Half marathon training covid gap... can I catch up?

[Cowladyrunning]

I completed my first run of April today - a cautious 5k....A number of things have prevented me running for so long culminating in getting covid at the start of the Easter holidays and being a bit poorly with it too .... so with less than a month to go until my second half marathon (first being the HU one last March) I'm a bit worried!! My last run was 12k and I was running 10k fairly regularly over previous months. I felt alright running today - still a bit bunged up but able to breathe ok! Is it do-able if I build up miles from now on and aim to tackle the race carefully?! Or should I admit defeat?

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

Never admit defeat Cowladyrunning, try gradually to build up the miles slowly even if it means walking a little in that HM in less than a months time, good luck. 👍

[Cowladyrunning Marathon in reply to AlMorr]

Thank you.... I certainly would rather not give up!

[sparky66 Half Marathon]

I second what Almorr said 👍I would say just up the K's bit by bit ,see how comfortable you are.. you've been used to running further than 10K for a while so you might find it easily obtainable..

Then take part and enjoy race day magic 🤩

Good luck 🙏😁💪

[Cowladyrunning Marathon in reply to sparky66]

Thanks... I know I'd be really sad on race day to be missing out if I didn't go!

[nowster Metric Marathon]

When's the race? If you're feeling OK, just gradually build up your distances again.

You could always do it as a Jeffing run (eg. 5 mins running, 1 minute walking) on the day.

[Cowladyrunning Marathon in reply to nowster]

15th May. I was wondering about jeffing.... might be the answer...

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

How frustrating for you! Many HM training plans only take you to 16k in training. Ideally you do want to cover that distance before event day. You always have the option of run/walking, you also have the option of reducing your pace.

Is there any need to make a decision now? (could you get a refund or deferral now, but not in two weeks say?). If not, then I would try to build your long run up to 16k before the day, using whatever 'take it easy technique' suits you best; depending how that goes, make your decision.

At the end of the day it is important to enjoy it - if this seems too hard or too much of a worry, then the sooner you decide to leave it this time, then the sooner you stop worrying.

Only you know where the balance lies for you, but it does sound like today's run was a promising start. Wishing you all the best whatever you decide.

[Cowladyrunning Marathon in reply to linda9389]

thank you - I think deadline has passed for transfer of places so I am committed now but was just worrying about whether it was silly to attempt now. I will carry on upping milage hopefully and play it by ear. As for enjoyment... it has a lot to live up to as I LOVED the HU one last year!!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Cowladyrunning]

Then, although it is a bit of a hill to climb, give it a shot! Listen to your body carefully - it may pleasantly surprise you 😊A real event has a lot to enjoy, it too may surprise you 😊

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Such a shame you got sidelined CLR, but even though you’ve done less training than you hoped you’ll still have a good base level of fitness 💪

So I’d do as the others have suggested and gradually build up the miles, then Jeff on race day if you need to. I’d also practise some Jeffing in your training too (unless you’re used to it), as it takes some getting used to! I did it for the HUHM due to vile weather conditions and it felt very odd!

Good luck! We’ll all be cheering you on. 🎉🎉🎉

[Cowladyrunning Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thank you

[Cmoi Marathon]

I'd go for it Cowladyrunning . You're doing it for fun, not a must-smash-this-or-die-in-the-attempt-PB aren't you? So you can take it at an easy pace, and /or combine running and walking as it suits you, whether that's jeffing or going with the flow. Enjoy yourself!

[Cowladyrunning Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

Yes but even wondered if I'd make the distance in easy mode! I need to have more faith in my strength!! Thank you!

[Time_Lord Half Marathon]

I'd go for it. I returned from injury having a month until my half. I thought I'll gradually increase my mileage. My aim was to get my long run up to 10 miles (sorry , I work in miles not kms) if I could before my half. I managed to do 10.76 miles a fortnight ago.

I haven't run for a week due to the dog accident, good job I'm tapering. Ran 3.5 miles last night & looking forward to my half on Sunday. I'm just going to enjoy my half, time is irrelevant.

So my advice is listen to your body, aim for your half. If you have to walk some of it, it's no big deal & at least you're doing it.

[Cowladyrunning Marathon in reply to Time_Lord]

Thank you - yes I'll go for it and aim to get to 10 miles in next couple of weeks. Good luck with your half tomorrow!

