First half marathon?

[kps7795]

Hello! Looking for a little advice/tips: before covid, I could run like a block and a half on a really good day while ending up completely winded. Sometime in the summer of 2020, I started running slowly, just because I needed to get out of the damn house. I've now "run" every 5k and 10k Disney has offered since marathon weekend 2021 (I say "run" because I'm not actually running the whole time but am moving continuously). I do them all virtually, and I've now successfully completed 10ks in one shot twice (marathon and princess 2022) - before I was doing them each as two 5ks and adding up the time. So my question is: am I biting off more than I can chew if I sign up for the wine and dine half marathon? My times are getting better and I can do more continuous stretches of time running (though not for very long) but I've never done anything more than the 10k, and just the twice. I imagine that if I did sign up for the half marathon, I would have to do that broken up as well (since I'm doing the virtual anyway), but essentially doing two 10ks back to back is a looooot of time for me. Any suggestions? Should I wait until I'm more comfortable doing longer stretches?

Sincerely,
Still pretty clueless about running

First of all, you are DEFINITELY not biting off more than you can chew. Between Chadwick Boseman dying (we were around the same age when he prematurely passed) and COVID-19, I decided that I wanted to check off a bucket list item and run in the Disney World marathon. Mind you, I was not a runner by any stretch of the imagination. My cardio was HIIT and elliptical training. Nonetheless, I wanted to participate in the marathon for the pictures as well as the overall Disney experience. So, I initially started using the Galloway method but it wasn't to my liking. I just wanted to run continuously. So, I researched different running coaches and methods and landed on Hal Higdon (halhigdon.com). My first goal was to try to get a good Proof of Time to get an optimal starting group. I was outrageously naive. I only had one opportunity to get a POT for the marathon which was a half marathon in August in Sunrise, Florida. My training began in July for a race at the end of August. I was able to do it in six weeks without fully understanding what an easy run should feel like.

You have A LOT of time before the Wine and Dine to establish an aerobic base and be able to enjoy yourself in the half marathon. Mind you I am definitely not @DopeyBadger (the man is AMAZING with information and advice!), but please feel free to follow up if you have any questions or if there's anything that you can learn from my misadventures leading up to an incredible experience last January.

Has anyone mentioned MAF training to you? As I mentioned above, my biggest mistake when training for my half marathon was not running slow enough. For myself, I needed something with greater structure like MAF training with a low heart rate rather than just "running easy." Train 80% of the time at your MAF heart rate and you will reap the benefits.

Good luck!

 

[CisforCookie991]

Thank you everyone for all the great advice! I usually run with the Peloton app and they have some training programs for marathon. Has anyone tried something like that? I wonder if it would be a little easier to get into it with someone telling me to slow down or speed up right in my ear rather than trying to time intervals myself.

 

[The Expert]

Thank you everyone for all the great advice! I usually run with the Peloton app and they have some training programs for marathon. Has anyone tried something like that? I wonder if it would be a little easier to get into it with someone telling me to slow down or speed up right in my ear rather than trying to time intervals myself.

I have iFit and there are TONS of run-specific training series for every race distance (and filmed all over the world). There are also races they've filmed live -- 5K, 10K, Half and several full marathons (Chicago, Boston, NYC) on the app that you can run with the trainers. They do live 5Ks every month that you can get an actual medal for, too! I have a ProForm treadmill that I can do those activities on, but you can also do them "untethered" outside or on a non-iFit tread. HIGHLY recommend!

 

[Herding_Cats]

Thank you everyone for all the great advice! I usually run with the Peloton app and they have some training programs for marathon. Has anyone tried something like that? I wonder if it would be a little easier to get into it with someone telling me to slow down or speed up right in my ear rather than trying to time intervals myself.

If you're planning on doing a HALF marathon, a FULL marathon training plan is going to be a lot. (Just basing this off of you saying "training programs for marathon.")

If you like something in your ear telling you when to speed up/slow down (which, if your goal is simply to finish the half at W&D, you don't necessarily *have* to do a bunch of speedwork/interval stuff unless you're talking about galloway-style intervals) there are a LOT of free apps out that that can do that if you're willing to do the work of setting them up.

 

[CisforCookie991]

If you're planning on doing a HALF marathon, a FULL marathon training plan is going to be a lot. (Just basing this off of you saying "training programs for marathon.")

If you like something in your ear telling you when to speed up/slow down (which, if your goal is simply to finish the half at W&D, you don't necessarily *have* to do a bunch of speedwork/interval stuff unless you're talking about galloway-style intervals) there are a LOT of free apps out that that can do that if you're willing to do the work of setting them up.

Thanks! Yup I did mean Galloway-style intervals. Peloton has general "you can run" as well as 5k and marathon training, but nothing in between. Definitely not ready for the marathon so will try something else.

 

[Herding_Cats]

If you have a garmin watch, it more than likely has the tech built in for this already, and it signals the beginning/end of a cycle with beeps.

I like words, so I have a tabata/hiit interval app that I set up to say things to me.

 

[CisforCookie991]

If you have a garmin watch, it more than likely has the tech built in for this already, and it signals the beginning/end of a cycle with beeps.

I like words, so I have a tabata/hiit interval app that I set up to say things to me.

I have an Apple Watch, so I should probably click around and see what it can do.

 

[camaker]

Thanks! Yup I did mean Galloway-style intervals. Peloton has general "you can run" as well as 5k and marathon training, but nothing in between. Definitely not ready for the marathon so will try something else.

If you like Galloway running, check out the training plans on the RunDisney website. They're designed by and for Galloway running.

 

[Herding_Cats]

intervals pro is a common app that people like

 

[CisforCookie991]

intervals pro is a common app that people like

Will check that out. Thanks!

 

[CisforCookie991]

If you like Galloway running, check out the training plans on the RunDisney website. They're designed by and for Galloway running.

Just downloaded those this morning, and did the backwards math to figure out when I need to start training. Already taken more steps towards this today than I have before!