FabSwingers.com forum: Training for a half/full marathon

By *sylocke OP Woman
over a year ago

East Anglia

Hello! I have 8 weeks to train for the Cambridge half and just wanted to find out if anyone else is training for a half or marathon?

This will be my fourth half marathon but I want to run faster - around 2.30 (I know I run very slow!). My training app is laughing at me all the time telling me I should be running a mile in 8 minutes!!

How is your training going?

When is your race?

What app do you use?

What gels do you take?

How are you after the race?

I was really stiff after sitting down after my last race. My friend had to prop me up and walk me to the park and ride. When I had to get off the bus I was walking like a spider.

Ready, steady, go..........!

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *ittle_brat_evie!!Woman
over a year ago

evesham

That's not slow lol I took over 3 hours for a half and considerably longer for a full.

There are good training plans available online where you can put your target time in.

Mix it up with tempo runs, effort sessions etc.

Do you run with a club? The club a ran with (and was chairperson of for a while) were amazing support during my training.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

2:30 for a half marathon is just under 11 and half minute per mile pace. Is your watch set to Km instead of miles?

I use Strava for my runs.

I usually use SIS gels but probably not for a half.

Never just stop at the end. Keep walking even if it is a slow shuffle

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *sylocke OP Woman
over a year ago

East Anglia

"That's not slow lol I took over 3 hours for a half and considerably longer for a full.

There are good training plans available online where you can put your target time in.

Mix it up with tempo runs, effort sessions etc.

Do you run with a club? The club a ran with (and was chairperson of for a while) were amazing support during my training. "

That's is very kind of you about my time!

I use Map my Run and keep coming back to it for some reason - I have tried Strava and another app but did not like them that much. The training app makes me run tempo runs - but I am nowhere near the time!

I don't run with a club unfortunately - I cannot really run and talk without falling apart! I don't know how people do that!

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *sylocke OP Woman
over a year ago

East Anglia

"2:30 for a half marathon is just under 11 and half minute per mile pace. Is your watch set to Km instead of miles?

I use Strava for my runs.

I usually use SIS gels but probably not for a half.

Never just stop at the end. Keep walking even if it is a slow shuffle

I think I run at a shuffling pace!

I use an app on my phone. I have tried aqua gels as I tried a sis gel with coffee in the past and had to drink loads of water as it stuck to the roof of my mouth - too much information right?!

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *otsossieMan
over a year ago

Chesterfield

I prefer jelly babies to gels.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I run lots of half marathons have you looked at negative /positive splits basically run first half at faster pace if you can even if it's just 20 seconds per mile faster then do second half normal pace or first half slower pace then 2nd half faster pace really should be training at least 12 weeks prior to race remember it's time on legs that helps

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"2:30 for a half marathon is just under 11 and half minute per mile pace. Is your watch set to Km instead of miles?

I use Strava for my runs.

I usually use SIS gels but probably not for a half.

Never just stop at the end. Keep walking even if it is a slow shuffle

I think I run at a shuffling pace!

I use an app on my phone. I have tried aqua gels as I tried a sis gel with coffee in the past and had to drink loads of water as it stuck to the roof of my mouth - too much information right?!"

I don’t get on with the coffee ones either

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Can't help you, because I've never done it. But.....good luck with it. I know plenty of people who do half marathons and full marathons and I personally think they're mental. But when you hear the likes of David goggins and Courtney Dauwalt (think that's her name) I think it's me that's mental for not running.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *annaBeStrongMan
over a year ago

wokingham

I managed to go from not running a mile without stopping to running a half marathon in 1:59 all within the 1st lockdown.

My advice? Slow down.

Get a heart rate monitor and 90% of your running should be in the 120-130BPM range

You’ll be surprised how slow this is.

Trust the process

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Mint Kendal Cake

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *sylocke OP Woman
over a year ago

East Anglia

"I prefer jelly babies to gels. "

Oh! Never thought of that. How many packets per mile?

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *sylocke OP Woman
over a year ago

East Anglia

"I managed to go from not running a mile without stopping to running a half marathon in 1:59 all within the 1st lockdown.

My advice? Slow down.

Get a heart rate monitor and 90% of your running should be in the 120-130BPM range

You are my running guru!

You’ll be surprised how slow this is.

Trust the process "

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *sylocke OP Woman
over a year ago

East Anglia

"I run lots of half marathons have you looked at negative /positive splits basically run first half at faster pace if you can even if it's just 20 seconds per mile faster then do second half normal pace or first half slower pace then 2nd half faster pace really should be training at least 12 weeks prior to race remember it's time on legs that helps "

I’m gonna give that a go. Been training gor a while but had a injury and was ill. Feel my running is a bit slower as a result.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *tephTV67TV/TS
over a year ago

Cheshire

I’m on Strava and my best half marathon time was 1 hour 53 for the Bolton half a few years ago. Ran a few marathons as well but since my heart attack I’ve cut down on the training recently

My advice, running clubs if there’s one in your area, not only running in a group is easier and more fun. But you’ll meet others who will often suggest running together and help with improvements to your time.

Also find a hill, my times improved a lot when I did a lot of running up hills. Bloody hard work but you’ll see results fairly quickly

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *erfectman122Man
over a year ago

from somewhere nice

It’s a slow build up increasing your distance daily

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *nasuitMan
over a year ago

Ruislip

Go to the Vitality Big Half marathon site (which is this weekend in London) from the menu under Training Plans look for the We run as one training plan. It's a 10 week plan but it's pitched at beginners (3 runs a week) and should aim to get you to a 10 minute mile.

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

By *sylocke OP Woman
over a year ago

East Anglia

Thank you for sharing and all the tips.

P x

Reply privately

Reply in forum

Reply +quote

Post new Message to Thread