[RunWillie Marathon]

I haven’t run 10miles since September but last week ran 10miles & could have run a HM. If you’ve been regularly running 10k you will be fine to build up to 10miles before your race. You can do it Cowladyrunning 😍

[Cowladyrunning Marathon in reply to RunWillie]

Tomorrow I'm planning on a get out and see how far I go run! Thank you

[Betj Half Marathon]

I agree the most important thing is to listen to your own body both now & on the day if you do it. As it's not your 1st HM you know what that distance feels like for you so can use tbat to help you decide.I was recently training for my 1st HM & got an injury about 6 weeks before the event. I had got up to 16k just once but had wanted more long runs under my belt than that , as I'm diabetic & wanted more experience with this on long runs.

I did get back to doing training in time but no longer runs & did the race. I was so delighted with my time & the special feeling of having made it through so if you listen carefully you'll do the right thing for yourself 😁

Whatever you decide be kind to yourself... It would never be giving up it would be taking the wise decision, looking after yourself & making sure you stay stronger for longer😊

All the best

[Cowladyrunning Marathon in reply to Betj]

Thank you. I will go easy and just enjoy the experience I think.

[Lizcanrun Half Marathon]

Ah Cowladyrunning I feel your pain! I'm in exactly the same position!! Great West Run on May 22nd & 3 weeks ago I injured my calf. I am just starting to do short runs, but like you am worrying about whether I can get back up there. I did do a couple of 16k runs, but it's been 5 weeks since the last one... I have til 2nd May to defer and I have my fingers crossed.

[Cowladyrunning Marathon in reply to Lizcanrun]

Oh no! Good luck building up your running again - here's hoping we have maintained some fitness!

[Lizcanrun Half Marathon in reply to Cowladyrunning]

Indeed!

[Tabbles Half Marathon]

Another one on the COVID interrupted training plan. HM on the 8th May.

As others say listen to your body. I was/am down on pace even though I hadn't felt Ill.

Lost 10 days training just after a rest week. Managed my first 10 miles last weekend. Will attempt another tomorrow before tapering.

For me I decided to go back 2 weeks and then increase by 10% a week, but at a slower pace.

Good luck.

[Cowladyrunning Marathon in reply to Tabbles]

Thank you - a lot have said to me how tired they are post covid so I'm worrying because I was like that pre covid too and that's what prevented me running in the week before I got covid. Maybe I should just get out anyway 🤔- I might gain energy from the running?!

[Cowladyrunning Marathon in reply to Cowladyrunning]

I should say too good luck for the 8th!

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon]

I had a similar dilemma with my first “live” race last year (training massively disrupted due to injuries).

In the end, I decided to give it a go and see how it went. I reasoned that, since my event was around Bristol, I’d never be too far from some form of transport so I could bail if I had to. In my case, I completed the course but went way beyond the cut-off time. Still glad that I did it though.

With hindsight, think I might have done better by focussing on tapering instead of on trying to build back mileage.

If I’ve understood this correctly, you’ve been out for about three weeks. Over that time, you will have lost some fitness but not much (I have seen tables for this in the past but can’t find them). As for the effects of Covid, I’ve no idea (although I think it’s different for everyone).

Which is a long winded way of saying that I agree with the other posts i.e. see how you feel and build up gently.

[Cowladyrunning Marathon in reply to SkiMonday]

Thank you, I do recall your disruption and marvelling at what you achieved after! I'm going to head out for a long run today and think I'll play it by ear for how far I go..... thanks for your thoughts on still tapering though - I'll bear that in mind too.

[Kalessin Half Marathon]

How did your long run go Cowladyrunning ? Your timing is a lot better than mine, and it sounds like you'll be fine. I did all the training up to my planned HM two weeks ago, which was a lot more than I managed for my previous HM last October. Three days before the event I woke up feeling rubbish, tested negative twice, but eventually decided not to do the HM because I thought I had a chesty cold. Then first thing on the Monday I tested positive! I'm very glad that I didn't try it, I'd probably have died. But it's very galling having done so much training, and of course paid for the place.

Two weeks on and I can now swim, cycle and do yoga, but running is taking longer to get going again. I have a tiny triathlon in three weeks (160m swim, 17k cycle, 3k run) so fingers crossed I can manage 3k at a respectable pace by then...

[Cowladyrunning Marathon]

You sound fitter than me with all that cross training ! I did 12k along the canal. Too far but its hard to stop in the right place on an out and back run! I thought I was much slower, as I walked a lot and took photos, but I wasn't really which surprised me. I got tired after 10k but felt OK carrying on. My legs hurt after though so I could tell I'd overdone it. I wasn't too bad yesterday though and feel OK today so will go to run club later. I'm really tired after covid though and still a bit head bunged up feeling. I'm sorry you missed out on yours from covid but glad you listened to your body. Thank you for asking!

Kalessin