13 replies to this topic

[Wolff]

hey guys,

well after my first organised run on the w/e (R4K) i feel like i want to keep training and complete a half marathon in late June at Run Melbourne. The 14km i did on sunday was my furthest so far, but i have done several runs around the 12-13km mark before, so I felt comfortable about tackling 14, and did it with a bit of fuel in the tank.

So ive got nearly 3 months until the half, I am planning really on taking it easy this week, then just gradually building my long run up by 1-2kms each week. I would love to be able to run 23-24 by the time the race comes around.
Currently I do maybe 3 x 6-7km runs during the week, then one long run on the weekend of 11+.

Im not really keen on doing speed work and all that, I just enjoy running. Does anyone see any reason that I couldnt get up to 21+ distance in the next couple of months? Im planning on just steadily chipping away at the distance.

Also, this is another question I've pondered a lot in the last 24 hours. I saw a lot of people at R4K using the toilets or ducking off into the bushes...surely this just kills your race time? Is there anything that can be done to try and really prevent needing to go in the 2 hours it will take me to complete a half marathon? sounds like a stupid question i guess..

[virtualkerri]

Hi Wolff,

If you're already comfortable with 14km, three months should be plenty of time to build up to HM distance. Your plan sounds like what I did for my first Half too - just slowly increase the distance/time of one run a week. The other runs can be mix of shorter and a bit faster - how you feel really.

I'd also say don't be afraid to have an easier week when you need it - say after 4 weeks of solid runs. Just to help your body adapt and recover.

As for the toilet question - long has this problem weighed on the mind of a distance runner. I just get up very early on race day to allow plenty of time for that prior to getting to the start line.

Cheers,
Kerri.

[mgi11a]

Hey Wolff,

If your already at 14k 3 months will be plenty of time to get to 21k. Don't be in to big a hurry to get to 23-24km, you will find most 1/2 marathon programs don't require you to do any more then 18-19km.

If your goal is simply to finish a 1/2 then the training your doing will be fine, with your long run maybe just increase it by about 10% per week for 3 weeks then on the 4th week do a shorter run of maybe what you did 3 weeks ealier. The biggest enemy you have ahead of you is injury, most are from to rapid increase in training length or intensity.

The other option is find a beginner training schedule for a 1/2 mara, there's usually one on the home page of most major marathons.

Best of luck

mgilla

[Wolff]

thanks for the advice guys, and thanks for the tips about having a slow week once every few weeks. As a new runner I am somewhat addicted, if im not running im thinking about where i could run next, or how fast i could run, etc etc. Injury is probably a real concern for me in the months ahead.

The only other thing on my calender is the Mothers Day Classic in a month. Its only 8km, just thought it would be a bit of fun.

Thanks again, appreciate your help.

[snickpreview]

Wolff, on Apr 6 2009, 07:17 PM, said:

Im not really keen on doing speed work and all that, I just enjoy running. Does anyone see any reason that I couldnt get up to 21+ distance in the next couple of months? Im planning on just steadily chipping away at the distance.

Is there anything that can be done to try and really prevent needing to go in the 2 hours it will take me to complete a half marathon?

I'm with everyone else, you'll smash your half marathon if it's on in 3 months. I had zero speed work for my first 2 HM's and it didn't seem to bother me. I will say that when I did do some speed work later on (forced by my running mate mind you) I had noticed a considerable difference in my speed/strength however like I said, if you don't like it it ain't necessary.

As for the toilet situation, when I was a kid my dad completed a few marathons and I asked if he ever needed to go to the bathroom and his running joke was that he didn't because he "plugged" himself up by eating a lot of twigs and bark and whatnot much like a bear in hibernation. Whilst I don't suggest this tactic I had a bit of a laugh when I thought of it and how I actually believed him (much like the rabbits and the great wall dad joke).
If you're really worried I'd suggest that you maybe try different breakfasts and drink a decent amount of fluids before your long runs and see how you hold out. No body said that the training/practicing was solely done out on the trails!

Good luck with everything though I'm sure if you handled the 14k decently then you'll have no worries bumping it up a few more!

p.s. I'm also with the thinking that you should try to leave your first HM as the very first time you run that distance. I mean, yes it's great to have the psychology that you know you've run that far before but it was just a great experience to finish and say "man I bloody did it during this race!". I had no troubles having only run a couple 18k long runs before it too...

[smokin]

Last Sunday's R4TK was my first organised run as well. I thought I'd planned well for the toilet issue - stopped drinking about 40 mins before the race, went to the Men's several times before leaving home....then again once I got there........

Lining up, 5 minutes before the start - and only about 15 minutes since the last trip - needed to go again I think "Nervous Pee" is the term for it. Forgot all about it around the 3K mark though.

