Congratulations on beginning your journey to 1ฬถ1ฬถ ฬถcฬถuฬถpฬถcฬถaฬถkฬถeฬถsฬถ the Half Marathon!
A huge massive warm welcome to all of you, it's wonderful to be getting together for another training group, and I hope you will find it supportive and informative!
If you have not joined yet but would like to do so, there's still plenty of time!!! Just comment below and we will add you to the list.
I think a Strava club for this group is in the works - Linda and I will keep you posted!
OK! For this first HM Group post, LET'S GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER!!! Tell everyone a little bit about yourself in the comments below - here's a few ideas to get you started:
โ How long have you been a runner?
โ Did you start off with Couch to 5K? Why or why not?
โ Will this be your first Half Marathon? Or have you already got the t-shirt? Tell us more!!
โ What are you looking forward to most about completing your Autumn Half Marathon?
โ We will be talking about food glorious food soon, but in the meantime please share with us your favourite running food! I will be stealing ideas ๐
TRAINING PLANS
I think that most of you already have a training plan in mind, but if you would like some help choosing a plan, here is a guide I shared with our previous HM Group:
Thanks for doing this group again. It was very helpful last time.
Re: the questions...
โ How long have you been a runner?
Since Feb 2019.
โ Did you start off with Couch to 5K? Why or why not?
Yes. Seemed like a good way to begin, with a fairly structured approach. It didnโt look too scary and I liked Laura straight away!
โ Will this be your first Half Marathon? Or have you already got the t-shirt? Tell us more!!
I was meant to run London Landmarks but of course it was cancelled. They still sent the T-shirt, though! I have since run the HM distance on my own, locally, but want to do this within an official event.
โ What are you looking forward to most about completing your Autumn Half Marathon?
Sense of achievement. The medal. Raising money for charity. And not getting injured before or during the event.
โ We will be talking half marathon nutrition soon, but in the meantime please share with us your favourite running food! I will be stealing ideas
I eat a Naked bar on longer runs but not sure if itโs helping, so I am keen to hear tips from others on what works.
I got some Naked bars for my first marathon, they fit nicely in the pockets of my Dreaded Capris. But I didn't eat any of them because there were Mars Bars at all the aid stations ๐
Hi roseabi - please can you add me to the list ๐๐โโ๏ธ
Thank you Linda ๐ I'm just working towards ths distance. I started running a year ago and finished the 10k Magic Plan around March so looking for a new challenge
Hi roseabi, could you please add me to the list as well?
I started runnign Jan 2019, starting with C25K. Then I used Ju-Ju's magic plan end of last year to graduate to 10k. This is my first time training for a HM - I am excited (and nervous!)
Thanks for the running plan link, every time Ive looked at a training plan so far itโs put me off!!!!
Iโm regularly running 5 to 10k 3 times a week but havenโt really got past the 10k mark.
I am absolutely committed to getting to HM distance though so this group will no doubt help be the added inspiration to do so.
Iโm following the lead of Stephen_UK and have copied and pasted the questions below with my answers:
โ How long have you been a runner?
Not long at all - started on the 3rd Feb 2020 (Strava handily says so!!!)
โ Did you start off with Couch to 5K? Why or why not?
Yes!! Itโs amazing and Iโd recommend it to everyone!!!!
โ Will this be your first Half Marathon? Or have you already got the t-shirt? Tell us more!!
It will be my first. I was hoping to run the Southend 10k and possibly Half Marathon for a charity my friend runs, perhaps this will give me the confidence to do so next year!!
โ What are you looking forward to most about completing your Autumn Half Marathon?
Itโs a great feeling of achievement every time I complete something I never thought possible. First C25K, then 5k in under 30minutes then 10k, then 10k in under an hour..........Iโd really like to see if I can get to HM distance as I know it will feel great (even if my body doesnโt agree).
โ We will be talking half marathon nutrition soon, but in the meantime please share
?????? I eat a Banana about an hour before running when I remember, thatโs about it!
I look forward to reading everyone elseโs responses
You can do it! If the plans put you off, maybe consider the simplest option of extending your long run each week - just as you did to get to 10k? Make your other runs work for you and your usual routine.
Please add me to the list. I have done 4 half marathons in 3 years but havent managed to get any quicker!!
I ran one recently, locally, on 6 June with 3 of my running group mates keeping me company. Did well considering the heat at the time but didnt beat my last time from September 2019. That is my focus for the next one.
Dont have anything planned formally but if I can, there is a half marathon in Nice, France in late October so might aim for that (though will mean spending 2 or 3 nights away in Nice which would be a hassle (NOT)). However, there might be something here in Portugal that I can enter but nothing showing up at the moment so the at least the Nice one gives me a date.
In 2006 I had a place in the Great North Run but we moved to Portugal early that year and I didnt have the time to continue the training and more or less let the running go. It wasnt till late 2013 that I started again with Couch to 5k and it was last September that I found a local running group. Joined that and not looked back.
