October Half Marathon Group: Follow, ... - Fun Beyond 10K & ...

Fun Beyond 10K & Race Support

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October Half Marathon Group: Follow, share, be inspired! πŸ’—

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon
β€’40 Replies

Hi all!

Sorry about the radio silence last week!

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:

healthunlocked.com/marathon...

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!!!

roseabi xx

September 3rd, 2019

OHMG: docs.google.com/spreadsheet...

HUHM Strava Club: strava.com/clubs/huhm-489700

roseabi's Half Marathon Plan: docs.google.com/spreadsheet...

Previous post: healthunlocked.com/marathon...

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roseabi profile image
roseabi
Ultramarathon
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40 Replies
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David_G profile image
David_GMetric Marathon

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).

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathonβ€’ in reply toDavid_G

Awesome xxx

CandyCool profile image
CandyCoolMarathon

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 πŸ™ x

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathonβ€’ in reply toCandyCool

Thank you, Candy xxx

Here's some Cardiff Half stuff for you 😊😊😊

strava.com/running-races/20...

youtu.be/JgMsGuZ-D-s

CandyCool profile image
CandyCoolMarathonβ€’ in reply toroseabi

Fabulous thank you xx

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathonβ€’ in reply toCandyCool

There have been some HU people who have taken part, but none that are posting currently - from what I can see anyway...

BethMay profile image
BethMayHalf Marathon10 Milesβ€’ in reply toCandyCool

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 β€˜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

HoagyM profile image
HoagyMHalf Marathonβ€’ in reply toCandyCool

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) β€œbrutal”! Best keep something in reserve for that bit πŸ˜€

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.

CandyCool profile image
CandyCoolMarathonβ€’ in reply toHoagyM

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 β€˜hill’! πŸ‘πŸ˜‚πŸŽ‰

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksHalf Marathon

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! πŸ‘πŸ‘ Ok, it’s not until March, but the mere thought me of entering a race of that distance is still unbelievable. πŸƒβ€β™€οΈ

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! πŸ‘πŸƒπŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸ‘Š

So yes, training is going well, and I hope everyone else’s is too. πŸ˜€

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathonβ€’ in reply tocheekychipmunks

Fabulous! I have not run the Bath Half, but I hear it's a lot of fun 😊😊😊

Looking forward to reading about your September run xxx

UpTheStanley profile image
UpTheStanleyHalf Marathonβ€’ in reply tocheekychipmunks

Hi Cheeky, Weds 18th Sept looking favourite, but as you know I really need my pacer πŸƒπŸ½β€β™€οΈπŸƒβ€β™‚οΈ 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 :-) .

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksHalf Marathonβ€’ in reply toUpTheStanley

Great stuff. I’ll work towards the 18th. Let me know if anything changes and good luck to you and Dexy5 this weekend. πŸ˜€πŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸƒπŸ…

Lavender1962 profile image
Lavender1962Half Marathon

Thanks Roseabi for the shoutout! I am actually starting to think about a next one in the spring. 😊 Enjoying the run was the best advice I received.

Right now, I’m planning on doing a 10k race this fall. My goal is to try and keep a long run of 10 to 15k once a week.

Good luck everyone with your plans! I’m looking forward to reading all of the upcoming race reports!

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathonβ€’ in reply toLavender1962

Awesome xxx

HoagyM profile image
HoagyMHalf Marathon

Realise now I mistakenly put my HM training update on your β€œfabulous!” 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 πŸ˜€

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathonβ€’ in reply toHoagyM

It just made the post all the more fabulous 😊😊😊

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathonβ€’ in reply toHoagyM

Sounds fab! Have fun out there. Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeha!

Langley-Loper profile image
Langley-LoperHalf Marathon

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.

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathonβ€’ in reply toLangley-Loper

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

TailChaser profile image
TailChaserMarathon

Hi Roseabi,

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 πŸ˜‚)!!

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!!!

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathonβ€’ in reply toTailChaser

Sorry to hear that, hope you get some resolution soon! xxx

I know what you mean about parkrun - I always seem to forget I'm not a gazelle πŸ˜„

I love to read about someone enjoying their strength work - superstar!!!!!

Thank YOU for your lovely contributions, whenever you can manage them 😊😊😊

TailChaser profile image
TailChaserMarathonβ€’ in reply toroseabi

Thanks roseabi πŸ˜πŸ€—

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy510 Milesβ€’ in reply toTailChaser

Fancy dress and a helium balloon will slow you down πŸŽˆπŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathonβ€’ in reply toDexy5

Awesome

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon

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.

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathonβ€’ in reply tomisswobble

Poor Wobble - take care of you xxx

Stoozie profile image
StoozieHalf Marathon

Hi all.

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 :D

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 😳

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathonβ€’ in reply to

Write a 'faffage list' - it's never too early to start one! 😊😊😊

I didn't write a report of the Oxford Half on here, but here is my Endomondo post which has masses of notes:

endomondo.com/users/1456903...

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.

β€’ in reply toroseabi

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 😊

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathonβ€’ in reply to

Awesome!

Stoozie profile image
StoozieHalf Marathonβ€’ in reply to

I find intermittent fasting helps with sleep.

β€’ in reply toStoozie

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!

Stoozie profile image
StoozieHalf Marathonβ€’ in reply to

Right ho!

β€’ in reply toStoozie

πŸ˜ŠπŸ˜‚β€οΈ

BethMay profile image
BethMayHalf Marathon10 Miles

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

-finish 🏁

- enjoy 😊

- avoid the sweeper bus 🚌 and get a medal πŸ…

Beth x

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathonβ€’ in reply toBethMay

Awesome!!!!!!

Stoozie profile image
StoozieHalf Marathon

Hey October halfers :)

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.

Happy running all, cheering you on :)

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathonβ€’ in reply toStoozie

And rightly proud - a huge well done to you!!!!!!!!!

All the best xxx

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