HM training plan advice please !!

[Juliet202]

Hi all - I’ve been following a Garmin half marathon training plan over 15 weeks. I have to admit I’ve not stuck religiously to it - I’ve been very busy and frequently postponed the training runs - I probably averaged 2 runs per week most weeks and the furthest I’ve run is 10 miles (done it 3 times now !). Having postponed so many runs i somehow wasn’t expecting to be presented with ‘race day’ - in just one week !! Aargh ! Today I barely managed 16k and only after stopping for a walk break after 5k, 9k, 11k, 13k then shifting to jeffing 60:30 until the end. I barely managed the 15 minute cool down walk home (and 4 flights of stairs - what a time for the lift to break !!). I know that some training plans are like this - but I’m really not sure I should even attempt half marathon in a week’s time. Should I postpone it ? The date is not significant to me - I’d be happy to postpone it, though I’m wondering what advice you have. Tips for that last 5k - it feels unsurmountable at the moment !

I think today I wasn’t fuelled up enough - I had to take my emergency snack after 5k which is unusual - a bit early on. That’s a lesson for the race day for sure….

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Hi Juliet. You have plenty of miles in your legs so I think you’ll be fine. Take it easy this week with just a couple of gentle runs. If you can run 10 miles, which clearly you can, you can go on to HM - you could Jeff again couldn’t you?

You’ll find the excitement of race day will add extra energy to your legs too! Have fun! 🎉

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

Have you got a real-life race? If not, then of course you could consider just changing the date when you run the full distance. But if it’s a real race then I say go for it. If you’ve got miles in your legs during training and you’ve done a few 10 mile runs I think you’ll be fine. As cheekychipmunks says, the atmosphere on race day will add adrenaline and keep you going! Just take it easy and pace yourself steadily. Yes, after 10 miles is unknown territory but think of it as an adventure for your body. You don’t know what it’s capable of until you ask it 🙂You know you can run 10 miles so just think of the rest as a Parkrun 🙂

Most training plans go to 10 miles anyway so in a way, you’ve done your training!

Good luck, enjoy it and come back here to tell us all about it 🍀

[sTrongFuse Half Marathon 10 Miles in reply to Irishprincess]

I ran my first HM (own my own) about a fortnight after running my first 10mi. If you've done 3 x 10mi would say you almost certainly have it in you to step up to HM. In my case it was just one of those occasions where I'd done my planned disrltance and still had something left, so decided to see if I could.

That was mid-November 2019. It was dark, it was -2°C, but a wonderfully still dry evening. I've done another 10 since that one, so it obviously did me no harm (*questionable*).

Good luck whatever you decide, but you definitely have an HM in you.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

You learned a good lesson today and each of those 10 mile runs has made you more prepared. You could run your HM next week - IF you want to!

Without a real race and without a real desire to do it next week? Well, you could still do it but I'm not sure how much you will enjoy it!

If you're in no hurry, why not choose a different plan that goes closer to 21k before the actual HM, and start that plan at it's 10 mile point?

If it were me I'd rather wait until I felt mentally ready to enjoy it, but I think it's down to your personal choice here. Whatever you decide, we're all cheering you on.

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon]

If you can run 10 miles, you can do a HM... but... you really do need to fuel on long runs. Aim for a snack every hour after usually the first hour but with all the excitement etc even after your first 30 mins.

Its just a parkrun on top. You can do it!

[Deals1 Metric Marathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

👍 I think if HM as 4 parkrun plus a bit more! 😂

[Dups Half Marathon]

You can do it! 10 miles three times is brilliant. Some runs are better than others. I agree with the comments above that adrenaline will get you rest of the way round. Walk, run, walk, run. It doesn’t matter which but I’m certain you will smash it . Good luck 😊

[Juliet202 Half Marathon]

Thank you all for your replies !! My target date is not a real race, so I do have the option to postpone. But from what you say maybe I’ll see how I feel and just go for it. Maybe I’ll Jeff it from early on - That will be less intimidating. I haven’t worked out how to set the timer within a training run, but before I’ve found running 1km and then walking until heart rate comes down has been a good tactic. And I’ve learned my fuelling lesson ! Good food the days before and more snacks than usual! And get my playlist sorted out - I think the first 5k were made harder because I was listening to an annoying and boring podcast !! Had to switch to Kylie Minogue for some ‘bounce’ 😜Maybe I’ll have a Nike guided run going on at the same time as Garmin. That’s always helpful. And if I don’t do it I can try again. Thanks all !!

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Juliet202]

While I'd agree that you've got the mileage in your legs to run your HM when announced by your plan Juliet202 , I'm very much of the opinion that you should go for it on a day when you're feeling physically good and in the right frame of mind for it.

I would say that though - I first did all my "distances" on my own and when I felt like it, plan-free and improvising all the way!

[Deals1 Metric Marathon]

Hi. Agree with all other comments u could def do it... So its really upto u if u want to stick to the plan or postpone. I'm not too good with refuelling either, or sticking to a plan! Which garmin one are u doing? I tried the heart rate one then gave up. Anyway good luck with whichever u decide. It maybe that u are enjoying a long run and just decide to carry on a bit more 👍