Gain a lot from this Forum and the info that is shared amongst us. Glad to be part of this new half marathon group.
I started C25K in April 2017, did Ju-ju's plan in 2018 and ran my first half marathon in spring 2019 (and my second and my third!).
I was out with injury for Oct 2019 so had to wait til this March for my next HM. It was immediately before lockdown so I decided to run it locally instead of joining 15000 other runners in Bath!
I'm hoping Oxford HM (deferred from last year) will either go ahead or offer a virtual option: as ever my motivation is pretty shallow - bling and a tshirt ๐คฃ plus the chance to better my previous time (although that always seems an impossible task when I start HM training ๐ค). I'm looking forward to training in an HU group again - the previous ones I've taken part in have been great fun.
One of my trusted snacks before a run is a SIS Espresso Energy bar with Caffeine (although they are completely out of stock so hopefully not discontinued ๐) - it's not too sweet, gives me a good wake up kick and I don't need to leave much time to digest it. I haven't really got a favourite 'on the run' snack, so look forward to seeing what others post ๐
โ Did you start off with Couch to 5K? Why or why not?
Yes I did, BBC with Sanjeev who was an absolute star and got me from a nice n runner to a runner at the age of 49
โ Will this be your first Half Marathon? Or have you already got the t-shirt? Tell us more!! First one, I might be punching against my weight but I do love a plan!
โ What are you looking forward to most about completing your Autumn Half Marathon? Achieving the unachievable
โ We will be talking half marathon nutrition soon, but in the meantime please share with us your favourite running food! I will be stealing ideas ๐
I run am..get out of bed, brush my teeth and run. Aim to improve hydration but would like to find out more about nutrition pre and post run
TRAINING PLANS
I think that most of you already have a training plan in mind, but if you would like some help choosing a plan, here is a guide I shared with our previous HM Group:
Hi guys...god those cupcakes look good ๐, I'm healthy eating to get rid of the lockdown weight at the mo but only another 3 lbs to go and I'll be back to my normal yummy weekend treats!
A bit about me...I've been running for 2 years and 2 months.
The 1st year was just me, doing a bit on my walks, maybe twice a week and I kind of stalled at 20 minutes!
Then I popped a running related question in Google and the answer was from HU's C25K group. I had a nose, quickly realised how amazing it was, joined up and started from week 5. Along with the forums amazing advice and support I had graduated and was running 5K within 6 weeks...and the rest as they say, is history.
This will be my 2nd Half Marathon, the 1st was in the Spring Group you guys did and I think I rushed the training once I got to ten miles so found 13.1 a challenge I didn't enjoy.
I may be asking for a lot but this time around I want to take my time a bit more and actually enjoy it ๐๐
I started my running with c25k a year ago as I needed to do cardio and fitness work to help me control my weight and horse riding.
I've met lots of lovely people through running and joined in with the Parkruns and managed one 5 mile trail race. I signed up to do the Bristol 10k and did all the training but unfortunately covid-19 came along.
This will be my first HM and it will be lovely to have a new challenge to work towards.
I started C25K in early January with a local running club - I have to admit that I never actually used the app although I had it on my phone for a year! I graduated in late March then followed Ju-ju's Magic Plan and ran my first 10k in mid May.
โ Will this be your first Half Marathon? Or have you already got the t-shirt? Tell us more!!
I never dreamed of ever contemplating a half marathon but I have really enjoyed the achievement of working through each distance this year and hope that HM will be my next success. I am not signed up to a run so will most likely just be attacking the distance solo.
โ What are you looking forward to most about completing your Autumn Half Marathon?
I think surprising myself and others!
โ We will be talking half marathon nutrition soon, but in the meantime please share with us your favourite running food! I will be stealing ideas ๐
I am only running 6 miles at the moment so haven't really dabbled with running snacks but did take jelly babies with me yesterday and they made me happy! I normally have a banana and a cuppa before I run.
โ TRAINING PLANS
I am following a Runners World Beginner's HM plan - it is 12 weeks and I am currently part way through week 5. I chose it as it had no complicated faffy runs which just stress me out. I am thinking that I can tackle fartleks etc when our running club starts up again and someone else can tell me when to start/stop/slow down and speed up!
I lost momentum over the last couple of weeks but had a lovely run yesterday -probably because I chose a new route with a 1 hour chat in a friend's garden half way through. I then decided I couldn't face running 6 miles in the heat so settled for 4.3 miles instead. Sometimes it just has to be fun.
I'm looking forward to following all your running adventures.
I started running at beginning of 2019. I had done the occasional short run before that, but never properly trained or done anything more than a few km.
โ Did you start off with Couch to 5K? Why or why not?
