Decision Time for half Marathon - JJ Maybe

[milly143]

I mentioned a few months back that I've signed up to do a half marathon at the end of March. I started off doing some training and it was going but I lost enthusiasm and haven't done anything since the end of November.

So, do you think I have enough time left to train for a half marathon (I'm very unfit) and if I do, any training tips?

I really need to decide now if I'm going to attempt it.

[joggerjayne]

Hey, Milly ...

So the "winter training regime" didn't happen then?

The end of March is quite tight. If you trained 4 days a week, that's only about 30 training sessions before the run.

Having said that ...

If you can get up to five miles, then you can do thirteen.

Have a go at some interval training (the poncy name for ... run a bit, walk a bit, run a bit, walk a bit).

If you can manage two miles, then you can build up to five by the end of March. Running with a lot of other people, once you get to five miles, you'll ba carried along by the occasion. Remember, you can walk a bit. But, if you have to walk, then keep walking. Don't stop, because the blood will drain from your muscles, and they will cool down, and you'll struggle after that.

Have a play with mapometer.com or mapmyrun.com and plot a route of about two miles, and give it a go.

Tips:

Wear gait fitted running shoes.

Wear proper running socks (probably the best £12 you'll spend).

Carry water with you.

Eat a couple of hours before you run.

Carry your iPod and start to work out which songs match your running pace, and put them in their own playlist. If you don't know where to start, try some of mine ...

I Said Never Again (Rachel Stevens)
Electricity (OMD)
Breaking The Law (Judas Priest)
Bad Girl (ZZ Top)
Summer Song (Joe Satriani)
Surfing USA (Beach Boys)
Heatseeker (AC/DC)

These all play at 160bpm ... a decent running pace.

Next, if you speed up or slow down, DO NOT change your running pace. Adjust the length of your stride, but maintain the same stepping pace.

And when it strats to hurt, even in public, don't be afraid to shout ...

... "GRRRRRNNNNNNNHHH !!!!!!!"

Don't worry ... you won't hear yourself,

[joggerjayne]

Don't worry ... you won't hear yourself ... because you'll be listening to your iPod !

[milly143]

Ah JJ, there you are! :o)

I think it was the start of september that I began training and was doing quite well, (for me anyway). I got up to about 6 miles, with bits of fast paced walking slotted between running. I was pretty driven by the thought of crossing the finish line and that spurred me on but then the snow came down and I used it as an excuse not to go out and since then I just don't have the enthusiasm.

I'm supposed to be doing the run with my sister and a bunch of her ex colleagues. Although this is her first half marathon, she's goes running quite a lot and has done a few 10k's. I looked on her FB page a couple of weeks ago and saw lots of messages from some of the other runners all talking very competatively, which worried me a bit as I don't know any of them and I wouldn't want anyone to feel they had to slow their pace for me because I can't keep up.

I'm quite worried that I'll start doing it and fail. That would be hugely embarrasing!

[joggerjayne]

But screw your courage to the sticking place ... and you'll not fail !

(Lady Macbeth)

[joggerjayne]

Back in a bit ... x