New runners... a question for you...

[Buckalew11]

If you are signed up for the WDW 1/2, how far are you running at this point. I just started back on Father's Day. I'm so worried about being behind.

 

[RunRookie]

If you are signed up for the WDW 1/2, how far are you running at this point. I just started back on Father's Day. I'm so worried about being behind.

Are you following a training plan? Check the RunDisney.com web site to look for a variety of training plans developed by Jeff Galloway. He has plans for each distance and they all begin in September and run through the first week in January. Not knowing how many miles per week or how long your Long Runs are, it is hard to answer your specific question. But if you review Jeff's Half Marathon training plan, you should be able to have a good idea where you are by comparison.

But for reference sake, I started running last April. I picked Jeff Galloway's beginner runner plan for the Disney Half and started my training in September. I felt fully prepared for the Disney Half in January 2012 (my first Half Marathon) and had a terrific experience. Of course, I am assuming that you are healthy and all that stuff...

 

[Buckalew11]

Thanks, Rick!

I did print that off--the 1/2 marathon for beginners. So, by following it, I'm running 2 days a week for 30 mins. and then a long run (on Saturdays usually). I'm just worried because the difference between 5 miles and 13 seems like I need more months to get there!

You've done a lot of races this past 1 1/2!! Congrats! Do you have any good advice for a newbie who wants to catch the running bug? So far, I only have disneyitis, no running bug.

Seems like a lot of it is in my head but I'm not sure how to fix that.

I'm in fairly good shape...I need to lose some weight, I'm 47 (.5 ) and have come a long way since June with the C25K program. I had trouble running for 1 minute at first.

I'm married to a runner. But he's so far past the beginning stage that we can't relate. He just "does" it and I analyze everything. lol Ugh.

 

[tehvalerie]

I'm just worried because the difference between 5 miles and 13 seems like I need more months to get there!

We're doing the full marathon in January (our first) and are only up to 7 miles for our longest run (9 this upcoming weekend), so you have nothing to worry about in comparison! I've found one of the hardest things about training is to let go and trust the training plan. But as long as you're following one that's been vetted and not making it up on the fly, you'll be fine!

 

[RunRookie]

Thanks, Rick!

I did print that off--the 1/2 marathon for beginners. So, by following it, I'm running 2 days a week for 30 mins. and then a long run (on Saturdays usually). I'm just worried because the difference between 5 miles and 13 seems like I need more months to get there!

You've done a lot of races this past 1 1/2!! Congrats! Do you have any good advice for a newbie who wants to catch the running bug? So far, I only have disneyitis, no running bug.

Seems like a lot of it is in my head but I'm not sure how to fix that.

I'm in fairly good shape...I need to lose some weight, I'm 47 (.5 ) and have come a long way since June with the C25K program. I had trouble running for 1 minute at first.

I'm married to a runner. But he's so far past the beginning stage that we can't relate. He just "does" it and I analyze everything. lol Ugh.

If you are on track with Jeff's plan, then you will be fine. i know exactly how you feel because when I was training last fall, I was worried that I would never get to 13 miles and feel comfortable doing so. But the key to training is consistency and planning for a gradual increase in distance so that your body (legs, feet, hips, back, etc) has the time to adjust to the increases without causing injury. The training plan gives you the roadmap to build up to your goal distance (and accumulating the necessary 'foot time') in a way that manages the effort involved.

I did the three runs/week approach too. I ran on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Saturdays, where Tuesdays were intervals/speed work, Thursdays were Easy Runs (or Hill work once a month), and Saturdays were my Long Runs. At 52 years old, I wanted to leave room for rest and some cross training between runs. Sunday was always a Rest Day (to rest after the Long Run).

This was a good plan for me. I wasn't trying to become a speedster for the Half; I was training so that I could 'finish' and enjoy the Half. Consistency is the key. If you put in the time, have good equipment (by that I mean shoes!), and keep track of your effort, you will be fine. I had the benefit of a friend who would do the Long Runs with me. If there is a running club in your area, you might find that they have a Saturday group run that you could join. Usually those group runs are broken into various 'pace groups' so you would run with people at your Long Run pace.

Have you read the book "Running for Mortals"? I would highly recommend it. It is a very easy read, written by John Bingham and his wife Jenny Hadfield, and it gives all kinds of great advice and suggestions in a manner that is both entertaining and instructive. John also has another fun book called "The Accidental Athlete" which is also very good.

I don't think I truly caught the running bug until I finished the Disney Half. That race was an amazing experience for me, and made me believe that I actually 'was' a runner. What crossing the Finish Line means for you I can't tell you. But once you are a "Finisher", you have that accomplishment forever. If you never run another formal race or not, you can call yourself a Half Marathoner.

I listen to a podcast called The Marathon Show. It is quite humorous but also quite informative. The host, Joe Taricani, told me once that I was a Marathoner but not yet a "Marathon Finisher". Hopefully on October 7th, I will finally be a Marathon Finisher. You are a Half Marathoner and soon to be a "Finisher"!