Yes: my aim was to do a park run by end of March 2019, which I managed thanks to C25K. I then went on to use Ju-Ju's plan to train for a 10k last October. I had my 2nd 10k planned in May but that was cancelled, so I did a virtual 10k instead.
โ Will this be your first Half Marathon? Or have you already got the t-shirt? Tell us more!!
Yes it will be the first.
โ What are you looking forward to most about completing your Autumn Half Marathon?
The sense of achievement on completing it!
โ We will be talking half marathon nutrition soon, but in the meantime please share with us your favourite running food! I will be stealing ideas ๐
A banana!
โ Training Plan
For my 2nd 10k I used a "Garmin Coach" plan on my Garmin watch, so I've now started a Garmin Coach HM plan.
I got a massive sense of achievement from my first HM. It felt 'proper'. Undeniably something that only a runner would do. I finally felt less of an imposter ๐๐คฃ๐คฃ๐คฃ
Hi everyone, I started with C25K in Feb 2020 after a friend recommended it, she thought I might enjoy it and she was right! I graduated in April.
Started JuJuโs magic plan and have now run several 10k, longest distance to date 16k. Most of my running is on trails. Speed, not fast. ๐
This will be my first half marathon, looking forward to giving myself a new challenge. I do very little road running so will probably end up completing a solo trail run.
Quite partial to a nakd bar, Amazon sometimes have good bulk buy deals if you want to buy 48 at a time! Have started to make my own energy balls. Love a jelly baby too. Drinking whilst running is a bit messy, more practise required. ๐ฌ
I still canโt believe Iโm actually doing this!
Fabulous progress. I walk while drinking during an HM races๐ Less messy, less spluttery and psychologically it breaks the run into more manageable 5 to 7k chunks, depending where the water stations are.
Even though the water breaks are pretty short they make a big difference. Run/walk is popular but I haven't tried it (not in a planned way at least ๐)
Thank you for all the information, Iโll have fun digesting it all.
Iโve been running for 2 years next week and did the couch to 5K plan. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would enjoy running but I do. At the age of 57 my body often finds it a struggle ๐. This will be a huge challenge but I would really like to see if I can achieve it. (Iโm also feeling slightly nervous ๐)
Jelly babies, has to be my most important food on a longer run. Recently though, Iโve discovered Anita Bean and her brilliant books for runners with loads of great recipes and nutrition info which has been invaluable.
Iโm looking forward to picking up all your tips along the way.
Hi can I join please, started back with c25k again in January (having done twice before but then stopped after it as couldn't keep motivation up) this time I've managed to do 10km 4 times since and built up to 12km last weekend.
Hoping to build up to a half marathon which will initially be virtual by the end of the year.
Welcome to the team! I'll add you to the list. It's great that you keep returning to running - hopefully an HM goal will give you lots of motivation ๐
About 5 years but did run before until 10yrs ago. I had a break from running when I had children.
โ Did you start off with Couch to 5K? Why or why not?
Years ago I played hockey and running just happened. 5yr ago I did c25k locally.
โ Will this be your first Half Marathon? Or have you already got the t-shirt? Tell us more!!
I have done several hm and a marathon. I am looking to maintain hm distance until the autumn for events that may come up.
โ What are you looking forward to most about completing your Autumn Half Marathon?
It will be great to actually do a hm event rather than a solo virtual hm. I miss the buzz and atmosphere!
โ We will be talking half marathon nutrition soon, but in the meantime please share with us your favourite running food! I will be stealing ideas ๐
Thanks for organising this group, I found the last spring group massively motivating and helpful.
โ How long have you been a runner?
Since March 2019, so a relative newbie.
โ Did you start off with Couch to 5K? Why or why not?
Yes. Itโs amazing and I tell everyone I meet about it; to their dismay I expect ๐ After graduating C25K I quickly moved onto 10k distance with JuJuโs Magic Plan which was also amazing. Stepping up to half marathon felt like a natural progression in my running journey.
โ Will this be your first Half Marathon? Or have you already got the t-shirt? Tell us more!!
Iโve covered half marathon distance 5 times, including once at an official race. Keen to get more experience under my belt as I quietly harbour an ambition to go further some day...
โ What are you looking forward to most about completing your Autumn Half Marathon?
Getting some structure back to my running. Iโve continued to run 3 times a week throughout lockdown, mixing up shorter and longer runs. But I miss the structure of a training plan with a fixed goal in sight. I also love hearing how everyone else is doing. Itโs massively motivating.
โ We will be talking half marathon nutrition soon, but in the meantime please share with us your favourite running food! I will be stealing ideas ๐
Iโm terrible at planning nutrition in the lead up to and during long runs. So looking forward to hearing all the top tips.
I agree on the plan front! Although by the end of a plan I'm usually ready for some free running! It flip flops quite nicely when you build in a spring and an autumn HM focus ๐
Hello hello, I love reading about othersโ tales and progress so Iโm really looking forward to this group. I loved the spring one ๐ Thanks ladies for organising.
