Half-marathon

[SoonerTexan]

Just signed up for a 4 month half-marathon training class and the accompanying half-marathon (hey--I got $10 off if I signed up today. Cant pass that up)

The training class is very doable and geared toward my level of fitness (about to finish up a 5k class with the same running store) but OH DEAR WHAT HAVE I DONE???

Here's to four 5-6 am workouts a week in the cold for the next four months.

[L.Jane]

Go You!! Good luck!

[Michele]

You can do it!

[scrub-jay]

Nice!!

[houseelf]

Rock on! I'm signing up for the Flying Pig this May. I guess that I'd better learn to love the hills of Cinci!

[Phoebe]

1/2 marathons are fun!

[HouseofWool]

I am amazed that people do this stuff voluntarily. Me? I keep trying to work up to 5K and just keep petering out. I wish I were a runner, but meh, it just isn't me.

[SoonerTexan]

Me? I keep trying to work up to 5K and just keep petering out. I wish I were a runner, but meh, it just isn't me.

That was me. And still kind of is

[bokelley]

How is the training going? I have ran both days this weekend. It was ugly but i did it. Dh ran with me. I hate hate running in the cold!

[SoonerTexan]

Hmm...not great this week. Tuesday I got up and went and it was awesome. Thursday I wimped out because my foot cramped up in the morning. Saturday I got up and went to meet the group but ended up going home--they probably thought I was such a wuss. I had taken a nice chunk out of my big toe the night before and of course it was right in the area that would rub constantly on the front of my shoe so it hurt like hell to even walk.

Hoping for a better week starting tomorrow

How about you?

[Meenah]

Good luck!!!!!!!! Hope your toe heals quickly.

[MarissaNicole]

So I am thinking of signing up for a half marathon in May... to motivate myself to run throughout the winter (the gym has an indoor track), and I was looking for training plans, and some of them claim to be for beginners yet they have you running 6-7 miles in the first week! Right now I can run about 2 miles, but I think it will take me AT LEAST a month to get up to 6-7 miles.

Anyone found a good training program that is slow and steady?

I am NOT a natural runner, I can do about 2 miles in 20 minutes, but any more than that and I average 11-12 minute miles. I suppose I could make my own plan, but was wondering if any of you have any good advice?

[SuzySunshine]

I have a friend who was not a runner that just signed up for her first full marathon and she started with this.

http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

I haven't tried it yet but hope to in the spring.

[houseelf]

When I first started running long distance, I'd run 5 minutes then walk one. After that became easy, I'd run 10, then walk one. It doesn't take very long for your body to start adjusting to greater distances when you do intervals. It is a great way to bump it up while being kind to yourself. I used the RW marathon guides VERY loosely. I, for one, do not believe that the human body was made to run distances every day. A typical week has a low mileage run, a moderate mileage run, and a distance run plus some sort of cross training. This is gentle enough to keep you running for a very long time.

My current problem is running in the snow. My group only meets once a week and I just am having a hard time motivating myself to get out and run in 20 degree weather and slush by myself. I don't want to loose my base because I plan to start increasing my distance come February in order to properly train. I need someone to kick me out and get over myself. How in the heck did I ever train in Minnesota? I've grown weak.

[Michele]

My sister did the interval training and successfully did a half marathon.