Half Marathon Training

Johnny_Fontane

Doing the Killarney half marathon in mid July and a couple of weeks into a training schedule (that I was a little late to start).

Have previously run 49 minute 10k (g.ireland run) and have downloaded a training schedule but dont know if its a bit light?

basically its schedules me to run 4 days a week (mon-wed & fri) with a cross day on sat.

this week its (3m,4m pace,3m, 5k race)
next week its (4m,5m,3, 9m)
week after (3m, 5m, 3m, 10m)
then (3m, 5m, 3m, 10k race)


my question is, is doing 3m,4m three times a week a little light? I am comfortably doing these and could run further. should I stretch out the mon-wed runs?

will be doing my first marathon in october in dublin, so this is all part of the process to become run fit all year.

rom

Johnny_Fontane wrote: »

Doing the Killarney half marathon in mid July and a couple of weeks into a training schedule (that I was a little late to start).

Have previously run 49 minute 10k (g.ireland run) and have downloaded a training schedule but dont know if its a bit light?

basically its schedules me to run 4 days a week (mon-wed & fri) with a cross day on sat.

this week its (3m,4m pace,3m, 5k race)
next week its (4m,5m,3, 9m)
week after (3m, 5m, 3m, 10m)
then (3m, 5m, 3m, 10k race)


my question is, is doing 3m,4m three times a week a little light? I am comfortably doing these and could run further. should I stretch out the mon-wed runs?

will be doing my first marathon in october in dublin, so this is all part of the process to become run fit all year.

Those who make training plan normally know much more than those using them. There is method in the madness. Millions of people have followed them with success. Its to get you to run on tired legs and run often. I could go out and run 10-15 miles every day but I would soon burn out. Its getting you from week 1 to week x and into the best shape without getting injured is the goal.

Everyone messes with plans starting off or try one that is too hard for them and they always regret it. By week 10 of mine for DCM last year I was exhausted.

huskerdu

Johnny_Fontane wrote: »

Doing the Killarney half marathon in mid July and a couple of weeks into a training schedule (that I was a little late to start).

Have previously run 49 minute 10k (g.ireland run) and have downloaded a training schedule but dont know if its a bit light?

basically its schedules me to run 4 days a week (mon-wed & fri) with a cross day on sat.

this week its (3m,4m pace,3m, 5k race)
next week its (4m,5m,3, 9m)
week after (3m, 5m, 3m, 10m)
then (3m, 5m, 3m, 10k race)


my question is, is doing 3m,4m three times a week a little light? I am comfortably doing these and could run further. should I stretch out the mon-wed runs?

will be doing my first marathon in october in dublin, so this is all part of the process to become run fit all year.

I dont know what training plan you are following ? Is it the right one for you ?
It sounds like a novice plan.

How much running do you currently do ?
What long runs do you currently do, and what is your weekly mileage ?

If the plan is less then the mileage that you are currently doing, then its the wrong plan for you.

If it is an increase on your current running plan, then go with it and get used to the increased mileage and see how you get on.

If you are not used to running 4 days a week and going 9m at the weekend, then the 4 and 5m midweek runs may not be as easy as you think.

Johnny_Fontane

yes its a novice plan (i am a novice!). Probably doing about 18 miles a week (on the training plan), have nothing to previously gauge it against.

I'll stick with it at the moment and see how it goes.

The problem with being a novice, I find, is that you have no idea how fast you should run. Should I be utterly wrecked after a 4 mile run? The way I am running at the moment, i seem to be running everything in or around the 8 minute per mile mark.

Thanks huskerdu and rom for your feedback.

rom

http://www.mcmillanrunning.com/calculator
Say your goal time is 2 hrs for a 1/2.

huskerdu

thanks rom, that is a great resource for the OP.

At this stage, all of your training runs should be done at easy pace.
8 min miles are far too fast for you. You risk injury / burn out / hating running.

rom

huskerdu wrote: »

thanks rom, that is a great resource for the OP.

At this stage, all of your training runs should be done at easy pace.
8 min miles are far too fast for you. You risk injury / burn out / hating running.

And the normal human reaction to a comment like this. "I can run 8 min miles all day long" what does he know. Well I ran 8min miles all the time last year. Ran 17 miles at 8min/mile pace about a month/6 weeks before Dublin. Feel flat on my ass on the day as I have no aerobic base. Fast runners run slow a lot more than you think. A sub 2:50 woman's marathon runner from cork I see out running runs at more than 9min/mile around the UCC farm when I see her.

Slowing down builds aerobic base if you are running everything at 8min/mile and you get faster as a result.

So when I see her going around that speed I think I need to slow down as I am going too fast

Johnny_Fontane

huskerdu wrote: »

thanks rom, that is a great resource for the OP.

At this stage, all of your training runs should be done at easy pace.
8 min miles are far too fast for you. You risk injury / burn out / hating running.

thats good to know.....the runs are much easier now than they were when i first started....I'll try Rom's suggestion....

10 minute miles huh? lets see how that works....