Originally Posted by ange82much:
aimeebell - that's such a great story. I think everyone has a bit of a love/hate relationship with running to some degree, because you always get good runs and then difficult runs for no apparent reason. Do you have your eye on any other races?

My half marathon is 15 May. I did the same one 2 years ago and also 3 years ago, but this year they've changed the course, so not sure yet what that means for my ambition of getting a half marathon pb! Not good i suspect as supposedly there's more hills in it now, and it was already hillyish before.

I am planning on doing a race in June. It is a choice of either a 10K or two miles, and I probably will go with two miles and my 10 and 12 year old will run with me- unless somehow I improve vastly and feel like I could swing a 10K. There is a 5K in my city next month, and my niece's school is having one too, but I think I prefer to stick with the big, fun races.

Ange - the half isn't until December, it's the Las Vegas Rock N Roll one. This year they're doing it in the evening - 5:30pm start - instead of at the ungodly hour of 7am. Even Vegas is cold in December at 7am! I rarely run at any time other than first thing in the morning so I'm curious to see how running later in the day works for me. I have a run planned for this evening as I can not stand another day on the treadmill without getting some fresh air running in!

I did weights yesterday and have the usual soreness today. I love doing the leg press machine but man, it does work the muscles! My butt and hamstrings are achy today, but in that good way that makes you realize you were actually working them the day before!

Jules - i went to Vegas once, it was in February a few years ago and it was absolutely freezing and even more freezing wind to go with it. Absolutely fantastic place though!! Yeah, an evening HM is unusual. Sounds goood! Must be all in the dark though at that time of year. Weird!! Is it through the main streets or does it head out of town?

Plugging along. Ankle feels pretty good. Still a tiny bit of swelling and pain if I turn it too far, but in general it's good. I'm sure it's taking longer to heal because I'm still running so I'm staying aware of that.

So excited to hear about all your upcoming races! My first race isn't til August so training is a ways away. This will be my second half and I'm hoping to get my longest run to 15 miles in preparation. At this point I think I'll make my decision about running a maraton next year.

No run today, ST and yoga and probably 5 miles tomorrow morning. Hope everyones week ends well!

Ange - February can be a lot colder here than December, as we get wind coming down from the north, which is just miserable. December, usually, is cold but calm so I'm hoping for that. The race will be all in the dark but as it runs down the Strip, it'll be lit by neon the entire way! The full marathon is less fun - it mirrors the half then goes off into the industrial areas which I'm sure are boring as ****, so I have no ambitions to run the full ever!

I ran after work yesterday. Yeah, not my thing. I will stick to mornings as much as I can. I just did two miles, and I ran a square - on the first side of it, it was uphill but sheltered; the second side was uphill with a cold and unforgiving headwind... then the last two sides were downhill with the wind behind me. Case in point - I ran the first mile in 13:35, including a couple of walking breaks and heaving for breath in the wind, and ran the second mile in 10:50, which included stopping at no less than THREE stop signs to let traffic go. Another reason to run at 5am instead of 6pm - nobody's out! The second mile was glorious - the first mile was torture. But a couple of the 5k's I have planned are on rolling hills so doing hill work is necessary. Plus there are no flat routes from my house so I have no choice! Got home, stretched, iced the knee, rolled my butt, "sticked" my quads and felt good this morning!

so i'm training for this half marathon on 15th May, and this weekend i'm suposed to be doing a long run of 19km. However, have spotted that there's a low key cheap half marathon this sunday around a parkland area (footpaths and some grass), so i've entered!!! - not to race, but just to see i can do the distance. Eeeeek!!!
Mainly i'm scared that i'm going to be VERY last, and that everyone will be waiting for me to finish so that they can pack up and go home. It's going to take me about 2hr 30 i reckon because i'm slow to start with and i'm supposed to be doing a 'slow long run'.
At least they provide free pancakes afterwards (unless they've all gone home by the time i get there). Slightly aprehensive...

[QUOTE=ange82much;3773853]so i'm training for this half marathon on 15th May, and this weekend i'm suposed to be doing a long run of 19km. However, have spotted that there's a low key cheap half marathon this sunday around a parkland area (footpaths and some grass), so i've entered!!! - not to race, but just to see i can do the distance. Eeeeek!!!QUOTE]

Sounds perfect! It will give you the confidence you need for the big race you are working so hard for!

Originally Posted by julesp313:
Ange - I ran after work yesterday. Yeah, not my thing. I will stick to mornings as much as I can.

Got home, stretched, iced the knee, rolled my butt, "sticked" my quads and felt good this morning!

I usually run in the morning or after work about 4 p.m. Once in awhile I will run at night, but after a sleepless night yesterday, I think I have finally made the connection that I cannot run in the evenings if I would like to sleep.

What is the ice on the knee for? My knees are fine while I run, but the second I am finished, I get a burning sensation and they are achy, especially on stairs. Is this something I could be icing for?

