Is it too soon to train for a Half Marathon?

gnu

.... or should I wait till I've got a better base?

A bit of background - I started C25K in December, have been running without walk breaks since Jan. I stuck to 3 runs a week but am now gradually introducing a 4th day after getting advice on building a base on another thread. My weekly mileage varies from 9 - 12miles/week and I plan to gradually increase it.

I did Hal Higdon's 10k Novice plan to train for the Great Ireland Run but have lost focus since I finished that so am looking for something else and was wondering about Hal Higdon's novice HM plan with a view to doing the Dublin half in September. My goal would be to finish, and maybe have a modest time goal based on my training times but mainly just get around the course in one piece without injury.

So I'm wondering if this is a good idea or a recipe for injury - I've no idea what distances are considered too much for newbies, left to my own devices I could probably talk myself into trying anything, even the marathon!

RayCun

Half marathon training is a good way of building that better base
The Hal Higdon plan I'm sure has a gradual increase in distance and an emphasis on easy running, so it would be a good way to extend yourself.

gnu

RayCun wrote: »

Half marathon training is a good way of building that better base
The Hal Higdon plan I'm sure has a gradual increase in distance and an emphasis on easy running, so it would be a good way to extend yourself.

Thanks Ray, I think that's what I wanted to hear!

RoyMcC

Agree with Ray. If you've done the 10k programme then move on to the Higdon novice Half training.

You've plenty of time before that kicks in so continue to get a few miles in 3-4 times a week, maybe enter another shorter race or two in the meantime.

Not too many people get injured running despite what you may read. Listen to your body and back off if you feel a problem coming on.

scriba

Hi GNU, I'd say do it too. I'm running since early February, set a goal of running a 10 mile race in mid-April, and I've a half marathon coming up this week. Training for the half will naturally increase your mileage, and your base, as Raycun says.

I followed the Hal Higdon intermediate 10 mile plan for the 10 mile race, then jumped into an equivalent week for the equivalent half mile plan to see me to this week. I only chose the intermediate plans because I wanted to incorporate some speed work, but the novice plan basically consists of 3 midweek runs (increasing from 8 miles to 13 miles in total for the three days) and a gradually increasing LSR at the weekend going up to your distance. 12 miles a week is a perfect fit to start that program.

Best of luck with it! If you decide it's too much at present, you can always use 10 mile as an intermediary distance, but you'll be fine!

gnu

RoyMcC wrote: »

Agree with Ray. If you've done the 10k programme then move on to the Higdon novice Half training.

You've plenty of time before that kicks in so continue to get a few miles in 3-4 times a week, maybe enter another shorter race or two in the meantime.

Thanks Roy, I think I'll start the plan straight away and I can use the extra time during the plan to repeat weeks etc. His longest long run is only 10 miles so depending on how the timings work out, I might have enough time to go longer which would be a confidence boost for the race.

I've got the Terenure 5 mile on Sunday and after that I'll be looking around for my next race, I'lll probably do the Dublin race series if I'm not away for them.

Not too many people get injured running despite what you may read. Listen to your body and back off if you feel a problem coming on.

That's reassuring! I've been warned not to do too much too soon so I'm trying to play it safe so I don't have to take time off.

scriba wrote: »

Hi GNU, I'd say do it too. I'm running since early February, set a goal of running a 10 mile race in mid-April, and I've a half marathon coming up this week. Training for the half will naturally increase your mileage, and your base, as Raycun says.

I followed the Hal Higdon intermediate 10 mile plan for the 10 mile race, then jumped into an equivalent week for the equivalent half mile plan to see me to this week. I only chose the intermediate plans because I wanted to incorporate some speed work, but the novice plan basically consists of 3 midweek runs (increasing from 8 miles to 13 miles in total for the three days) and a gradually increasing LSR at the weekend going up to your distance. 12 miles a week is a perfect fit to start that program.

Best of luck with it! If you decide it's too much at present, you can always use 10 mile as an intermediary distance, but you'll be fine!

Thanks Scriba! I like having a specific plan to build the base, was feeling a bit lost before I hit on this idea. The first few weeks are grand anyway and l'll see how I'm handling it as time goes on. I might (if I'm able) do the race series 10 mile but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Wow, fair play to you - you must be super-fit to be able to do all that! Which half are you doing? Very best of luck in it!!!

scriba

gnu wrote: »

Thanks Scriba! I like having a specific plan to build the base, was feeling a bit lost before I hit on this idea. The first few weeks are grand anyway and l'll see how I'm handling it as time goes on. I might (if I'm able) do the race series 10 mile but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Wow, fair play to you - you must be super-fit to be able to do all that! Which half are you doing? Very best of luck in it!!!

Ha, I'm far from super-fit, or even fit, for that matter! I'm just finally getting used to the 10 mile distance for LSRs, and slowly building the miles up. I'm Cork based, so doing the Bandon half on Saturday - my first, so I'm hoping for 1:50, but depending on the day, I'll take anything under 1:59:59. After that, I'm going to look at doing some base work for a month, and then decide whether to enter DCM or not (which will be about 19-20 weeks out by then).

gnu

scriba wrote: »

Ha, I'm far from super-fit, or even fit, for that matter! I'm just finally getting used to the 10 mile distance for LSRs, and slowly building the miles up. I'm Cork based, so doing the Bandon half on Saturday - my first, so I'm hoping for 1:50, but depending on the day, I'll take anything under 1:59:59. After that, I'm going to look at doing some base work for a month, and then decide whether to enter DCM or not (which will be about 19-20 weeks out by then).

Well ok, but you're superfit by my standards! Best of luck tomorrow, hope the weather is good and you get a time you're happy with!

scriba

gnu wrote: »

Best of luck tomorrow, hope the weather is good and you get a time you're happy with!

Thanks! It's all I'm asking for

Same to you at Terenure - may you smash your PBs into oblivion!

gnu

scriba wrote: »

Thanks! It's all I'm asking for

Same to you at Terenure - may you smash your PBs into oblivion!

Thanks ... the great thing about being a newbie is every race is a PB!