I have just graduated from ju-ju's timed plan, which has taken me to just over 8km. My plan now is to start the plan again but go for the distance instead, and to help keep me motivated I have signed up for a 10K race in early April. From that – I got googleing, and as I clearly also need a holiday – I was drawn into looking at half marathons abroad. In particular, there is one in the Petra desert in Jordan in September, which I think would be just spectacular. Apparently the course is a bit grueling, but the cutoff time is 7hrs, which I should make even if I have to walk it And I'm in Australia, so I should be acclimatized to the heat..
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So I am just here trawling for any inspirational stories about peoples journeys to half marathons (or further!) so I can judge whether or not I really think I’ll be able to do it…. Right now 8km is H A R D, but I have until September to slowly build up to it right??
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motherduckling
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There’s loads of good reads on here We are running in chilly Britain but it seems to suit. We have cold weather runners here in .Norway and Canada. We do have a runner in Spainhere too. Feel free to browse
Good luck with Your running. Slowly building up by no more than 10% a week will get you where you want to go .
Running in extreme heat ! You’re braver than I am We have an Australian member here but we’ve not heard from him for a while. his stories are here though
A lot of our members post reports of their races in here - go to the 'Posts' page and input 'Report' into the search box and you will come up with hundreds of race reports, not all are for half marathons but many are!
Also, we are currently running a Half Marathon group, which although aimed at a Spring HM, will give you lots of information about running a half. The latest post is pinned, but there will probably be a new one up later today:
Follow me and linda9389 for email notifications of our posts.
As for inspirational people, I guess you will "get to know" some of them as you browse the posts here, but for current posts I suggest you take a look at TailChaser 's regular HM training reports - the latest one is just below yours! Hidden did similar for her Autumn race, so check her out too.
A half marathon is an awesome thing to do, and that one looks amazing!!! I'm looking forward to YOUR race report 😊😊😊
You will get plenty of advice and support here, but I can share my experience. I graduated Couch to 5k in May last year then used JuJu's plan to get me to an hour, and then up to 10k. I ran 8k for the first time on 17 June and my first 10k on 1 July.
After that, I just started extending my long run by around 500-1,000m each week or so (typically, I run one long run and two short runs each week).
I ran my first 10 miles on 28 October and kept stretching that long run further.
18 November was the day I hit the HM mark. I took me 2 hours 50. It was -2°C at the time. It wasn't an organised event, just three laps of a 7k route around my village that I did one Monday evening after work.
So, it took me one day more than 6 months to get from 8k to HM. You have 9 months to build, so I think you should be just fine...
Thanks for sharing! I cant even imagine running in negative temperatures - we might get one or two days when it gets that low in the very middle of winter, but those are the very minimum temperatures.... and there is no way I would head out in that! At the moment it is quite nice, we have low 30's, so when the wind picks up in the evening it is good for running (and even more thankfully I am in a part of the country that is not on fire, so I am hugely grateful for that).
And thats such great progress in only 6 months! It definitely gives me hope for a 2020 Half Marathon!
I hadnt, but just googled it and my goodness! 'The toughest foot race on Earth' according to Wikipedia! Sounds amazing but I dont think Im ever going to be up for 250km in 6 days! And in sand too... I have actually been to the Sahara before and it was tough enough sitting on a camel and walking, let alone running it!
Hello, you are definitely in the right place for all the inspiration and support you will need for any running goal. I joined one of Roseabi's amazing HM groups when I was training for my HM last Autumn and it was such a source of advice, encouragement and information.
I decided to do a HM with four months to prepare. As it was an Autumn race there was quite a lot of summer running, although I suspect UK heat doesn't quite compare to Australian and Jordanian weather! On the day of the HM, it was rainy, windy and the start of the course was like a mud bath. I mention it not because I think you'd have the same experience, but because I think it shows that you adapt and you have race day magic to see you through once you've done the training.
It sounds exciting and achievable to me. Small steps (literally and metaphorically) working to a good training plan that fits in well with your life and drawing on all the camaraderie, inspiration and kindness to be found on this forum and you will be all set.
Thanks for that - It sounds like the race day magic is really something special. I am sure with the support of everyone on here it is something Ill be able to tick off the bucket list! (Having only actually added it to the bucket list a couple of days ago )
The nice people at Reykjavíkurmaraþon emailed only today to say registrations were open for Reykjavik! Would definitely recommend, I had a lovely time last year 😄 👇
Ooh I just read your report and that really sounds lovely! I particularly like that they were handing out cinnamon buns and beer - sounds like my kind of run! I was in Iceland 2 years ago and loved it (even though everything was so expensive!) - this could be a good excuse to head back!
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And I'm in Australia, so I should be acclimatized to the heat..
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Spring 2020 Half Marathon Group! 😄 Let's get to know each other!!! 
Bournemouth Half Marathon 