Ange - good luck with the race! Slow and steady is great... that's my goal on pretty much every run I do. :)

Aimee - I generally don't get home from work til around 7 or so, and it's dark by then, so I tend to run in the mornings. Though right now it's dark until about 6:30am so that's no use either. Hence the treadmill misery for now... I ice my left knee as I had surgery on it in November to remove a torn meniscus. I'm still rehabbing it with physical therapy exercises, strength training, stretching, icing and using a foam roller and The Stick on my IT band. It's amazing how much recovery there is on a weight-bearing joint that's had arthroscopic surgery, so it's going to be ongoing for the best part of a year.

Did my HM! It was ALL cross-country with soft long grass and mud and pine needles, so nice but not good for pace! Pretty flat though so can't claim too much of an excuse based on surface.

Of course i didn't go out slow and steady, i went out too fast! I did well for 17km but my heart rate was going up and up and my speed was dropping by then, so i struggled a bit over the last 4km and walked a bit of it (probably almost a kilometer in all, actually). Struggled in finally at 2hr 14min, which i'm ok about. It was a training run, so i know my endurance isn't too flash, but i have another 5-6 weeks to work on that.

My glutes are feeling pleasantly throbby now!!!

^awesome job!

Angesmuch - WOW!! I got tired just reading your post!:p That's AMAZING! You're gonna ROCK that 17K!:carrot:

Great job on the half! :cp: There's nothing wrong with that time, especially on trail like surfaces.

I have had a rough week in my training. I have 8 weeks to go before my first half, and while I have enjoyed the training all along, this last week has not been fun or productive. I've been forcing myself to do my runs and not enjoying them when I go. The weather is still cold and I hate that wind that cuts through my tights. Today I have a 14km and instead of being excited I'm feeling blah. Has anyone else experienced this bump in the road while training for a half?

Hi River, well i've done 3 HM in 4 years now, so clearly i'm the expert (NOT!).
I've still got 6 weeks to go to my 'proper' half and luckily i'm still enjoying the running (although its taking a bit of fitting in).

I'm sure that it's not at all unusual to get fed up half way through - and think what the marathon trainers must go through!!

How about just having a very light-on week and give yourself a rest. It still gives you heaps of time to ramp back up.

Otherwise just keep plugging away. The nature of running means that things can change around very quickly and you could easily find that joy again on your very next run - especially if the weather improves.

Good luck. Keep posting and let us know how its going.

Ange - very cool that you did another half! I can't wait for mine in December, though I'm very glad it's that far off so I can work up to it slowly...:)

I ran on Saturday before I went to my horse, and it was a good run. 2.7 miles with hills - am I weird that I like running hills? I guess the "like" part is that I can see an improvement week over week with my endurance and how I can actually get up the damn things. I took Sunday off - running AND riding back to back really worked my legs - and then ran this morning before work. I didn't have to be at the client until 9 today, and sunrise was officially 6:30am, so I went out around 6:15 and it was just getting light. I had a really nice run - 2.4 miles, hills (yeah, it's a common theme!) and it was perfect weather - cool, still, really nice. And the cotton candy pink sunrise helped. Tomorrow is strength training as I realize the stronger my core is, the easier running will be - and I need it to get easier!

My DH ran a 5k on Saturday - he said it was very hilly, the race description of "gentle rolling hills" was a lie... but he ran all but one hill and was quite proud of himself. We have a 5k on Saturday and I think it's got some hills - I've yet to find a 5k in this town that doesn't have hills! But we'll run it together, so it should be fun.

I also dug out all our medals (I try to run races that give medals to all finishers) and some old ones from my father's races back in England. I'm going to have DH hang a rod in our upstairs hallway and display the medals on it - we have a brag wall in the dining room for our academic achievements, so this one will be for our athletic achievements!

Thanks for the advice and encouragement Ange! 3HM in 4 years is nothing to dismiss lightly, it's a whole lot more than most people ever do.

I'm back on my game now but it was a tricky few days. My back started to spasm and I was forced to skip 2 w/o last week. Perfectly recovered now, and I'm doing pretty good as far as no serious injuries, so I actually may train for a full to do in the fall. Waiting until after the half is over to make my decision. It's on my bucket list.

Jules, I like hills too. Sounds like you live in a hilly area, me too, it's wise to embrace what you can't change.

I'm planning on another early morning run tomorrow - it seems that I can head out about 15-20 minutes before the official sunrise time and that is just light enough to make me feel like I'm not running in the dark. I am absolutely refusing to run on the treadmill so I really just have to get outside! The weather for the end of this week is supposed to be ridiculous - Friday is due to hit 90 and Saturday 89, and I have a 5k on Saturday. My guess is at 8am, it'll be around 70 or so, so it'll be shorts and a tank top for me! And a towel in the car... :)

Had a fabulous run this morning. I love early morning runs - 6am, just barely light, beautiful pink sky, chilly but calm - 2.8 miles with a long, gentle hill (uphill!) instead of a few short steep hills. Felt like a really good start to the day, especially as I had a 14 hour day yesterday and was completely beat when I got home last night. :)

Just plugging along, 10 sun, 2 warm up before ST and yoga yesterday and 4 this morning. My ankle is feeling good so that's a relief.

River, I had many ups and downs during my half training, I think it's pretty normal.

Good luck!