piratecat
Diamond
Posts: 36,037 Likes: 143,919
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Post by piratecat on May 1, 2024 8:52:31 GMT -6
I'm just getting back into running and maybe some day I can do a half marathon. For now, I'll cheer you on!
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Post by Rusty Red on May 1, 2024 9:20:52 GMT -6
Oh man. I miss workouts in my training plan more than I'd like. Life happens.
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Post by gymngemini on May 1, 2024 12:19:21 GMT -6
I started running as an adult and really love it, even at my slow pace lol. Nike Run Club is a free app that has training plans. They also have guided runs and I have found them very helpful to my running. You may find it helpful as well! I use NRC for all my race plans. I love having them in an app and being able to move around the days as needed. I also like that I can load my own music for the guided runs and just have a coach’s voice come over it periodically. I used to rec NRC on the motivation thread so much that folks thought I was working for them. 😂 It's one of my favorite apps lol. I also recently discovered that it will pause audible during the guided runs, if you're an audiobook fan. I haven't tried it with Libby yet. It's a game changer for me so I don't have to pick between my books and my guided runs now.
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joy
Global Moderator
TTC, Pg, B&C
Posts: 9,194 Likes: 41,673
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Post by joy on May 1, 2024 12:21:54 GMT -6
If you are worried that you run “slow” and will be last, let it go. You will not be last. I was terrified of being last in my ten miler. I was nowhere near last. I am absolutely scared of being last, lol! I know I would be slow and I can live with that, but I am so worried I would be last. There will be people who walk almost the entire race. There will be people who stop to pee (or more). Look up the times for this race from last year. Or any half marathon you can find! They will show you all the official times. You can use this to gauge how fast you are relative to the population you are probably going to run with. I ran between 10-11min/mile in my ten miler. I was fiiiiiiine.
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Post by crazycatlady6 on May 1, 2024 12:32:02 GMT -6
You can definitely do it!!!!
I would start out with the C25K app to ease yourself back into running.
Go to a running store and get fitted or re-fitted for shoes.
Make sure to continue to incorporate strength and have a stretching regiment in place. I will be 45 at the end of the year also and stretching has become vital the past couple of years.
Hal Higdon has awesome training programs, I use his training plans for every single half marathon of mine.
If you plan on running most of it, you will not be in last place. There are walkers in many half marathons that I have completed.
Do you have a race in mind? Is there a marathon attached to it? Some runners feel more at ease with a marathon going on at the same time as they are not as concerned with being last, on the course by themselves, etc. For example, my dear friend has done over 100 of them, all walking, and sticks with races that have a marathon attached as she is almost 70 and slowing down.
Feel free to PM me with any questions. I will be running half #55 on Sunday so I have plenty of experience as well as do’s and don’ts closer to race day. I didn’t get a chance to read all the responses as I have to go pick up my kid but many of these ladies have done one and will have good advice.
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Post by GhoatMonket on May 1, 2024 17:00:24 GMT -6
I am absolutely scared of being last, lol! I know I would be slow and I can live with that, but I am so worried I would be last. There will be people who walk almost the entire race. There will be people who stop to pee (or more). Look up the times for this race from last year. Or any half marathon you can find! They will show you all the official times. You can use this to gauge how fast you are relative to the population you are probably going to run with. I ran between 10-11min/mile in my ten miler. I was fiiiiiiine. And really, if you are last....and? It's still finishing. Just because someone else did it faster doesn't mean you need to do the same. It's not your job. You aren't doing it to back up your claims that you are the best ever. It's likely a local event that you are doing because it's close by and gives you something to work toward.
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Post by CurlieWhirlie on May 1, 2024 17:20:16 GMT -6
Yes you can do it! I just ran my first marathon at 44 last weekend, and I only started running during the lockdown, like so many people. I've never been a runner in my life, I played softball in high school and was in marching band in college to give you a bit of a snapshot of my "athleticism".
I have found that I like having races on my schedule so I have something to work toward. I agree with others that a half marathon is a perfect distance! I think there's more flexibility in training plans for a half versus a full.
Highly unlikely you will be last, but if you are, so what? You still traveled 13.1 miles!
