5k ✓ 10k✓ now for hm

[steviej99]

Just here to say hi as I've just joined this community. I found the c25k group were brilliant and supportive when I did that a few years ago. I hope you guys are just as friendly! I need a challenge so having completed a 10k in September on my 65th birthday I've now gone and signed up for the London Landmarks HM in April 22. 😳 I'm a plodder so the thought of running for 2.5 hours is a bit daunting. It's 20 weeks away so I'll follow a 16 week plan. I may bore you with regular updates on my training but I hope you guys can support this old guy and give me some tips to keep me going

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon]

Seems to me that you're on the right track. I think it's a good idea to start a plan a few weeks early as you have because it allows time for interruptions (holidays, colds etc).

I think pretty much everyone here started off with C25K so you'll probably recognise some of the names and the forum has the same feel; we just run further!

Enjoy your HM challenge!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Hi! A very warm welcome to this forum. I'm sure you'll recognise some names here - and we're all very friendly too!LLHM was my first HM, I loved it and it was an an amazing feeling to complete it. There are lots of ideas and info in the pinned posts, we have a weekly chat you can comment in and love to hear how it's going in your own posts too. Any questions, just ask! But most of all, have fun and enjoy your journey to HM.

P.S. there's a 10 mile badge you can claim on the way to HM!!!

[GTFC Marathon]

First off, I'd say 2.5 hours is a great time 😊 Secondly, well done on your progress and plans ahead. If I'm doing a HM at 65 then I'll be super chuffed 🤣🤣. Welcome aboard ✅

[steviej99 Half Marathon in reply to GTFC]

My recent 10k was 70 minutes so 2.5 hours may be optimistic - but if I can train properly it might happen 🤞

[GTFC Marathon in reply to steviej99]

It's the distance more than the time. Best wishes and good luck 😊

[steviej99 Half Marathon in reply to GTFC]

I know that's true. Get the miles in and the pace comes naturally but I can't help looking at time. Never been beyond 12k so I guess I better get used to those long, slow training runs. HM seems unattainable at the moment 😂

[GTFC Marathon in reply to steviej99]

That's absolutely the key. Those longer, slower runs become longer, comfier runs and as the miles go, the confidence grows.

[Katnap Marathon]

Well done Stevie! Good luck with the longer distances!As Linda suggests, 10 miles is a useful target after 10k.

Have fun!

🐱 Katnap 🐱

[steviej99 Half Marathon in reply to Katnap]

Thanks Katnap - I need the challenge and the target to keep me going and being on here and telling friends and family is my accountability. I was really pleased to raise a decent sum for Cancer Research for my 10k and hopefully I can do same for Prostate Cancer with the HM - so plenty to motivate me there

[Katnap Marathon in reply to steviej99]

👍👍

[nowster Metric Marathon]

10km to 21.1km in 16 weeks is definitely achievable.

I was very close to doing it in about 8 weeks, but my running technique was wrong, having tight hamstrings and glutes which lead to me aggravating the adductor muscle which had to compensate for those muscle groups not contributing to the effort. This led to a painful run at the end of April.

I dropped back a little, consolidated in the 5-10km range, then restarted the effort in August. I reached the HM distance in September. I've now done three runs at that distance, one a month.

The important thing is that any run of over 90 minutes will need fuel and fluids. It might only be a token something (eg. a few jelly babies) but you will need a bit of energy coming in to offset what you're using. A typical HM run will consume about half to three quarters of your normal calorie intake.

[steviej99 Half Marathon in reply to nowster]

Thanks nowster. I've not gone beyond 12k so that will be all new to me and I'll heed your advice

[nowster Metric Marathon in reply to steviej99]

One important thing I was missing was that I wasn't doing all the stretches after a run, and was often missing out the last two ones that are done lying down, and not doing the hamstring ones correctly either.

nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/h...

[sparky66 Half Marathon]

Good luck with your training 👍 I'm sure you will be ready no bother by then 💪

Looking forward to your progress reports ☺️

[Cowladyrunning Marathon]

hello! I did same as you, working my way through the forum groups! Good luck with this part of your challenge - all these groups are brilliant!

[steviej99 Half Marathon in reply to Cowladyrunning]

Thanks Cowladyrunning. I see you've got your HM badge - that's brilliant. Hope I can get my 10 miler then HM after that. Still remember setting off on c25k - what a brilliant program that is to get people off their couch and outside running