Moving up from 10k to a Half Marathon

[kermit116]

I've just gotten back in to running for the first time in many, many years, and the Disneyland 10k will be my first long-distance running event since I was in high school. I'm really getting in to the rD events, and I'm signed up to do the Princess 10k with some friends in February. At this point, I'm still on a run/walk training program, and for longer distances I'm definitely doing more walking than running, so I still have a long way to go.

That being said, I'm a very goal-oriented person, and I like to think about which rD events I'd like to plan for in the in future. I'm wondering what people's experience has been moving up from a 10k to a half marathon at runDisney events. I'd love to go for a Coast-to-Coast medal, so I'm hoping to do the Tower of Terror 10-miler next fall (after doing the Princess 10k in February), and then do two half marathons for 2016.

Obviously this is a highly individual choice, but I'm looking for advice on moving up into longer running events. Should I focus on actually being able to run a full 10k before I try to move up to the next distance? Would people recommend trying to do the ToT 10-miler to bridge the gap between a 10k and a half marathon? From what I've heard the party after the ToT race sounds awesome, but I'm not thrilled with the idea of a nighttime race. Basically, I'm trying to decide how many 10Ks I should have under my belt before I move up to the next distance level.

I was really out of shape before I started training for the DL 10k this spring, and I still have a long way to go, but I know that setting concrete goals for myself will help to keep me on track in my training process, so any tips would be great!

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I've just gotten back in to running for the first time in many, many years, and the Disneyland 10k will be my first long-distance running event since I was in high school. I'm really getting in to the rD events, and I'm signed up to do the Princess 10k with some friends in February. At this point, I'm still on a run/walk training program, and for longer distances I'm definitely doing more walking than running, so I still have a long way to go.

That being said, I'm a very goal-oriented person, and I like to think about which rD events I'd like to plan for in the in future. I'm wondering what people's experience has been moving up from a 10k to a half marathon at runDisney events. I'd love to go for a Coast-to-Coast medal, so I'm hoping to do the Tower of Terror 10-miler next fall (after doing the Princess 10k in February), and then do two half marathons for 2016.

Obviously this is a highly individual choice, but I'm looking for advice on moving up into longer running events. Should I focus on actually being able to run a full 10k before I try to move up to the next distance? Would people recommend trying to do the ToT 10-miler to bridge the gap between a 10k and a half marathon? From what I've heard the party after the ToT race sounds awesome, but I'm not thrilled with the idea of a nighttime race. Basically, I'm trying to decide how many 10Ks I should have under my belt before I move up to the next distance level.

I was really out of shape before I started training for the DL 10k this spring, and I still have a long way to go, but I know that setting concrete goals for myself will help to keep me on track in my training process, so any tips would be great!

Although I have yet to move up to a half from 10Ks (and maybe never will), I found the advice from Sarah and Dimity (from AnotherMotherRunner) on the RunDisney blog to be very inciteful: http://www.rundisney.com/blog/articles/train-for-longer-races-07-07-14/
In summary, they tell you to tackle the next distance when: you're motivated, "you've climbed up the race ladder," you're healthy, your family supports your running, and you "know what it takes."

While humans are impatient by nature, I figure that the most important thing was to have enough fun so that I would continue to want to run for the rest of my life.

When the 10K stops being enough motivation to get me up at O-dark thirty 3X a week and lace up my shoes, then it will be time to start training for a half. -- Suzanne

 

[goofeygirl]

It depends on where you are now.

I was in your boat a few years ago. I was on the h.s. track and field team and then graduated.

It was nearly 30 years later when I ran in any race again and that was the Disney half marathon in January 2012. I had decided to run it in the summer of 2011 but was unsure if I could do a half marathon. I mean, I went from '0' running activity to a half marathon?
Although I was an active person anyway...just running...I ride my bike a lot in the summer...workout with weights...so I was not a dormant person by any means...just not a runner!
I went on my treadmill and walked the 13.1 miles while watching dvd's. I just wanted to know that I could do it...it didn't matter how long it took me. I just needed to know I can do this. As for time, I knew I could improve on my time between summer and January.

I signed up for the race in Sept of that year I think (funny that the race still had plenty availability in Sept but nowadays it sells out in hours).

I was out and about walking/walking and jogging...just to get a time and stay one step ahead of the balloon ladies.

By the time January came I was ready. Not fast but ready and SO friggen nervous! However I did the race. I was slow. I was a few steps ahead of the vans...the white vans...I could see them coming down the highway as I crossed over a bridge...and in my head I head the Imperial March (Star Wars) music.

At the end of it...my legs were KILLING ME. I had a hard time sitting and an even harder time standing up again.

I am glad I did it that way. I was hooked. After that I signed up for half marathons all over the place and over a period of time the pain eased off. Meaning...I didn't feel that killing burning aching feeling I did the first time I did a half and of course my time improved.
I went on to do the Goofy the next year and then the Dopey this year.

So, it depends where you are now. I was already in decent shape when I signed up. Like I said, I had not run in anything in nearly 3 decades. It can be done and there are quides that show you how...

 

[bumbershoot]

I just happened to do it that way.

Did some 5ks, did a local 10k. I was already signed up for the TOT, though, months before. So doing a 10k in September, with the 10 miler in October...that 10K worked out well to be my long run that week, actually!

By the time of the TOT I had already signed up for the WDW Half. And before I did that, I had signed up for a local St Paddy's day Half.