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Post by coffeecake on May 1, 2024 17:54:19 GMT -6
You can definitely do it!!!! I would start out with the C25K app to ease yourself back into running. Go to a running store and get fitted or re-fitted for shoes. Make sure to continue to incorporate strength and have a stretching regiment in place. I will be 45 at the end of the year also and stretching has become vital the past couple of years. Hal Higdon has awesome training programs, I use his training plans for every single half marathon of mine. If you plan on running most of it, you will not be in last place. There are walkers in many half marathons that I have completed. Do you have a race in mind? Is there a marathon attached to it? Some runners feel more at ease with a marathon going on at the same time as they are not as concerned with being last, on the course by themselves, etc. For example, my dear friend has done over 100 of them, all walking, and sticks with races that have a marathon attached as she is almost 70 and slowing down. Feel free to PM me with any questions. I will be running half #55 on Sunday so I have plenty of experience as well as do’s and don’ts closer to race day. I didn’t get a chance to read all the responses as I have to go pick up my kid but many of these ladies have done one and will have good advice. There are several in our area and the one I’m looking at does not have a marathon. Some on the others do, so there are other options. Thanks for all of your advice!
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cnf
Ruby
Posts: 20,948 Likes: 101,131
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Post by cnf on May 1, 2024 18:11:45 GMT -6
Almost every teacher, coach, or boss that I’ve had has told me that, and still, I need it tattooed on me. Oh I will say it all day long. Now applying it to myself....................I have gotten better. Like I will miss probably 2 workouts this weekend. I am 10 weeks out from nationals, which means I only get to do these 10 more times before the meet. Missing 10% feels like a lot. But it will be fine. So I shouldn't cram in every missed workout, you say? Woops.
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cnf
Ruby
Posts: 20,948 Likes: 101,131
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Post by cnf on May 1, 2024 18:14:55 GMT -6
There will be people who walk almost the entire race. There will be people who stop to pee (or more). Look up the times for this race from last year. Or any half marathon you can find! They will show you all the official times. You can use this to gauge how fast you are relative to the population you are probably going to run with. I ran between 10-11min/mile in my ten miler. I was fiiiiiiine. And really, if you are last....and? It's still finishing. Just because someone else did it faster doesn't mean you need to do the same. It's not your job. You aren't doing it to back up your claims that you are the best ever. It's likely a local event that you are doing because it's close by and gives you something to work toward. Usually there's a decent cheering squad for the last person. When I used to coach, one of my athletes crashed her bike on a half Ironman and ended up dead last (and with a broken elbow) and she said all the volunteers and WTC workers were all there screaming for the last few finishers.
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joy
Global Moderator
TTC, Pg, B&C
Posts: 9,194 Likes: 41,673
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Post by joy on May 1, 2024 19:30:17 GMT -6
And really, if you are last....and? It's still finishing. Just because someone else did it faster doesn't mean you need to do the same. It's not your job. You aren't doing it to back up your claims that you are the best ever. It's likely a local event that you are doing because it's close by and gives you something to work toward. Usually there's a decent cheering squad for the last person. When I used to coach, one of my athletes crashed her bike on a half Ironman and ended up dead last (and with a broken elbow) and she said all the volunteers and WTC workers were all there screaming for the last few finishers. My favorite part of the Boston Marathon was going down to Boylston Ave at 5pm and cheering for the end of the race people. I watched people cry or run with their kids or cheer back. It was the best!
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Post by crazycatlady6 on May 1, 2024 19:38:26 GMT -6
One last piece of advice for tonight: train in all the weather. Hot, cold, sunny, rainy, pretty much anything other than lightning. You never know what race day will bring and you”ll enjoy the race more (and help with first time jitters) if you’re mentally prepped for it.