Iโve been running for over seven years (how did THAT happen?)and found C25K by accident when I googled โhow to runโ, I had the lovely Laura as my coach and there was only the one community so times have changed a lot! I loved running from the start and have continued with it ever since.
I trained for my first HM five years ago, but got injured just before going the full distance and then it took me another four years to actually run the whole way - โtis a very long saga ๐ - I did it on my own. I then entered the Bath HM for March this year, did the training and then got injured again just beforehand, then lockdown happened but I couldnโt run it virtually and so missed out on the bling โน๏ธ
But Iโm now trying to keep to a schedule where Iโm more or less ready for a HM any time. Ive got the Bristol HM at the end of September and while I doubt itโll go ahead Iโm hoping there will be a virtual opportunity. Iโm hoping to get more bling ๐ ๐
My favourite running food use to be dates but for longer runs I still prefer my homemade Power flapjacks ๐
Hi all, very happy to be part of this group. I've been finding my training a bit lonely so hopefully being in this group will help with that.
โ How long have you been a runner?
I've been running regularly since January 2019 when I did the Couch to 5k. I've had a bit of a poo 12 months and running has really helped me mentally and physically to feel calmer and better about myself.
โ Will this be your first Half Marathon? Or have you already got the t-shirt? Tell us more!!
I'm entered in the Oxford Half in October which will be my first attempt at this distance. I've never believed I'd ever be able to do it to be honest, right up until last weekend when I managed 9 miles for the first time. Feeling more positive that I can now.
โ What are you looking forward to most about completing your Autumn Half Marathon?
It will be such a huge sense of achievement and confidence booster.
โ We will be talking half marathon nutrition soon, but in the meantime please share with us your favourite running food!
As a novice at longer distances, I have no idea about ideal nutrition. I've been on a weight loss mission so been eating pretty healthily. I usually run in the mornings fasted and have a banana after. Interested in trying jelly babies or similar to help with long runs as defo felt needed something on Sunday.
I graduated C25K in January 2015 and ran my first half marathon, Milton Keynes Winter Half, in December 2015. I love running and racing, I have participated in 6 half marathon events, and gone the distance many more times in training. I have many t-shirts but most of them don't fit ๐ I have also run 5 marathons and 2 ultramarathons, so I have eaten all the cupcakes, but my favourite running food has to be peanut butter! I like a peanut butter and jam sandwich, or PB on toast with a sliced tomato on top - it feels as though it keeps me going for ages. These are eaten before the run of course, I haven't got around to carrying sandwiches with me on the run yet, but it could happen! Who has read Eat and Run by Scott Jurek? That guy carries vegan burritos around with him, so I'm sure I could manage a peanut butter sandwich...
Peanut butter sandwiches! Now thereโs an idea ๐ค have you tried the new peanut butter and marmite mix? very moreish - and marmite contains Vitamin B12 - that must be good for runners ๐
โ Did you start off with Couch to 5K? Why or why not?
I've done C25K twice! First time I got over- excited about my new found and completely unexpected love of running and like many before and after me totally overdid it and ended up straining my Achilles and couldn't run for a couple of months. Second time was very slow and cautious and this time I've been OK - fingers crossed. I've completed Juju's Magic 10 and ran my first 10K in early May. Since then I've consolidated and now up to 13K.
โ Will this be your first Half Marathon? Or have you already got the t-shirt? Tell us more!!
This will be my first half marathon. I have looked at the plan you shared and it looks good so have printed it off. Before that I was looking at the Beginners Runners World one which is also good but yours looks slightly gentler which is prob better for me. I'm not sure at this stage whether I'll follow it completely or just use it as a guide as I've been quite enjoying a bit of freedom with my runs at the moment, just being careful not to overdo it. I'm already amazed at being able to run this far considering how I was hobbling around not being able to put my heel down a year ago. I thought I'd never run again!
โ What are you looking forward to most about completing your Autumn Half Marathon?
The cupcakes! Not really....The huge sense of achievement. I'm thinking there could be tears like after my 10K!
โ We will be talking about food glorious food soon, but in the meantime please share with us your favourite running food!
I don't eat at all before running. Don't know if I should?? I love just getting out of bed into my running gear and going out the door whilst it's lovely and quiet and not too hot. When I get back I have a banana and that's it before shower and then the breakfast of the righteous! (Porridge with golden syrup ๐)
Oh and I do take an electrolyte drink with me on long run day.
Hello everyone, I started running in August 2019 with C25K after a colleague persuaded me to sign up to a 5K charity fun run with him. Since then I have caught the bug and never looked back! Iโd never thought I could do a half marathon until I saw the post about this group in B210K and after a lot of back and forth, here I am! So this will be my first attempt, Iโve not signed up to an event or started a training plan yet but looking forward to training as part of a group and hopefully proving to myself I can do it. Iโve never really run far enough to consider nutrition, during a run, but my favourite post run recovery treat is chocolate oat milk!
