Training for a half marathon but plans difficult to follow

engol

I've gotten to 11k comfortably and want to do a half marathon in September.

I've downloaded a few different training plans but I work shift work and so does my husband and we've three kids. I can't always follow a plan! Life just keeps getting in the way. I might be working a night shift the night before a long run or he is or something goes awry.

I know I can up my distances by 10% a week, and try to keep the long runs approx a week apart or as close as I can. Throw in another couple of shorter runs. Then "taper" at the end.

Can I just bash away at it that way or am I codding myself?

huskerdu

Go for it.

If you can't keep to the letter of the plan, keep to the spirit of the plan. Plenty of people train without rigidly following a formal plan or while fitting training into an erratic lifestyle.

If you can run 11k, you are in a good position to be ready for an half marathon in 3 months.

Keep running 3 time a week and up your overall mileage and your long slow run gradually every week.
Good luck and enjoy

Auntie Matter

Did you see the article in the Irish Times in the last few days about training for a half marathon?

irishtimes. com/life-and-style/health-family/longer-evenings-longer-runs-and-time-to-think-about-a-half-marathon-1.2236133

It contains a link to a training plan that I followed for the Cork half last week and that might suit a busy person like yourself:

iti.ms/ 1EWgJVJ

It involves 3 short runs and one long run each week. I started it early and repeated some weeks due to flu, holidays and an injury, and managed to get around in one piece.

(I can't post links - delete the spaces to access the links)

chickey2

Is it possible for you to run in or out of work? I find it a great way of getting runs from without using up too much time as I'd have to commute anyway.

If not, you can still do it, just try and get the number of runs in and try not to worry if they're on the wrong day. Try and take a day off after a long run though.

Also cross training at home will help. I tried the 30 day challenge on this site
http://www.kinetic-revolution.com

Good luck!

glacial_pace71

When I was younger I worked in a manufacturing plant that did a 3-cycle shift and found I could never manage any sort of running programme. (But I was a smoker too at the time).
When I was a bit older I worked in a call centre that also did 3-cycle shift, but it was desk-based, and I never had a problem with it: I'd run to/from work every third or fourth day. (In those days I didn't drive, and bus timetables were just a vandalised bit of paper on a board rather than something accessible 24/7, so it never felt like I was losing out).
Definitely listen to your body. If the programme says "x miles today girl" and you're feeling run down, it's 20 hours since you last ate properly, and/or need to cut the run short so you can get back in time to get the kids off to school, then it'll be just some form of scheduled torture that won't improve your times or stamina one iota.
I don't like to send someone off to well-worn threads elsewhere, but it's something that's been debated by runners for a long time:
http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/forum/training/regular-runs-vs-shift-work---how-to-cope/176270.html
http://allnurses.com/health-stress-management/night-shift-and-209606.html
You've plenty of time to build up to a half-marathon.
Try to ensure that you get out 3 times each week rather than once or twice on a ridiculous distance/time running as some sort of compensation for not running at other times.
Try to work it into occasions of opportunity, e.g. you were to meet your best friend for a drink/chat about the latest crisis in her life but she cancels on account of them managing not to have that same fight with the big kitchen knives, then don't just sit back and take the opportunity to catch up on some chore such as shopping, housework etc: if you'd allocated that slot for yourself then seize it and get out for a run.
You'd be surprised that if you can integrate the opportunity for getting a run in to your weekly schedule how much easier it becomes to shift other daily, weekly, monthly 'must do' tasks. Oh so you didn't reply to that text for 50 mins because you were out for a run? He/she didn't die in your absence, and has sent/received plenty of other texts/tweets in that time: value your own opportunity to create time whereby people will expect not to have instant access to you when you're off work, they'll adapt to "oh she's probably out for a run" not "oh she's not speaking to me" etc. Make little windows of opportunity and don't worry about the Grand Plan 1,001 Mark II.(ii), as you'll improve as the weeks evolve. September is a long distance away in running terms. You'll easily go the distance.