Need some advice - Half Marathon

pconnolly79

Hi guys,
Looking for some advice here.
I am signed up to do the Rock N Roll Half marathon on Monday.
My first attempt at a half marathon, I've done a load of 5Km and 10Km events.

Due to injury my training plan went out the window a month ago if not more.
Longest Run was 13km.

So I was still thinking of doing the race on Monday but just to tip around it and say I did my first Half.
But everyone is saying I'll injure myself more as I've no training and now I'm in two minds.

What do you think??

elvis jones

If you're injured and haven't run in over a month then don't do it simple as. To go from nothing to 21k would be madness.

pconnolly79

Not even to walk it??

elvis jones

pconnolly79 wrote: »

Not even to walk it??

I personally don't see the point in walking a half marathon and if you're not 100% fit then no i wouldn't do it.

average_runner

elvis jones wrote: »

I personally don't see the point in walking a half marathon and if you're not 100% fit then no i wouldn't do it.

So have you not run in over a month?

pconnolly79

nah did my knee in which is much better now and then by just being busy I have not had the chance to get out.
Just thought I'd find someone on boards.ie that was in a similar situation that might recommend something like....say run 5km, walk 1km run 5km etc etc.

dekbhoy

the month off wouldnt bother me assuming your coming from a good fitness level, only you know how bad injury is. why dont you attempt say a 12km easy run/jog this evening and see how you feel.

pconnolly79

dekbhoy wrote: »

the month off wouldnt bother me assuming your coming from a good fitness level, only you know how bad injury is. why dont you attempt say a 12km easy run/jog this evening and see how you feel.

Cheers for that, yeah I will do that and see how it goes.
If i can easily do 12km this evening I know I can do the full lot on the day.

it is not the knee I'm worried about, just a load of people saying it is mad to even attempt such a distance without months of training and that I'll injure my legs by even trying???

Thanks for the response, much appreciated

ger664

pconnolly79 wrote: »

nah did my knee in which is much better now and then by just being busy I have not had the chance to get out.
Just thought I'd find someone on boards.ie that was in a similar situation that might recommend something like....say run 5km, walk 1km run 5km etc etc.

Most of us runners on boards will tell you not to run it, but thats not what you want to hear so I can't see the point of this thread.

ThePiedPiper

It depends how much you care about the event, how much you've invested in it, mentally, financially and physically. I ran a marathon once, on only 6 miles training in 6 weeks due to injury, which most would say was madness, but I'd coughed up flights to Boston for it, and for that reason had invested a lot of money. The time wasn't important, so I didn't go flat out in the race, and was glad I did it.

If you were a seasoned runner, that 13 miles was no issue to you in training, then the break wouldn't matter in the slightest. But, if you've never ran further than 8 or 9 miles in training, it could be tricky. Do you really want your first half marathon to be a run/walk/jog around in teaming rain, or would it be better to forget the money you've paid, start training again, and work towards properly running a half in September/October?

pconnolly79

RunForestRun wrote: »

It depends how much you care about the event, how much you've invested in it, mentally, financially and physically. I ran a marathon once, on only 6 miles training in 6 weeks due to injury, which most would say was madness, but I'd coughed up flights to Boston for it, and for that reason had invested a lot of money. The time wasn't important, so I didn't go flat out in the race, and was glad I did it.

If you were a seasoned runner, that 13 miles was no issue to you in training, then the break wouldn't matter in the slightest. But, if you've never ran further than 8 or 9 miles in training, it could be tricky. Do you really want your first half marathon to be a run/walk/jog around in teaming rain, or would it be better to forget the money you've paid, start training again, and work towards properly running a half in September/October?

Thanks for your response, Nah i'm going to give it a go. I don't mind the slow time at all or how I finish it. I'm going to run 10km at a handy pace, walk 3-4km and finish the rest running. As you said yourself you were glad you did it in the end.

kildaremum

Oh now I'm wondering if I should have read this post. I'm in a similar position. I'm signed up to run my first half on Monday too and also got injured about 4 weeks ago and have done very little training and no speed work, but did get one of those buoyancy things and ran in a pool for 2 weeks on hols for about an hour a day. Came back last Thursday and have done 2 x 6 miles, 1 x 4 and 1 x 10 mile this week very slowly - felt rotten, calves, hamstrings and everything else tight and crampy, but ok next day. Once I managed the 10 I thought I would be ok to get through the 13.1 but now I'm not so sure. I was sort of thinking running with a group would drag me along.

pconnolly79

kildaremum wrote: »

Oh now I'm wondering if I should have read this post. I'm in a similar position. I'm signed up to run my first half on Monday too and also got injured about 4 weeks ago and have done very little training and no speed work, but did get one of those buoyancy things and ran in a pool for 2 weeks on hols for about an hour a day. Came back last Thursday and have done 2 x 6 miles, 1 x 4 and 1 x 10 mile this week very slowly - felt rotten, calves, hamstrings and everything else tight and crampy, but ok next day. Once I managed the 10 I thought I would be ok to get through the 13.1 but now I'm not so sure. I was sort of thinking running with a group would drag me along.

Hey Kildare mum, All I can say is do it, give it a go. That is what i'm doing. The majority of people in here will say drop out and don't even think of doing it. I went for a really slow 10km run this evening, my first after a long time and it felt great, okay it is a fair distance off a half marathon. I started off a bit too fast, I was 2km in and thought there is no way I can manage the half on monday. I slowed it right down and I'm fine. I'm going to run 10km and walk maybe for 3-4km and the run the rest. Some might say what is the point in doing a race if you walk some of it but isn't it better to get out there, get involved, be part of it, It looks like it is going to be a great day with all of the bands etc and you will still deserve your medal at the end. It might take me 3 hours to do but it can only get better from here

PVincent

Pconnolly79.....you have the head in the right place to do it. You were initially unsure but now you are very sure on how you will get thro it. That positive attitude and determination is what every runner needs , and whilst you may not have the fitness to run all 13miles, that courage will take you a long way. With the atmosphere on the day, you have every chance of (1) Finishing and (2) more importantly enjoying the day. Best of luck....just believe in yourself

kildaremum

If you go into it prepared to be relaxed and enjoy the bands and atmosphere it should be good. Hope you enjoy it and don't do any damage (hope I don't either).

ThePiedPiper

Kildaremum, you seem to be in an ok place to do the race. With the atmosphere on the day, that last 3 miles will not seem so bad, and you'll get there.

Best of luck to you too PConnolly79. Your run/walk strategy will work out fine for you, just don't wait until you're totally knackered to take your first break. Maybe run 8k, walk 2k, run 6k, walk 2k, run 3k to finish might be a good strategy that won't leave your spent after the first running phase, and the last 3k will be doable knowing you're so close to the finish.