Thankyou, I have spent a long time looking through those links and I think I prefer the one in the google doc from roseabi. I think if I enter a race the closest one to me likely to go ahead is in December, so would like to cover the distance or close to it in October/November in preparation.
This will be my 3rd foray to HM distance. Iโve been running for just over 2 years and completed C25K in August 2018. Iโve run 6 races, including the virtual Bath HM in March. My time improved by 22 minutes from my first effort last September (first time was on the trails), and I was thrilled. Iโm hoping to shave a little more off this time round.
I enjoy being part of a training group, and this one will be fun I know! Iโm entered into the Bristol HM at the end of September, so letโs see if it goes ahead!
Happy training everyone. ๐โโ๏ธ๐โโ๏ธ๐โโ๏ธ๐โโ๏ธ
Fingers crossed for Bristol ๐ค. If Bath were scheduled for next weekend, I think I would probably go for it .... maybe starting at the back a bit after everyone else ๐.
Hello everyone! Iโm looking forward to joining this group after Covid19 thwarted my attempts at my first HM at the start of April. I now have fingers and toes crossed that the Coventry Half will be run at the start of November instead.
Iโm currently running 5k 3 times a week just to keep fitness up, but I was up to 12 miles at the end of March.
โ How long have you been a runner?
Itโs 3 years and 2 days since I graduated from Couch to 5k. Before that, the only thing that ran was my nose! Iโve since become a regular Parkrunner, and run a few 10kโs.
โ Did you start off with Couch to 5K? Why or why not?
Yes. I did the App, with Jo Whitley as my coach. Found the HealthUnlocked forums which were tremendous support too.
โ Will this be your first Half Marathon? Or have you already got the t-shirt? Tell us more!!
This will be my first one. I only signed up as itโs a special birthday year for me, and another friend with a similar birthday had already started training for her half. Thought I could use it as an excuse to raise a bit of money for charity (in my case The National Flood Forum).
โ What are you looking forward to most about completing your Autumn Half Marathon?
Well, apart from actually getting to run it this time? Iโm hoping that I can go back to just running for fun, and not having to stick to the fairly rigid training plan (Iโm a creature of plans and habit, so HAVE to have a rigid training plan!). And of course, Iโm looking forward to the bling too!
Hi all. I was training for a half marathon before lockdown had joined a club everything was going great. I was up at 10 miles, then I hurt my knee and between that and lockdown I lost my way a bit. Hopefully build up again and get there.๐Thanks.
Ugghh, so frustrating. Better luck this time - but stay mindful of the knee and maybe focus some of your cross training efforts on appropriate strengthening.
So excited to be here. Iโve been running for two years now after graduating C25k in April 2018 and had started building up distance following the Runners World Beginners HM plan before we went into lockdown in March.
I havenโt got a particular HM to train for but would love to achieve the distance. Iโm in NZ, so being part of this group will make me feel less alone while training and the support on here is amazing.
Not sure about nutrition yet whether the same brands available in the UK are here, but you canโt go wrong with peanut butter or bananas. I also recommend Sqkrโs flapjacks (recipe on this forum) I added a dark chocolate peanut butter just cos (delish).
Iโm going to follow Roseabiโs plan, as some days Iโll probably need a couple of days rest after a long run Iโll blame winter here, nothing to do with my age ๐ Thank you so much for doing this.
Hi everyone, looking forward to being part of this group again, was so helpful last time! You can also follow me on Instagram too, redcello41 or #musicianwhoruns because I post training updates on there too!
- How long have you been a runner?
I have been a runner for 1 year and 3 months, started on March 18th 2019, the day after watching The Bath Half Marathon 2019! I run 3 times a week, cycle as cross-training in between my run days, and have a complete rest day once a week.
- Did you start off with Couch to 5K? Why or why not?
Yes I did, a friend of mine recommended it to me, it's brilliant for beginners! Graduated on 21st May 2019!
- Will this be your first Half Marathon? Or have you already got the t-shirt? Tell us more!!
This will be my second Half Marathon, I ran my first at the Bath Half Marathon in March 2020 just before lockdown! Can't wait to build on my progress!
- What are you looking forward to most about completing your Autumn Half Marathon?
Hopefully training will go smoother than last time! Cut a long story short, three weeks into my training, I came down with severe abdominal pain and had to go to hospital! I missed five weeks of training as a result and once I was back on my feet and recovered, I kind of just blagged the rest of my training and managed to get to the start-line and even finished the race in 02:57:00! So I'm hoping to run a 02:30:00 half-marathon this time round and I've even started cycling as cross-training so if training goes to plan, I should be quite a bit faster!
