Ya'll's mileage is impressive! I ran 3 miles yesterday (my first time running in about a month, although I have been doing other cardio activities) and I loved it so much. Makes me wonder why I don't do it more often. Anyway, I have my eye on a half-marathon in October and I was wondering if anyone has some training tips?
Midwife - just build up slowly and steadily, you've got plenty of time so you don't need to push yourself up to 13 miles too fast. And do your long runs slowly, if you want to work on getting faster do it on your short runs not your long ones.
I did just under 7 miles again this morning, making the most of the bank holiday. I felt a lot better than I did on my similar distance run yesterday, which is good. I'm trying to front load my long runs this week in case work goes mad again, but also because I'm running a half marathon on Sunday so I want a couple of days of rest/3 milers towards the end of the week.
Should I build up to one or two "long runs" a week + a couple of shorter runs? And how much milage should I add? Sorry if these are dumb questions. And if you have a source where I can just look up the answers, that would be great, too.
Thanks!
I would do one long run per week and one or two vaguely long runs - at the moment I'm doing two three milers, two at around 5-6 miles and one long run - although that's building up because I'm in marathon training so I'm not suggesting you jump straight into that!!! It really helps to remember that different sorts of runs help you in different ways - when I started I always wanted to run faster AND longer than I had before, all at the same time, every time I ran. It doesn't work like that. Long runs will help your endurance, and shorter faster runs will help your speed, and they don't necessarily need to be done together (although it can help once in a while). And apart from those you need some genuinely easy runs where you just run, comfortably, without worrying about speed or time or distance too much. It really helps to have something like a half marathon to train for as it can give you the incentive to get out there when your mind is trying to talk you out of it. I used a half marathon training plan from the Runner's World UK website, but I suspect there would be similar plans on the US website or on tons of other running websites out there. When you're starting out you don't necessarily need to be too picky about choosing between plans, they should all get you up to the distance OK so pick the one that looks like it will fit in with your schedule the best. There's time to concentrate on getting faster once you've managed to get the distance.
Whew!! I ran for 30 minutes today. I actually felt good, considering it was 90 degrees!! I would have waited until tonight after it cools down a little, but dh is working, so I wanted to be done with my exercising before he gets home (to spend more time together). I got home and ended up needing 2 showers! I was sweating so much that I know that I was still sweating after I finished my first shower. Isn't that gross?
I'm considering a 5k this weekend. I've never done a race before, and I'm nervous about it. I know that I can finish it, but I don't want to be the last one (isn't that stupid thinking!?)
Midwife, you might want to look at nikerunning.com. I haven't dwelled too much into it, but you can set the date for your race, and it plots the runs out on a calendar for you.
Ilene, it wasn't entirely "for fun" I'm kinda, sorta, nervously planning on running the local marathon at the end of the summer. I don't envy you running in that heat on Saturday! When the weather's hot and humid, just finishing is an accomplishment; you can't expect to run your best time.
iowasteph, I have only attempted running in 90 degree heat twice. Once was a 5k jog that took me 35+ minutes and was only made bareable from 1k onward by the thought of stopping by the local splash pad to cool off at the end. The other time was a half marathon race where I kept revising my goals downward and ended up with the goal of "finish without collapsing". Anyone who can run in that heat and say that it felt good amazes me!
Helen, wow, another half this weekend! I think you're a bit addicted to racing.
midwife, there are lots of good half marathon programs out there. The programs at halhigdon.com or coolrunning.com seem pretty decent. Generally, a long run (which gradually builds up to at least 10 miles) plus a couple of other shorter runs (30-45 minutes) per week are the minimum for training for a half.
I'm supposed to be having a day off today, but I'm resisting the urge to go out for a half hour easy run since the weather is so nice--sunny, but only mid-high 60s.
I did 5k this morning, but I might not run for a couple of days now - my knee doesn't feel quite right and I don't want to damage it before Sunday. It doesn't hurt as such, but I can feel it when I run and walk and I'm constantly aware of it, in a not quite right sort of way. I'm trying to decide whether it would benefit from some sort of support (probably as well as the rest rather than instead of it, although I'd like to try a short run with the support before Sunday if I go down that route).
Hi everyone,
I'm new to this thread, but thought I would chime in with some advice since I just ran my first half-marathon at the end of April. I followed a 3 month training schedule where I ran/cross-trained 3-4 miles approx 3 days a week, and then had one long run on the weekends (usually Saturday, so Sunday was my "free" day. Relaxation!). I ran 10 miles three times throughout the three month time period; working up to it and then tapering off about a month before the race.
My weekly mileage looked like this:
week 1: 22.0
week 2: 19.8
week 3: 23.4
week 4: 24.0
week 5: 24.0
week 6: 24.5
week 7: 26.4
week 8: 17.2
week 9: 26.7
week 10: 20.9
week 11: 12.5
week 12: 20.6
I also want to express caution on to take things slow and MAKE SURE you have the right foot wear! I have horrible shin splints right now which has kept me from running for about 3 weeks now :-(. I'm now expanding my routine to include pilates (non-weight bearing exercise) but I can't wait to get back to running!
Good luck and congrats on the efforts on this board!
I just got back from a three week vacation from Asia! It was amazing. But I wasn't able to keep up with my running during those three weeks. I am going to rest for the rest of this week and pick up running starting next week! Just wanted to drop by and say hi to everyone.
Ok all of you serious runners will probably get a chuckle out of this...
I am so excited (can you tell) I just ran my first mile outside...finished in 10:25. I had never been into running, I would do intervals on the treadmill at the gym and would be dying after like 3 minutes. I started my running program 4 weeks ago and again was interval training. Right now I am up to 5 minute intervals and still getting so tired. Last night I did not have time to do a full training run so I thought why dont I just try to run a mile. I got through it and my legs were awesomely sore after it. I feel so great! This is definitely giving me the motivation to keep going with my training. I haven't run a mile since Junior high! Ok enough celebrating, how are things going with you all?
Helen - Sorry about you knee hun, hope it gets to feeling better.
midwife - That feeling of having a plan is just awesome...I would not have even been able to run 3 minutes were it not for my plan pushing me harder each week.
green runner - congrats on your plan, looks great . A little advanced for me right now but I will keep it in mind for the future.
miaka - Hey I bet your trip was amazing, where in Asia were you?
that's more than a half marathon! And you did that for the fun of it 
, you're my hero 
, not so great...
You SHOULD do a 5k...who cares where you place....stealing from nike "Just do it" hehe
Recovering from Vacation