I just sort of kept on going. A Half is about as far as I wish to run, so as far as I know I'm stopping there, and I currently have a Half, then two 10ks, then another half, then another half between Labor Day and WDW Marathon weekend... Bouncing around a bit. I might have lost my mind, as I don't have a super-fun Half experience yet (dreadfully sick for the WDW Half, and I was still recovering from that illness in March), but hope springs eternal.

 

[RnbwSktles]

I am going to tell you my story of going from a "now and then" kind of runner, to completing the 2014 Marathon, in less than a year.

I was never a runner. I played a lot of sports when I was younger, but I couldn't even run a mile without stopping. After college, I would occasionally go out for a 2-3 mile jog, walking very frequently. I did it to maintain my weight, I never cared how fast I was. 3 years ago, I let a friend of mine convince me to do a 5k with her, and I completed it in just under 39 minutes. My goal was to finish under 40, so yay! . I hated it though

Then one day I was reading about the Disney races and personal stories of triumph, and something clicked in my head. I wanted to do the marathon, the full marathon. I had run one 5k at this point, and that's it.

About 10-11 months before the marathon, I started out with the Couch to 5k (C25k) program and was able to run 2.5 miles without stopping. I got sick towards the end and never finished the program, so I don't know if I would've made it to the full 3.1 miles (and definitely not in 30 minutes). I tried the 10k program after that, but couldn't finish it without having to walk. I was ok with that though, since I knew I would be running intervals in my marathon training.

I signed for a half-marathon in the fall so that I could have a proof of time to submit for the marathon. It would be a few weeks after I was scheduled to reach 13 miles in my training. (I ended up adding 2 more half marathons to my schedule for various reasons. My finish times were 2:29, 2:38, and 2:30.)

I followed Galloway's official training plan, starting out with 3 min/1 min run/walk intervals. I quickly learned I couldn't maintain that and went to 2/1. I still use this today. I did complete the 2014 WDW Marathon in 6:30. That was about an hour slower than I had predicted, but a lot of factors went into that. All I cared about was finishing though, so mission accomplished!

Since the marathon, I have done 1 5k, an 8k, 11k, and 4 more halfs. I still can't run a full a mile without stopping on most days.

I guess the point of my long story is that you can train for and complete any race distance you want. It does not matter how far you can run without stopping. If you want to go for a half-marathon, don't get discouraged if you can't run a full 10k first.

I will say this though: If you do want to be able to run a 5k, 10k, whatever, without stopping, then devote some training to just that. From my personal experience, I have lost some of my ability to run longer amounts of time because I am so conditioned to do my 2/1 intervals for long distances. Occasionally, I have a really good day and can go a few miles without stopping (5 is my best), but those are rare. For me, getting my legs strong enough to last the long distances is more important that how fast I get there.

Everyone is different, so just find a method that works for you. As long as you can move faster than the required minimum pace (16 min/mile), you're fine!

 

[Sleepless Knight]

While I'm not overweight, it's also not like I was in tremendous physical shape when I signed up for the 2011 Disneyland 1/2. I went from couch to 1/2 marathon in 4 months with training starting mere days after the busiest time of work and no consistent exercise in years.

I spent a lot of that first month training thinking that it was a very good thing that I still had months left to train. Maybe it helps that I power walk the course instead of actually running it, but I have used the Galloway training plan to complete the 2011 Disneyland 1/2 and the Coast to Coast in 2012 with the Disneyland 1/2 and the Wine & Dine 1/2.

I firmly believe that most people can finish a 1/2. It's really just a matter of putting the training in and building up the endurance. That comes from logging the miles. Yes, it's slightly more than double the length of a 10K, but it can be done.

In the end, I will say that the Coast to Coast is worth it. Not only does it mean a visit to both Disneyland and Disney World in the same year, but it's really run to show off the Coast to Coast after you've earned it. I had many conversations with other runners following the Wine & Dine 1/2 about the experience of the Disneyland 1/2 and what made it special.

 

[Ariel484]

Obviously this is a highly individual choice, but I'm looking for advice on moving up into longer running events. Should I focus on actually being able to run a full 10k before I try to move up to the next distance? Would people recommend trying to do the ToT 10-miler to bridge the gap between a 10k and a half marathon? From what I've heard the party after the ToT race sounds awesome, but I'm not thrilled with the idea of a nighttime race. Basically, I'm trying to decide how many 10Ks I should have under my belt before I move up to the next distance level.

I took a similar approach to what you are thinking of - a 5K, then a 10K, then a 10-miler, then a half marathon. I know other people that have just gone from 5K to marathon and have been fine, but for me, I think I needed to know I could do one distance before moving up to the next. The mental part was huge for me.

I do think that it would be a great idea to do a 10-miler or a 15K (9.3 miles) race. You don't sound particularly thrilled about the 10-miler race itself, so maybe you could look for a race in your area? I know 10-milers and 15Ks are sort of rare though.

Ultimately I think what a PP said is your answer - you're ready when you think you're ready to move up to it and when you want to move up to it. Take a look at some half training plans and see if the first few weeks seem doable compared to what you do now, then pick a plan and follow it!

 

[Disney at Heart]

My plan was local 5ks and 10ks. Then ToT. Then WDW 1/2.
Now I am signed up for W&D 5k and 1/2 in November and WDW 10k and 1/2 in 2015. Hope also to do DL DDD in 2015 for C to C. And then when I am 60, do the WDW marathon. I was a late bloomer, so I decided to increase mileage a little each time. Couch potato to marathon in 2 years! Fun journey!