- We will be talking about food glorious food soon, but in the meantime please share with us your favourite running food! I will be stealing ideas ๐
okay so -
pre-run = bannana half an hour before I go out
post-run = a protein-heavy smoothie (milk, natural yoghurt, frozen blueberries, strawberries and bannana slices, peanut butter and chia seeds) and an electrolyte drink if I'm running in hot weather!
10K and beyond - a Science in Sport non-caffeinated gel every 5K and coconut water (Am looking forward to experiment with other brands of gels but also natural food for my long runs!) Oh and Jelly Beans work a treat too!
I'm new I this group, I only started running in May last year, did c25k, then continue to actually run 5k, then 10k, now going for the HM
My motivation at the beginning of c25k was to improve my fitness, I was just looking for a way to exercise and be a bit healthier. I've been in a long process of improving myself, which included a lot of weight loss but also a lot of mental improvements. It turns out that running has been good for me, but I actually like it (most of the time, I won't lie there are moments that it's hard!!) and I really like the sense of achievement when you get a personal best when you manage to get a bit further or just when "that hill" becomes your friend and you can run it easily!
Moving on to the questions:
โ How long have you been a runner?
- I've covered that, it's only been one year!!! No sport since I was in high school (long time ago)
โ Did you start off with Couch to 5K? Why or why not?
- I started with the NHS c25k program. I had no idea where to start, but the app and the information on the website were clear, and I needed clear instructions. Then I also found the c25k forum, which was a great help.
โ Will this be your first Half Marathon? Or have you already got the t-shirt? Tell us more!!
This should be my first HM. I have done the distance (once) for a virtual race, but I don't feel it's the same. I still don't have an event in mind (I had one, in my town, but it's been postponed to next year), I've seen a couple of other events but I don't know yet if they will go ahead, so I'll decide closer to the date if I register for an actual race.
โ What are you looking forward to most about completing your Autumn Half Marathon?
- The achievement! A bit more than 2 years ago, it would have been hard for me to walk for more than 30 min. I was obese as a child and very obese as an adult, I had tried to change things before but I thought there were many things I couldn't do and I would never be able to do. I'm less than half the weight from 2 years ago, and completing a real HM would be the perfect celebration of how much I've changed (but do not worry, I'm very proud of where I am right now and how far I've gone, so if there are no real HMs in the fall for me, I will find another way to celebrate)
โ We will be talking about food glorious food soon, but in the meantime please share with us your favourite running food! I will be stealing ideas ๐
Before a run, I go for banana or a nakd bar, if it's very long I might also have coffee. During a run, I've tried eating but it doesn't work for me (I have to sprint home), but I have a water bladder and I use tailwind, and that seems to work ok for me.
You are clearly determined and focused - fabulous achievements ๐. I hope you manage to find a 'real event' - that would be the icongnonnthe cake ๐
Hiya all thanks for setting up this group, I'm much more motivated when I sign up for something! If my desired trail HM doesn't happen, I shall do a virtual one.
I started running about 4.5 years ago with C25k. I didn't tell anyone I was running until I'd done a couple of weeks and then I couldn't shut up about it! It took me a while to finish, and I signed up for my first 10k (race for life) before I'd run 5k (!) and before I knew it I was at parkrun, then joining a local running club.
I picked up lots of tips on my way and decided I was ready for a HM sometime later. Life got in the way and I missed the first one I'd booked, but completed a hilly trail HM in just over 3 hours having trained up to about 8-9 miles beforehand. There was lots of walking, but that's fine by me.
I've completed 2 marathons and about 10 HMs and over 100 parkruns now. I used to push hard for pace, but got injured and had to give up for a bit (horrible time!) so I'm much more cautious now and a firm believer in Jeffing. Running is so important to me for my mental health as well as fitness, I don't want to jeopardise that by chasing PBs.
Looking forward to sharing tips, stories, good and bad runs with you all!!!
Hi, welcome to the group! We hope you will find the tips and encouragement helpful, but I must point out that we feel it is best if people have have been running 10 km for a little while before starting training for a half marathon. So I would suggest that you may want to think about planning your HM for the far end of Autumn. This might be no bad thing, as there is a greater likelihood of some actual events occurring in November/December ๐
Are there any particular events you have your eye on?
Hi thanks for the advice. Iโm in no huge hurry, and I agree later in the autumn is a good idea. Iโm thinking late Oct/Nov. I started running in Jan - although I have run in the past, including 2 x 10k completed in less than an hour, but I had a nasty knock to my right knee last year, which took months to heal, and my physio suggest C25K around Christmas time. So I started in Jan, completed at the start of lockdown and have not looked back. I run 3 x per week, and after a couple of months of consolidation have been following B210K now for 3 weeks. I hope to complete this by the end of July, consolidate, and then step up for the longer distance, through Sept/Oct. Thatโs the plan... !!
