I am maile and will be 45 in June. I have been running since last September (I think) and currently do 5-7 miles every other day. Average pace around 8.20 a mile. I do a physically strenuous job.
I want to run in the Lincoln HM in October, but I don't want to get geared up for it and discover that I'm being wildly unrealistic! I suffer from bouts of depression, so it's important to me to set achievable goals.
Does this seem like something I could/should be able to do based on my current running?
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Sounds like you're already training ok, 3 to 4 times a week is plenty, rest days are just as important. Perhaps all you need to do is try and get in some longer runs at the weekend in August/September, about 10milers would be fine, and then on the day all will be well.
I went from non-runner to HM in about 4 months you shouldn't have a problem.
You'll easily do it
I'm definitively going to have a go. I'll have to research some training stuff I guess as I haven't done any interval training before. I have mostly just 'gone running' and run at a regular pace for the duration. Also I run roughly the same (give or take a mile) distance every run, which I should be changing (I think?) for shorter and longer runs?
Very helpful comments anyway, thanks again!
I'm the same age as you and have a physically undemanding job. If you look around a big marathon or half-marathon you'll see loads of 40-something guys, so don't think you'll be alone. The fastest runners at my club are all comfortably in their 40s. If you're running 5-7 miles every other day then you may not believe this, but you could probably do a half marathon next week. The training I've just described will only get you fitter so that you can run easier or quicker. Don't know the Lincoln HM, but I imagine it's fairly well-supported, and the feeling you'll get from running in that crowd will be very memorable. Plus you get the health benefits from running / training. You will be fine, honestly.
welcome to the forum! (he said, whilst being a new member himself)
I've been looking at various Runkeeper training plans for a half marathon. Using those as a vague guide it certainly seems like there's ample time to get ready; for example the 'sub 2.15' plan is 16 weeks and just requires that you can do 20 miles a week before you start.
I would imagine that an hour on the treadmill 4 times a week would be 20 miles a week? I only run outside, so I don't know about treadmill distances etc.
All very exciting!
Just need to decide on some sort of method to carry water while training now...
As you have time on your sides, it may be worth while seeing if there are any 10k races in your area over the summer, which you could enter before commencing a structured HM training plan 12 weeks out. This is what I ended up doing prior to my first HM two years ago, and I found that having an intermediate goal really helped to bring my running into focus. You can keep the HM as your main target, and needn't worry about running a time any more than you want to, but getting a race in before hand can be a really good dress rehearsal in terms of pacing strategies, race day logistics etc. My own experience was that it didn't make my first HM any less special
It sounds as though you would have no problem with the distance, although there are plenty of short, decent 10k training programmes out there. You can take or leave the detail, but they might give you an idea of some of the work you could be doing in terms of variety, training paces, long runs, shorter interval work etc. A long slow run gradually building up each week is decent endurance work for 10k as well as the half.
Just a suggestion - if you prefer to keep it causal for the time being then that's fine, and won't stop you running well in October. Enjoying it is the main thing. Or you could keep the training casual and enter a 10k just for the on the day experience - I am sure you could turn up and run well on the back of what you are currently doing.
As for water bottles, I can remember lugging a 500ml bottle of water round with me on long runs and finding it a real hassle. A small, hand held bottle is all you really need, with just enough water to wet your lips every so often. You can always carry a couple of quid with you to nip into a shop if you really feel the need on a long run.
> Good luck with the half marathon guys.
>
> As you have time on your sides, it may be worth while seeing if there are any 10k races in your area over the summer, which you could enter before commencing a structured HM training plan 12 weeks out. This is what I ended up doing prior to my first HM two years ago, and I found that having an intermediate goal really helped to bring my running into focus. You can keep the HM as your main target, and needn't worry about running a time any more than you want to, but getting a race in before hand can be a really good dress rehearsal in terms of pacing strategies, race day logistics etc. My own experience was that it didn't make my first HM any less special
>
> It sounds as though you would have no problem with the distance, although there are plenty of short, decent 10k training programmes out there. You can take or leave the detail, but they might give you an idea of some of the work you could be doing in terms of variety, training paces, long runs, shorter interval work etc. A long slow run gradually building up each week is decent endurance work for 10k as well as the half.
>
> Just a suggestion - if you prefer to keep it causal for the time being then that's fine, and won't stop you running well in October. Enjoying it is the main thing. Or you could keep the training casual and enter a 10k just for the on the day experience - I am sure you could turn up and run well on the back of what you are currently doing.
>
> As for water bottles, I can remember lugging a 500ml bottle of water round with me on long runs and finding it a real hassle. A small, hand held bottle is all you really need, with just enough water to wet your lips every so often. You can always carry a couple of quid with you to nip into a shop if you really feel the need on a long run.
This seems like an excellent idea; I'm going to do a Clumber park (national trust) 10k in July (they seem to run every month throughout the summer). I haven't done one before but it's a lovely place so should be fun!
Good Luck!
After a couple of weeks off due to ill health, I just ran 7 miles on trails and feel absolutely enthused about the whole thing. I won't keep updating the thread unless anybody else wants to compare progress (from a similar start point to similar end point) as I don't think the world needs another blog!
Good luck Stu! (and anybody else)
.....I've just joined this forum to ask if a HM realistic after jogging for 6 months?
I'm 47 and have booked Glasgow Great Scottish Run in October.
I do 5k Parkruns most Saturdays and done three 10k races in an hour that I have really struggled with.
I only have time to run maybe one other evening during the week, and my pace is really slow. I run way faster with other runners around me in a race though.
The thought of doing 2 x 10k seems impossible just now - but I felt I had to book it to push myself.
Apart from train more often - any tips?
Any tips to get me over the line!?
Training has been interesting and hard; been doing about 45 miles a week which is more than I've ever done, but it's amazing how quickly a 6 mile run turns from a regular longer run to a negligible jaunt, and 10 miles seems like cheating on a Sunday!
I've been checking on race etiquette as I've never done one.
Is there anything I should definitely know about? So far I've got 'no spitting on people', 'don't suddenly stop or swerve', 'don't throw empty cups at the marshals' and stuff like that.
Anything else? I'm assuming that my normal mantra of 'be polite and respectful' will cover most things?
Anything that people forget to warn people?