First Half Marathon -- Advice? (Read 916 times)

Let me preface this by saying I DEFINITELY consider myself a beginner...and a rambler, hence the length of this post. I'm running the Rock and Roll Half in Virginia Beach in September, and I started a training plan in the middle of May. I found it somewhere online and modified it (and am continuing to modify it as I go). At first I was running five times a week, but now that my long and semi-long runs are getting longer, I've dropped it to four times a week in fear of injury. I do crosstrain on two of the other days and take one rest day where I do nothing. My training schedule looks like this: Sun - Easy run (4 or 5 miles) Mon - Speedwork (3 miles) -- I use the term "speed" loosely Tues - Semi-long run Wed - crosstrain Thurs - rest Fri - Long run Sat - crosstrain The long run is up to 11 miles for this week, and the semi-long is 8. I'm raising each of those one mile a week. I've been ok with it so far, though my 10-mile run on Friday kind of wiped me out a bit. I was still able to do the elliptical for an hour today, though, so I must be ok, right? My goal for the 1/2 is just to run the whole thing, only walking at the water stops. I don't care what my time is, because I'll always be slow and that's ok with me. For me, it's about finishing. Here's my question: am I running too much? too little? Remember that a year ago, I couldn't run two feet, and I weighed 102 pounds MORE than I do right now. My body has completely changed. I've only run one 10k and one 5k (I did another 5k but I was sick and walked most of it, so it doesn't really count). I astonished myself when I ran the whole 10k because I've never done anything like that before (even though I did train for it), but a 1/2 is quite a bit longer! Any advice, encouragement, etc. would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Congratulations on your progress, it looks like you are ahead of the curve, you should do great! Keep us informed.

I was where you were in May, when I ran my first half marathon. Two years ago, I was 50 pounds heavier and cound not run 10 minutes. I was able to break two hours, which was my goal, and my program was similiar to yours, so just keep it up. Be carefull of injuries, and perhaps running too hard in the race, I did end up with a bad blister on my foot. I am know working on getting ready for a full marathon, my goal, just to finish this time.

Drop the speed day and add 1 or two easy miles. At the speed you are currently at, the extra couple of miles will benefit you more in the long run.

I think I believed I should have a speed day to increase my speed in general, not just for training for the 1/2. I'm ok with being slow, but I don't want to be this slow forever! Should I forget about it, then, while I'm getting ready for the half? And when you say add one or two easy miles, do you mean to add them instead of the 3 miles I do on the speed day? Or add them to the 3 and make that whole run easy? Thanks for all the comments, by the way, everyone!

Lots of good advice, of course, so I'll just say ENJOY IT! and HAVE FUN!

I would suggest rearranging your week so that you have an easy day (or cross training day) in between your speed work and medium long days. What do you do for speed work? I would suggest a tempo run rather than intervals since you are preparing for a half.

Well enjoy it when I ran my first half mara....i had run a 10km the week before and set a PR... just feel confident and you;; be fine. the first 7km (first 1/3 of the race) is horrible though lol - your mind is like dude are you mad....