Great to see the group posts! I joined the Spring HM group and it was such a great support and resource to see me over the line at my first HM in Cambridge on 8th March this year.
I started running Jan 2019, having never run before, and my target was 10k by my 50th birthday in October 2019 which I managed, so the HM step up was the obvious next stage. I made it, just, round the HM course and did the usual "never again" speech to anyone who would listen afterwards. I don't have an event booked, but would like to get myself back to say, 10 Miles as a realistic target for now with a view to doing Cambridge Half again next March.... I didn't do enough long runs last time, I was stumped by illness in the last few weeks and I so nearly fell at the final hurdle so being in this group will be a huge help to getting longer distances before Autumn, consolidating and pushing on to the Half next year.
So, I am slightly cheating as I am not currently aiming to run a Half before end of 2020!
In terms of food, I tend to have something, but not too much - maybe a banana an hour before a long run. I keep myself going during the run with dried apricots and jelly babies! Nowt flash here!
There is something about the end of the month that acts as a trigger. I first started C25K 30th April 2016; progressed through the 9 weeks but hadnโt thought about what next so running dropped off the agenda. Restarted 22nd Fed 2017 and have been pretty regular runner since.
โ Did you start off with Couch to 5K? Why or why not?
Yes started with C25K (after a failed attempt to follow a paper BUPA plan). Why - I saw it advertised during the London Marathon 2016, found the app and it worked. I love a list so tracking each run worked for me.
โ Will this be your first Half Marathon? Or have you already got the t-shirt? Tell us more!!
Nope, Iโve completed HM distance last year and just a few weeks ago. Iโd like to conquer the distance so that I have confidence I can do.
โ What are you looking forward to most about completing your Autumn Half Marathon?
For me itโs all about the training, I need the structure of a training plan and the goal of achieving the distance. Looking forward to having company on the journey.
You can really get your teeth (legs) into an HM training plan can't you? Lots of progression to keep you motivated and company definitely helps keep me on track all the way. Enjoy ๐
Having avoided running for most of my life Iโve come to it late (Iโm 57) only starting less than 2 years ago. Iโll confess that itโs still a struggle to get out there some days, but I never regret it in the end!
โ Did you start off with Couch to 5K? Why or why not?
Yup, Iโm another C25k convert. I graduated in December 2018 (my first Parkrun was New Year's Day 2019). I then finally got round to shifting up a gear and hit 10k consistently in Feb this year.
โ Will this be your first Half Marathon? Or have you already got the t-shirt? Tell us more!!
This is the first. Letโs see how it goes after that!
โ What are you looking forward to most about completing your Autumn Half Marathon?
Iโm looking forward to doing something that my younger self would never have imagined me doing.
โ We will be talking about food glorious food soon, but in the meantime please share with us your favourite running food!
Hmmm ... not sure Iโve got one. But burning those extra calories means any of my favourite foods becomes an option
I can identify with all your answers. Except I never struggle to start a run these days. I've had a few injuries, and a long one last year means I am now so grateful to be able to run that I never hesitate! Struggling to get to the end if a run? That's a whole different story ๐
I am a relatively new runner after starting couch 25k last Oct. I found the routine and structure really helpful and completed in February. Afterwards I followed the bridge to 10 and started running 10k three times a week but got bored so now is the time for the next venture! I have downloaded the plan, got new shoes and praying for cooler weather ๐
Hello! Canโt believe I missed this! Can you add me please?
Running since starting C25k in Jan/Feb 2018 (where did that go?!).
This one will just be for me. Iโd like to improve on the 2.30 of my only one so far and it will put some structure back into my running and make sure that a 10k carries on feeling like an โeasyโ distance!! It would be nice to do it in an organised race but hey-ho, Iโll just get on with it again. In any case Iโm still signed up for next yearโs Shakespeare HM so Iโve got to keep going!!
I like a good pint of Katnapโs SIS banana Rego after a long run, itโs yummy! Itโs not vegan though so wouldnโt suit everyone.
Well helloooo! Better late than never ๐คฃ. Consider yourself added. I tried the chocolate SIS Rego after GSR and on the basis of that - threw the banana one away, maybe I missed a trick ๐คช
Hello Linda! ๐ Nice to be back on the team ๐
How could you throw it away, itโs delicious! Itโs even worth doing a really long run for that at the end. However, I may have to try the chick tone now too....๐...surely it canโt be *that* good??? ๐ค
Chick tone ... that sounds vegan! I could taste that drink the whole 2 hour drive plus ... then all evening too ... bleuggh ๐ช I do mu bit to support SIS with other products though, and more recently PhD as well who turn out to be the same company.
