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Murdo
Murdo Sendmail

Half Marathon training plan stories

asked 4 months ago | Report

Dear All

I'm preparing for a Half marathon on April, just wondered if anybody had any training plan stories that were funny/didn't to to plan (as is expected (;)/went better than expected.. Cheers

Peace

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10 answers

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  • Rina M.
    Rina M. Sendmail

    Hi Murdo,
    I had run my first 1/2 last May and was gearing for my second one on July 1rst. That 1rst half went fairly well as I had trained in winter temps, hydrating every 5 km or so, and that day in May was perfect running weather.
    The one in July did not go so well. I was used to doing my runs early in the morning so that I would escape the afternoon heat and still getting H2O in me every 5 km or so. Very bad idea! That July 1rst turned out to be really hot by my standards. I ran out of gas at around the 16 km mark. As I was running in a countryside road I saw horses in the field and wished I could get on one to finish this thing. The last water stop had a policeman stationed there and he told me not to even think about going after those horses! So I struggled through those last kms. Was elated to have a lady sprinkling runners with her water hose as we ran by her front lawn on that last km. Asked her if I could adopt her as a sister. Finished with a time that was slower by 7 min. According to my training, I should have been a lot faster.
    Find out about the running conditions your race might have on that day and try to train for it. Actually, run in different conditions and at different times of day if you can. Hydrate and eat well. Have a good training plan that is gradual and involves hill training, even if the course looks flat.
    Most of all, enjoy running! If it's not fun, why do it?

    :+)

    answered 4 months ago |Report

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  • Peter P.
    Peter P. Sendmail

    My last Half was the Disneyland Half Marathon 2011. I trained so hard for it. I was doing well too until mile 11. Both calves cramped up. Later determined that I didn't hydrate enough the day before and the all day walk through both parks didn't help either. Not going do that again this year.

    Either way I had fun with the race and I got passed by Drew Carrey!! That guy is fast!! FR sent...good luck on your Half. Train hard and have fun.

    answered 4 months ago |edited 4 months ago |Report

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  • Doug L.
    Doug L. Sendmail

    Not really all that interesting, but I used the Furman FIRST plan for my last (first) half and. Nailed my goal. Shot for 2:00. Hit 1:58:39.

    answered 4 months ago |Report

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  • Peter F.
    Peter F. Sendmail

    No your body and how you feel. I got caught up in trying to break a 145 for a half this past january and I got injured in training. i did 166 miles in december with a lot of speed built in. That 166 was on17 running days. i didnt listen to my bodys warning signs and a have hamstring tendonitis and achilles tendonitis. i havent ran since january 6 It wiped out the three halfs that I was planning and now Im in physical therapy.

    answered 4 months ago |Report

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  • Paul R.
    Paul R. Sendmail

    I swear by Hal Higdon's training plans. I used his half plan along with some core training to prepare for last year's Kentucky Derby Festival Mini Marathon. Ran a 1:37 and felt very strong doing it. pay attention to the core work.

    answered 4 months ago |Report

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  • Chad T.
    Chad T. Sendmail

    HEy! Check out my blog, I worked on keeping motivated with my blog here it is :vote for me! http://running.gotop100.com/in.php?ref=273 vote first for my blog!

    answered 4 months ago |Report

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  • Marc M.
    Marc M. Sendmail

    I have a couple that might make you laugh or groan. One i got the stomach flu a week before. I did okay but not great. I was like 3 pounds lighter than normal on race day. Another time I sprained an ankle two weeks before and had to sit it out. Also sprained an ankle 3 weeks out once and still ran and it was a PR. Last fall I almost threw up in the last mile. I kept it together till the finish line, ran straight for a trash can just past the finish line and puked several times. LOL! It was right next to spectators. They all stepped back. :-)

    answered 4 months ago |Report

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  • Stephanie C.
    Stephanie C. Sendmail

    Doing my first Half this Sunday (in two days). So far, I just recently recovered from major stress fractures in both legs, and am currently recovering from runner's knee. I have only had the past 2 months to train again because of being out for 3 months with the stress fractures, but I have been feeling stronger than ever (probably because I've dulled it down from running twice a day, everyday, to once every other day)!

    I have run the actual 13.1 miles twice in the past month and did the 1st one (with hills) in 2 hours 3 minutes, and the last one (on a more flat, dirt, path) in 1 hour 56 minutes. I am planning to run with a water/energy drink mix and animal crackers Sunday....will probably only use them around 7 miles and every couple after that, so not too much.

    Hopefully I don't fall on my face or something embarrassing like that (I ate it so freaking hard last Summer on the same course as the Half Sunday; I have the scars on my knee and elbow to prove it)! LOL!

    answered 3 months ago |Report

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  • Rosie M.
    Rosie M. Sendmail

    I'm preparing for my first half marathon too!! Mine is in June and so far my shins have been a little issue. I'm just looking forward doing my best and I always seem to have a smile on my face no matter how painful it may feel. Best of luck to you Murdo!!! :)

    answered 3 months ago |Report

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  • Victoria K.
    Victoria K. Sendmail

    My first half is April 1....wish they didn't put it on April Fool's Day!....my biggest problem on race day is GI issues due to jitters, I think....last Sunday I ran 7 miles and tried Gatorade half way and yuck it made my stomach mad! My husband is so good, he got me a hydration belt with 4 small bottles instead of the one big one that bounced around. So, this weekend's long run I am going to try 3 bottles water and 1 bottle of Gatorade. If I drink too much water, what else? Stomach problems....so, it's key to hydrate but also replenish electrolytes too...the other thing I have been doing is using the Hal Higdon HM training app. I don't have to think of what should I do, he tells me everything to do. I am putting my trust into that. Please let us know how it goes...Good luck....

    answered 3 months ago |Report

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