Wolff i think a little more race experience for newbies like us will help too

[GameOver]

You are in a good position and have plenty of time before the race. Just take it easy and don't increase your millage too quickly.

I'm running a HM as part of my marathon training which is in 5 weeks. I have had to cut my millage significantly due to shin splints which has disrupted my training. Currently I'm only running 1/2 of what I should be doing (around 20km/week) but have noticed a significant improvement with my shin splints.

[Wolff]

thanks for all the advice guys, its reassuring to know that what im hoping for is achievable. ill see where Im at in 4-5 weeks, maybe i will need to adjust my goal and set a time to aim for.
I have a couple of shorter runs coming up, I'll be doing the 10km Sri Chinmoy at PP in a couple of weeks, then the 8km Mothers Day Classic, I see those two as good opportunities to work on running faster.

[zandrsmum]

Hi Wolff, I agree with everyone else you have plenty of time to prepare for the HM. You sound like you are on the right track with your training and goals. The toilet issue, one that affects us all. To help with this I take in most of my fluids in the 24-48 hours prior to race day. That way the morning in just a top up and stopping 1 hour before generally works for me. Except for the nervous pee as previously mentioned! K

[Morley]

Not a problem to get ready in 3 months. I did a long run of 18K before my first Half and got it up to 22K for the second about 2 months later. Apart from having a lighter long run every 3-4 weeks as mentioned, don't forget to taper before the race. I like a 2 week taper so I have my longest run 2 weeks out and maybe a 12-14K the weekend before the race and add a couple extra running free days during the week before the Half. Good luck. Cheers.

[MissPinkyInSydney]

You will definitely be able to prepare for the half in 3 months.

The toilet question....I up my hydration 2-3 days out from race day but I basically stop drinking (apart from small amounts) after my meal the evening before the race. On race day I just have a small cup of water and then I drink what I feel like on the course. My quickest half was 2:07 and my longest one 2:30 and I have never had to make a toilet stop.....apart from the hundred or so nervous pees beforehand!! As for "number twos" I get up early on race day and make sure that is out of the way.

Enjoy your training and be sure to increase the distance slowly to avoid injury.

[honeyhoney]

Wolff, on Apr 6 2009, 08:17 PM, said:

hey guys,

well after my first organised run on the w/e (R4K) i feel like i want to keep training and complete a half marathon in late June at Run Melbourne. The 14km i did on sunday was my furthest so far, but i have done several runs around the 12-13km mark before, so I felt comfortable about tackling 14, and did it with a bit of fuel in the tank.

So ive got nearly 3 months until the half, I am planning really on taking it easy this week, then just gradually building my long run up by 1-2kms each week. I would love to be able to run 23-24 by the time the race comes around.
Currently I do maybe 3 x 6-7km runs during the week, then one long run on the weekend of 11+.

Im not really keen on doing speed work and all that, I just enjoy running. Does anyone see any reason that I couldnt get up to 21+ distance in the next couple of months? Im planning on just steadily chipping away at the distance.

Also, this is another question I've pondered a lot in the last 24 hours. I saw a lot of people at R4K using the toilets or ducking off into the bushes...surely this just kills your race time? Is there anything that can be done to try and really prevent needing to go in the 2 hours it will take me to complete a half marathon? sounds like a stupid question i guess..

Hi Wolff, I completed my first half marathon at the Twighlight in Brisbane last week. I was a little disappointed with my pathetic time but happy that I finished as that was my goal. The last few km I struggled with severe cramping in my thigh which I put down to insufficient fluid intake before the race. I was paranoid that I would need to find a toilet during the race and so limited what I drank beforehand. BIG MISTAKE!! I thought I had drunk enough fluid earlier on and then made sure I went to the loo several times leading up to the start. I sweated profusely due to the humidity on the night and there were not too many drink stations. I found myself grabbing two drinks at each station. Obviously this was not enough to replace the fluid I was losing. Next time I will try to hydrate sufficiently and not worry about the need to go to the loo so much. I think you sweat it all out anyway. Good luck, sounds like your on the right track with your run lengths. Its all a learning curve for us Newbies.

[McKnickers]

hi there - congrats on your efforts..I too ran my first R4K and had to stop at the 3km mark for a desperate pee...despite going at home and then at the station on the way to the race..so maybe a nervous one!

But you gotta go when you gotta go and while it adds to the time you can time how long it took you to pee

keep up the hard work

[Melruns]

Hi Wolff, you have heaps of time to get to 21k. Lots of beginner programs are around 12 weeks duration and start with a long run a fair bit less than 14km so you're already ahead.

Don't starve yourself of fluid before the race, just be organised enough before the start to get to the loo. If you are a nervous pee-er, the urge will probably go away just after you start anyway. If you can survive 2 hours at a movie or at work, you can survive a HM without a pee.