Grrrrr! Autocorrect!! ๐ supposed to be chocolate!! What sort of stupid algorithm thinks โchick toneโ is a better โwordโ than chocolate?????!!๐คฃ๐คฃ
Weโve got part of a cupboard devoted to SIS by Katnap. I donโt mind tasting the banana but it does give me cravings for it ๐
I started running in April last year. For several years I'd watched friends start C25k then fall in love with running and wanted to try it myself.
โ Did you start off with Couch to 5K? Why or why not?
I did C25K with Sanjeev. I would have given up if left to my own devices. His humour and encouragement kept me going. I found this amazing forum in week 9.
โ Will this be your first Half Marathon? Or have you already got the t-shirt? Tell us more!!
I was part of the spring half marathon group. I had a couple of weeks off the hm plan in December/January to build up my strength and flex. I managed 10 miles in March, then lockdown interrupted my training.
โ What are you looking forward to most about completing your Autumn Half Marathon?
The achievement and virtual medal. I'd love to be able to take a long and regular Sunday afternoon run through the countryside. I want to enjoy the run too. A new plan will help keep me motivated and focused on running. I'm feeling stronger than I did at the start of the spring group and I have several more months of running under my belt. So ๐ค
Thank you to you and Linda and others for the amazing level of support you provide xx
Hi I've just joined the group (on the other thread, thanks for letting me join) a bit late but I'm trying to catch up with the posts so that I can join in properly.
โ How long have you been a runner?
Since July 2019
โ Did you start off with Couch to 5K? Why or why not?
I started C25K in July 2019 and completed it in October I choose to do it because of the structure which I think I need sometimes then moved on to complete JuJu's magic plan to reach 10km and since then I've managed 10 miles twice just before my birthday in April.
โ Will this be your first Half Marathon? Or have you already got the t-shirt? Tell us more!!
It will be my first one I signed up a little while ago for a virtual HM race, mostly for the lovely medal but also to give me some motivation.
โ What are you looking forward to most about completing your Autumn Half Marathon?
The sense of achievement (and the lovely medal )
โ We will be talking about food glorious food soon, but in the meantime please share with us your favourite running food! I will be stealing ideas ๐
I usually go out early in the morning (Dawn ish) especially at the moment when it's quiet on my local trail so I don't usually have anything, only a drink of water, but I've noticed that as the distance/time is increasing my energy after an hour is going and I've started trying different things like the good old banana (which gives me awful indigestion)or an oaty bar (still not good) I was going to try some jelly sweets but the vegetarian version hasn't been in stock in my local shop for a few weeks so not tried that yet. I'm looking forward to seeing what others say helps them.
again thanks for letting me join the group, it's just what I think I need at the moment to help with my lack of mojo I like running on my own but it's always nice to be part of a group of like minded people
I use Arbonne phytosport or their fizz sticks. They are vegan and taste great. Iโve tried some of the gels but find them too sweet and the veggie jelly babies are really hard to fine
โ Did you start off with Couch to 5K? Why or why not?
I started C25K in autumn 2017 and completed it in early 2018, then did JuJu's magic plan to reach 10km.
โ Will this be your first Half Marathon? Or have you already got the t-shirt? Tell us more!!
I ran a HM in summer 2018 and marathon in Sept 2018. I had a bit of a purple patch in 2019 with 10k (54:00) and a HM 01:56:41. I then fell off the Wagon in late 2019, then a combination of a new job, teleworking, Covid19 and losing my mojo means Iโm back to zero (I went for a 3k jog the other day and my legs are still stiff!)
โ What are you looking forward to most about completing your Autumn Half Marathon?
Finding my mojo again and getting fit after not having done much since October 2019.
โ We will be talking about food glorious food soon, but in the meantime please share with us your favourite running food! I will be stealing ideas.
Started running October 2017 as part of my 60th year celebrations. Started with C25K in our local park. We started with a group of about 40 and 6 of us completed! I then โstoppedโ or just grumbled if I went out. Then I applied for the London Marathon ๐ฑ๐ฑin a moment of sheer madness. I got a ballot place for April 2019. But I knew I needed to do a little more training first so deferred to 2020. And the real work began. I did a couple of local 5k and 20k and then I ran the Cardiff HM in October 2019 With my lovely son. So I was on track, training in place, been to London for a pre-race pep talk.
And then there was a Virus ๐ฆ ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ข
So the next date is Oct 4th. We hear on the 28th July if itโs on or off. Many folk have deferred as they donโt think itโs worth it. I donโt have that option. But if the cancel that will be ok.
Apologies for the long post but thatโs my journey to date. I still donโt find it easy, I grumble a lot. I hate the first mile or two while my brain works out what the hell my body is doing. But I think I might be a runner ๐๐คฃ๐คช๐๐ผโโ๏ธ๐๐ผโโ๏ธ๐๐ผโโ๏ธ
I grumble too...best thing is to trick myself into going -" I'm only going to do 20 minutes". Also just got some super new headphones that are Bluetooth linked: no wires, loving running with music again!
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