Half Marathon, Hopefully

Well You should be able to make it.

That time gives you a little under four weeks which means a little less than three weeks of
speed/distance training. That last week should be mostly restful with just a few short runs at
your planed pace. Most people do better with this week of rest than if they trained hard during
it. Some may suggest two weeks of rest before a half marathon.

In the mean time I suggest not worrying about speed, but work on distance/time for most of your
runs. You did not tell us how often you run but I suggest three to five times a week. At least
two of those time you should work on distance

Your 10 minute pace is not bad, but if you are doing it running and walking, I believe you would
race better by running slower and less walking. Try to walk no more than one or two minutes out
of every mile. If you can do it go without walking at all; I suspect you can. Try to add to that
time/distance. Stretch it out as your body allows. Don't overdo it. Try to add an additional
mile or 10 minutes each week so you will have done 1:30 or about 9 miles by the end of the
primary training.

Try to go for a 11 or 12 minute pace during the race, I think you can do it, but don't try any
faster. Faster at the start will only mean a very slow finish and will result in a slower run in
the end. You can't get back the energy you wasted at the start. You can speed up late in the
race if you feel up to it during the last three miles. If it works for you do run/walk during
the race. I suggest keeping that one or two minutes per
mile. Do it from the start.

This is rather conventional advice but it seems to work for most people. If you find something
else works for you, then do something else. Each of us is different so cherish the difference.

Good Luck and let us know how it works out.

--
Joseph E. Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

"Jenn" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Right now I run/walk 6 miles in about one hour. I would like to try and see how I do in a half
marathon October 26. Any advice on how I should prepare for this? Thank you! Jenn

Jenn...hate to take an unsupportive posture w/your ambition however this is rec.running and not
rec.walking and I don't think you're quite ready for a
1/2M, unless you're content walking for the majority of the event.

If right now you're unable to run for 6 miles...why enter a running event some weeks away wherein
the course is 13.2Miles? You'll end up walking the majority of the course. If you're OK with that,
go for it.

I would more so encourage you to enter local 5K and 10K races. Based on what you've said, I say
"running" a full 10K is a bigger achievement than finishing a 1/2M wherein you walk for half plus
the miles.

I just feel there's more personal achievement to be derived in conquering a venue (race) in line
with its intent (running event). You'll have your 1/2M's and eventually full M's in days ahead of
you...but I would never justify entering a running event knowing I will be walking for a portion of
it. That's biting off more than you can chew...just an opinion...and that's also why I don't even
think about Ultras...

Andrew...

(Jenn) said:

Right now I run/walk 6 miles in about one hour. I would like to try and see how I do in a half
marathon October 26. Any advice on how I should prepare for this? Thank you! Jenn

Oh, you'll win, I'm sure of it...

(Globaldisc) said:

If right now you're unable to run for 6 miles...why enter a running event some weeks away wherein
the course is 13.2Miles?

Because she likes pain and injury (and she's none too bright).

I'd support Joseph's suggestions....especially about extending your training distance. Until you
try extending your run/walk session (building up to those 2+ hours) you won't know how your body
will cope...

....for example, when I first started to build up distance (from a very low base!) my legs used to
tighten up and I'd really lose speed/energy around 5 miles. But now I train longer distances, the
difficult point is around 8.5 miles but goes away again around 10 miles. I know I have to take an
energy drink with me, and I know which one works well for me.

These are things that you may not be able to work out in time for October
26. But why not try? Just please don't be upset with yourself if you can not make it on the
day......it's better to stop when you body really says NO (not just grumbles) and be able
to run again later that week than to persist and have bad injuries or quit running cos it
was so awful.

So yes you can do the race - it's a question of is it a bit too early for you? Maybe there is a
shorter "fun" race attached to the 1/2M?

Good luck if you go for it....and let us know how it went !

Cheers, Hedgehog "Joseph Meehan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well You should be able to make it.

That time gives you a little under four weeks which means a little

less

Quoted message said:

than three weeks of speed/distance training. That last week should be mostly restful with just a
few short runs at your planed pace. Most people do better with this week of rest than if they
trained hard during it.

Some

Quoted message said:

may suggest two weeks of rest before a half marathon.

