 24 km run planned for today but am dog walking and going for a hair-do so putting it off til tomorrow. Another day for my blister to heal up a bit more.
I am still covered in this guttate psoriasis. if anything it's getting worse and nothing is moving it. I am wearing long tights as my legs look terrible My upper body isn't too clever either. I feel fine in myself other than that.
Good luck with the training peeps. Have a good week everyone.
I managed 10.11 miles as my long run yesterday. Still very tortoise rather than hare speed, but that's not a worry to me
My husband is hopefully running the Cardiff Half, so good luck to all of you racing there.
I am doing my HM on my own the following week
I read a lot of posts on here about electrolyte drinks, like tailwind. At the moment I'm trying coconut water after a long run, as it seems the closest natural product to mimic electrolyte loss. I then have some salted cashews for added sodium. I think my recovery is quite good, although I slept like a baby afterwards (12.56hrs!!!!)
Take care everyone, cheering you all on!
I’m scared! I want my mum! Worried I won’t sleep the night before, worried I won’t find my starting point, worried I’ll want a wee when I’ve already left the event village, worried about worrying. No idea where all this worry suddenly landed from. Hopefully I’m doing it now instead of nearer the time. I was totally calm for my first race , but the magic words half marathon have got me all of a dither suddenly 😳
The event was run by Vitality when I did it, but I don't suppose Virgin have made all that many changes xxx
Oh, and don't worry about not sleeping - most of us don't get much sleep the night before a race, but it's fine to miss one night, and the excitement on the day will banish any tiredness. I do suggest, though, that if you possibly can, get away from Himself that Doesn't Snore for a few nights before the race to make sure you get some quality sleep leading up to the big day.
Funny you should mention the one who snores not! I’ve been sleeping in the back of the house alone since I started training. Mostly, it has to be said, because the traffic is so noisy at the front when the windows are open - which they have been in summer. Mr IDS refuses to sleep at the back of the house so I’m alone and sleeping well 😊
cant do it. Blood sugar level drops, am faint and sick. Have tried sticking it out (when younger) and landed up very ill. Also I'm running five days a week and feel shakey when I dont eat. I certainly wouldn't be fasting the day before a half marathon, and that's the night I'm worried about sleep wise!
I did my longest run so far on Sunday- 11.2 miles from Caerphilly Castle to Cardiff Castle. It’s come at the right time in my HM build up (Cardiff 6th October) and was in aid of Velindre our cancer centre. I was painfully slow but time isn’t my goal for the HM anyway. I plan to
I managed 11.2m as my long run this week. Best distance of my whole life, so am very proud of myself.
Right glute is a but tender this morning (run was yesterday) so am just quietly seeing how it goes. I won't do a 5k til tomorrow/Friday, which will hopefully be intervals.
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Spring 2020 Half Marathon Group! 😄 Let's get to know each other!!! 