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Post by RunsforWineandCarbs on May 2, 2024 5:52:28 GMT -6
You can definitely do it!!!! I would start out with the C25K app to ease yourself back into running. Go to a running store and get fitted or re-fitted for shoes. Make sure to continue to incorporate strength and have a stretching regiment in place. I will be 45 at the end of the year also and stretching has become vital the past couple of years. Hal Higdon has awesome training programs, I use his training plans for every single half marathon of mine. If you plan on running most of it, you will not be in last place. There are walkers in many half marathons that I have completed. Do you have a race in mind? Is there a marathon attached to it? Some runners feel more at ease with a marathon going on at the same time as they are not as concerned with being last, on the course by themselves, etc. For example, my dear friend has done over 100 of them, all walking, and sticks with races that have a marathon attached as she is almost 70 and slowing down. Feel free to PM me with any questions. I will be running half #55 on Sunday so I have plenty of experience as well as do’s and don’ts closer to race day. I didn’t get a chance to read all the responses as I have to go pick up my kid but many of these ladies have done one and will have good advice. 54 completed half marathons? you go girl! impressive.
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Post by spicysalmonroll on May 2, 2024 12:09:30 GMT -6
You can definitely, 1000% do it! I started running in 2012 in my 30s after being the kid who hid in the back of gym class, never ran a step in my life, hated all things related to exercise. I’ve done 15 or so half marathons, 1 full, a Spartan and countless shorter races since then. I promise you it can be accomplished. I love Hal Higdon’s plans. You can find them on the internet for free. They have beginner versions that will gently ramp up your mileage. It’s also worth visiting a shoe store to get your feet/gait analyzed and find a good pair of shoes. Good luck and have fun! I love half marathons, they are a tough but manageable goal. ETA: Also, I’m slow AF but that’s the great thing about running. You’re only competing against yourself and your own goals. Congrats on all of your accomplishments, that is amazing! And this gives me hope that maybe I could do it. I truly don’t care if it’s the only half or race I ever do again, I just would like to say I did it once. I will look up those training plans, thanks you! This is exactly what my plan was, just to say I did it lol. Most people are like use the half to train for a full, but I did my half and said NOPE! and never did one ever again hahaha. It was neat to do it once though, my only goal was not walking which I accomplished. At times a snail could have passed me I was running so slow but I kept that "runners" foot bounce so that it counted as running and not walking
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sweetp
Sapphire
Posts: 2,780 Likes: 16,512
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Post by sweetp on May 2, 2024 14:59:43 GMT -6
My very first race ever was a half when I was 35 and I've run 7 (8?) more since then. You can absolutely do it and you're going to rock it! I also recommend Hal Higdon programming, but I've never tried NRC and I may give it a shot after reading this thread. I actually got online today to FINALLY sign up for a half (it's been a couple of years) and found out that the one I had in mind is in a month. I'm no where near half ready (I'm lucky to get 3-4 miles with some walking breaks lately), but I also ran the Detroit half in 2022 with zero training so I'm actually considering it. Maybe I could run/walk it? (Famous last words - I said the same thing about Detroit and ended up running the entire thing. ) You're motivating me to just sign up and get it done! See you in the May Motivation thread! Edited to Add: I should also point out that I don't necessarily recommend my half marathon "training" technique. lol
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Post by coffeecake on May 2, 2024 15:49:13 GMT -6
One last piece of advice for tonight: train in all the weather. Hot, cold, sunny, rainy, pretty much anything other than lightning. You never know what race day will bring and you”ll enjoy the race more (and help with first time jitters) if you’re mentally prepped for it. This is something I’ve thought of because the months leading up to the race will be all different kinds of weather. So I would be running in everything from snow to heat while training.
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dc2london
Admin
Press Secretary
Posts: 61,705 Likes: 419,700
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Post by dc2london on May 2, 2024 18:33:21 GMT -6
Also yes to getting fitted for shoes, and joining a run club. 100% this . The #1 thing impacting my runninvmg in the last several years has bern my knees, which us usually a shoes or form problem.
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Post by Wtfshouldmynamebe on May 2, 2024 19:03:31 GMT -6
I tried to take up running about 10 years ago. I did couch to 5k and that helped.
I did some 5k, some 10ks, and one 1/2. I actually did the Princess at Disney where I did the 10k one and and the half the next. Then I had knee surgery (but I already had horrible knees). I never fully ran anything. It was always run/walk intervals. But I did enjoy myself.
This is to say you can do it. Even if you have to walk some.
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