 

[SAHDad]

Thanks, Rick!

I did print that off--the 1/2 marathon for beginners. So, by following it, I'm running 2 days a week for 30 mins. and then a long run (on Saturdays usually). I'm just worried because the difference between 5 miles and 13 seems like I need more months to get there!

You've done a lot of races this past 1 1/2!! Congrats! Do you have any good advice for a newbie who wants to catch the running bug? So far, I only have disneyitis, no running bug.

Seems like a lot of it is in my head but I'm not sure how to fix that.

I'm in fairly good shape...I need to lose some weight, I'm 47 (.5 ) and have come a long way since June with the C25K program. I had trouble running for 1 minute at first.

I'm married to a runner. But he's so far past the beginning stage that we can't relate. He just "does" it and I analyze everything. lol Ugh.

As others have said - if you are following a plan, and are current on it, you will be fine. Right now, yes - 13 seems like a long way to run. (Heck, it does to me too!) But, as you go along the plan, and build your mileage slowly and carefully, you will hit a day where you suddenly realize that a 5 mile run is a "short" run.

Beyond having good gear (shoes are most important, obviously, but the right clothes matters a lot too!), the next piece of advice is - if you haven't done so already - to find a few shorter races, 5k or 10k ones, between now and January. You want to have some race experience under your belt, just to get used to that race day feeling and preparations.

 

[mking624]

I agree that you should be fine if you stick to your running plan. I started out with using C25K over a year ago and quit less than half way through. It did NOT work for me and I found running to be absolutely miserable when I used it. I discovered Jeff Galloway's plan last fall and started using that instead...and was accomplishing greater distances in a shorter amount of time than I ever did with C25K. I am not saying that specific plan is way better than another specific plan. But for ME it was. If you don't feel that you are where YOU need or even want to be, maybe you will need to find a plan that works out better for you. I know there are people here who prefer other methods over Jeff Galloway's.

Also, make sure your gear is what it should be...proper shoes and the like. I recently bought a new pair of running shoes and it has helped me tremendously. I also bought myself a tech tank top and it has been the best tech shirt I have used (I couldn't understand how one tech shirt could really make a difference over another until I bought my current style). So it's not just your plan...but what you are running with. Also...how you keep yourself going (particularly during your long runs). Hydration, blood sugar boosts...those things can impact your energy as you go along, which can impact how far you go.

 

[KippWade]

Just as a side note, I use Hal Higdons' training plans. There are others out there the ones that they post seem to work for me just fine so far.

I'm currently using the Novice 2 level training for my 2 upcoming half marathons.

 

[johde]

You've been given good advice already. A few things I would add. Jeff Galloway's plans are built around run/walk. If you are planning on doing straight running, I would look at another plan. Hal Higdon has already been mentioned. For my first 2 half marathons, I used the plans in "Marathoning for Mortals" by John Bingham and Jenny Hadfield. The biggest difference between their plan in Galloway's in it builds up the midweek runs to closer to an hour instead of staying at 30 min. It also peaks at a 10 mile long run prior to the race.

The other bit of advice I would add is to remember to do your long runs slowly. Galloway is probably the most conservative in this respect and he recommends 2 min. per mile slower than your goal pace in the race based on a Magic Mile or some race you've done. During the week you can work on faster running. The long run is about covering the distance.

 

[Buckalew11]

Thank you all for the good advice.

I really would like to be able to run the whole race but I'm thinking I'll be doing some walking. Maybe 2014 will be a "run the whole race" race.

I actually finished the race in 2007 so I know what that feels like and, yes, it is a feeling I would not trade in for anything. I ran and walked (walked a lot)--my dad died after a bout with cancer in November of 2006 and I spent every spare minute of free time I had with him so training went out the window. I had to prepare in 2 months. It was rough but I finished.

This time I want to "feel" like a runner. I want to feel "ready" (enough) and enjoy the journey too.

Thank you all for the book recommendations (I am reading one about women's running).

I have great shoes (Brooks Adrenaline) that I can't say enough good things about and a pair of Salomon shorts that DID change the way I feel when I run. I am partial to running skorts but these shorts are the cat's pajamas! I have several shirts that I wear--my bigger deal is a sports bra (sorry guys! lol)--that is way more important that shorts or shoes, actually! lol

I do appreciate all these good thoughts and words of advice. I am excited and nervous at the same time.

 

[cewait]

Just remember a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.



Hang in there. It always seems long until you get closer to the end. Follow your plan and you will be there in no time. You will face many emotions as you work through training to get to the race.

 

[johde]

I would agree with coach and add during your training you'll have good runs and bad runs. Don't let the bad runs get you down.

If it get's to race time and you still think you are going to do some walking, it's better to walk early before you need to. Walk breaks are better at keeping your legs fresh than rejuvenating legs that are already tired. If you think you'll only need minimal walking, you could walk through the water stops or at some of the characters along the course and run the rest. Psychologically it's easier to start running again if you choose to walk instead of being forced to walk.