In the mean time I suggest not worrying about speed, but work on
distance/time for most of your runs. You did not tell us how often you

run

Quoted message said:

but I suggest three to five times a week. At least two of those time you should work on distance

Your 10 minute pace is not bad, but if you are doing it running and walking, I believe you
would race better by running slower and less

walking.

Quoted message said:

Try to walk no more than one or two minutes out of every mile. If you can do it go without walking
at all; I suspect you can. Try to add to that time/distance. Stretch it out as your body allows.
Don't overdo it. Try to add an additional mile or 10 minutes each week so you will have done

27:30

Quoted message said:

or about 9 miles by the end of the primary training.

Try to go for a 11 or 12 minute pace during the race, I think you can

do

Quoted message said:

it, but don't try any faster. Faster at the start will only mean a very slow finish and will
result in a slower run in the end. You can't get

back

Quoted message said:

the energy you wasted at the start. You can speed up late in the race if you feel up to it during
the last three miles. If it works for you do run/walk during the race. I suggest keeping that one
or two minutes per
mile. Do it from the start.

This is rather conventional advice but it seems to work for most

people.

Quoted message said:

If you find something else works for you, then do something else. Each of us is different so
cherish the difference.

Good Luck and let us know how it works out.

--
Joseph E. Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

"Jenn" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Right now I run/walk 6 miles in about one hour. I would like to try and see how I do in a half
marathon October 26. Any advice on how I should prepare for this? Thank you! Jenn

Thanks for your support. I agree, why not try? I'll be sure to let you know how it went! 🙂

"Hedgehog & Markarina" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I'd support Joseph's suggestions....especially about extending your training distance. Until you
try extending your run/walk session (building up to those 2+ hours) you won't know how your body
will cope...

....for example, when I first started to build up distance (from a very low base!) my legs used to
tighten up and I'd really lose speed/energy around 5 miles. But now I train longer distances, the
difficult point is around 8.5 miles but goes away again around 10 miles. I know I have to take an
energy drink with me, and I know which one works well for me.

These are things that you may not be able to work out in time for October
26. But why not try? Just please don't be upset with yourself if you can not make it on the
day......it's better to stop when you body really says NO (not just grumbles) and be able to
run again later that week than to persist and have bad injuries or quit running cos it was so
awful.

So yes you can do the race - it's a question of is it a bit too early for you? Maybe there is a
shorter "fun" race attached to the 1/2M?

Good luck if you go for it....and let us know how it went !

Cheers, Hedgehog "Joseph Meehan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well You should be able to make it.

That time gives you a little under four weeks which means a little

less

Quoted message said:

than three weeks of speed/distance training. That last week should be mostly restful with just a
few short runs at your planed pace. Most people do better with this week of rest than if they
trained hard during it.

Some

Quoted message said:

may suggest two weeks of rest before a half marathon.

In the mean time I suggest not worrying about speed, but work on
distance/time for most of your runs. You did not tell us how often you

run

Quoted message said:

but I suggest three to five times a week. At least two of those time you should work on distance

Your 10 minute pace is not bad, but if you are doing it running and walking, I believe you
would race better by running slower and less

walking.

Quoted message said:

Try to walk no more than one or two minutes out of every mile. If you can do it go without
walking at all; I suspect you can. Try to add to that time/distance. Stretch it out as your
body allows. Don't overdo it. Try to add an additional mile or 10 minutes each week so you will
have done

1:30

Quoted message said:

or about 9 miles by the end of the primary training.

Try to go for a 11 or 12 minute pace during the race, I think you can

do

Quoted message said:

it, but don't try any faster. Faster at the start will only mean a very slow finish and will
result in a slower run in the end. You can't get

back

Quoted message said:

the energy you wasted at the start. You can speed up late in the race if you feel up to it
during the last three miles. If it works for you do run/walk during the race. I suggest keeping
that one or two minutes per
mile. Do it from the start.

This is rather conventional advice but it seems to work for most

people.

Quoted message said:

If you find something else works for you, then do something else. Each of us is different so
cherish the difference.

Good Luck and let us know how it works out.

--
Joseph E. Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

"Jenn" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Right now I run/walk 6 miles in about one hour. I would like to try and see how I do in a half
marathon October 26. Any advice on how I should prepare for this? Thank you! Jenn