RunningAHEAD - Topic: New Runner to Half Marathon

New Runner to Half Marathon (Read 562 times)

jdstuf view log Rocket Turtle	posted: 10/14/2007 at 5:55 PM
	As the title says, I am a new runner, and I am trying to figure out what realistic expectations I should have. I started cycling & running for weight loss.....and I've dropped 40 lbs since the beginning of the year. Right now I stand around 5'9" and 190lbs, so I still have a ways to go until I reach my optimal 'healthy' weight. My workouts have been cycle-heavy, and I am now transitioning more and more into running. To keep my HR under 180bpm, my 2.5 mile run time is about 20 minutes (run 9:00 mile, then walk/run the rest). So with all of that out of the way, lately I have really had the desire to start racing. My wife is pretty athletic, and has a few more miles under her belt than I. She has never run a race, but was kicking around the idea of doing a half marathon sometime next summer. I would love to do it with her, so the question at hand is: do you think my goal is realistic?
	~Jason

zoom-zoom view log Registered for #2	posted: 10/14/2007 at 5:58 PM
	Quote from jdstuf on 10/14/2007 at 5:55 PM: So with all of that out of the way, lately I have really had the desire to start racing. My wife is pretty athletic, and has a few more miles under her belt than I. She has never run a race, but was kicking around the idea of doing a half marathon sometime next summer. I would love to do it with her, so the question at hand is: do you think my goal is realistic? Definitely! I did my first HM almost a year ago, after only 6 months of regular running. You'll do great! k
	Kirsten '07: 1324.5 mi '08: 1561 mi ... • Ladies Locker Room • .: 2009 Goals :. • Run 1750 miles • 2 marathons (May - Bayshore, Fall - ?) • PRs: 5k ~ 15k ~ 25k? ~ HM ~ 26.2 • 1st trail relay (North Country)

Bonkin view log Reboot	posted: 10/14/2007 at 6:15 PM
	I agree with Zoomy. I ran my first half after only 2+ months of running. Just build up your mileage and you can do it.
	Your monkey gives me the creeps. - andahuff

trishierunner view log esq.	posted: 10/14/2007 at 7:09 PM
	Another one for: yes!
	2009: BQ?

Astrogirl view log Runs like a snail	posted: 10/15/2007 at 10:14 AM
	I just started running too, as a result of a solemn declaration over beers that my friends and I would run a half marathon in October next year...I bloody well hope you can do it, cause otherwise it's all over for me!
	Goals for 2008: Run right thru the winter Melbourne HM ~ October

Run To Win view log Blaine Moore	posted: 10/15/2007 at 10:54 AM
	Quote from Astrogirl on 10/15/2007 at 10:14 AM: I just started running too, as a result of a solemn declaration over beers that my friends and I would run a half marathon in October next year...I bloody well hope you can do it, cause otherwise it's all over for me! Ha ha ha! You'll be fine.
	Run to Win I just started using Twitter - anybody else on there? http://twitter.com/RunToWin

Mississippi view log	posted: 10/15/2007 at 10:58 AM
	A half marathon is a great distance to train for! You'll do well. Please keep us posted on what you decide.
	"You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast. These are some good times so take a good look around. You may not know it now but you're gonna miss this" ~ Trace Adkins RunningAhead.com Texas Independence Relay Team

BadDawg view log	posted: 10/15/2007 at 11:55 AM
	Absolutely go for it. You sound like you're doing pretty well, and once you send in your check and mark your calendar you'll find you have a new level of commitment. One of my favorite RA quotes is "the difference between a jogger and a runner is an application". It's a wild ride, and you'll love it.
	Ed Tuesday Good Times 5K series in Lowell, MA HTFU "The truth is that there is nothing noble in being superior to somebody else. The only real nobility is in being superior to your former self." Whitney Young

PerfesserR view log Jazz, happy dog	posted: 10/15/2007 at 12:45 PM
	Good luck in your goal! Just one thing jumped out at me, if your heart rate is up to 180 you're training way too fast. You are "basebuilding" and need to do almost, if not all, of your running at an aerobic pace. Running at 180HR is not only less beneficial, it increases your chance of injury and burns fat more efficiently. I recommend you join this group: http://www.runningahead.com/groups/LOWHRTR Or at least read the forums, lots of good info there. The consensus on heart rate training is about 75-80%MHR to get a good aerobic benefit. For a 25-yr old that would be 155 max. Yeah, I know, it will be frustratingly slow at first but stick with it and it will get faster. You can still do some harder running but it should be a small portion of your training. JMHO.
	No, I don't want the damned combo special. Now quit asking me that.

DrewEOB view log Undertrained. LAME.	posted: 10/15/2007 at 12:48 PM
	I started running regularly just this year, and I'll be running my first half in six days. You can do it!
	Drew So much for my brilliance.

xetark view log	posted: 10/15/2007 at 3:00 PM
	i'm also fairly new to running (about a year, off and on) and just started training for my first half this week. i'm following this plan which a few other people have said worked well for them: http://www.halhigdon.com/halfmarathon/novice.htm i will say that signing up for various 5ks around town has really helped my motivation - you should definitely do a race!

jdstuf view log Rocket Turtle	posted: 10/15/2007 at 3:01 PM
	Thanks to all for the encouragement and replies. Looks like I will definitely be setting my sights on a Half next summer! Perfesser, thanks for the link....I just recently discovered that group and started pouring over the information there. Sounds like something that I really need to look more into. My cycling workouts seem to be closer to that range...I generally ride 15-20 miles @ a 17mph pace, which keeps my HR under 160bpm (sometimes a bit higher though). I guess I really need to figure out how to use this heart rate thingy properly now. I guess this raises another question: Should I focus more on cycling workouts at this point to build an aerobic base, since I can stay in the aerobic range MUCH longer cycling vs. running? Or do I just plod though the next few weeks/months with a lot of slow "running."
	~Jason

Ed4 view log Barefoot and happy	posted: 10/15/2007 at 5:52 PM
	Quote from jdstuf on 10/15/2007 at 3:01 PM: I guess this raises another question: Should I focus more on cycling workouts at this point to build an aerobic base, since I can stay in the aerobic range MUCH longer cycling vs. running? Or do I just plod though the next few weeks/months with a lot of slow "running." Base training doesn't carry over completely from one sport to another. So to increase your running base, you need to run. Part of the point of base training is to condition your muscles to be more efficient, so you need to train the muscles you'll actually be using in your race.
	Curious about running barefoot? Visit the new barefoot running group.

danielweight

view log

posted: 10/17/2007 at 12:00 PM

This is my first post, but thought I'd offer some encouragement!

I started running about 10 months ago, having not done any exercise since my teens. My story started much like astrogirl's - a drunken bet that I couldn't run the Great North Run in a year's time.

Anyway, a few hundred miles of training and a fair bit of lost weight later I completed the Great North Run (and my first ever half marathon) a few weekends ago. The time wasn't amazing, but the sense of achievement certainly was!

I'd highly recommend signing up for a half marathon - it gives you a huge target to focus on and allows you to put together a meaningful training plan. I have to say, agreeing to do the Great North Run was probably one of the best things I've done in years...