Question:I would like to run a half marathon. How do I train to
achieve this by the end of Sept? Is this a relialistic goal?
Answer:
Sounds to me like you are already ready for a half marathon. ;-) Or should
I say more ready for your first half than I was for mine.
When I did my first half my goal was to make it to the finish before the
first full marathoner. I planned to run the first 6.2 miles and then walk
from there to the finish since I was barely ready for a 10k at the time.
The only problem was my IT Band problem made my walking slower than I'd
planned on. I still finished in 2:34 and was happy with that because it was
right before the first full marathoner.
I won't be so crazy with my first full marathon though. I started my 18
week program tonight.
You have very similar times and goals to me :-) I'm running a 1/2 in mid
September.
Currently you're running what? - 20 miles a week. I'm about 25. Our race
time and pace are very similar, my only difference is my distances and days
vary in intensity and one of the 'hard' days is a run longer than the
others. Right now it's 8 miles and by September I'd like to have run 15
miles and have a mileage base of say 30-40 miles per week. All being well
that would have me in shape for 9 minute miles :-)
perhaps you should try something similar, so instead of 3-4 every run, do a
'hard' 3-4, easy 3, fartlek 3 or speed work session (if you think you're
ready for that - be careful), easy 2-3/rest, rest/x-train and then a 'long
run' say 5-6 then another day's rest.
If you scale each week up by no more than 10% in milage and back off the
milage every 4th week or more often if you feel you need it then by late
July you should still ave a good base and a long run approaching the 1/2
distance.
Train for a sub-2 hour half, with time to spare...i.e. about
a 1:56 - 1:58. This is exactly in your estimate range (9 min.
miles), so you have good pace judgement.
You're going to have to change your running schedule.
There are MANY great training plans on the net and in
books. Try some of the various links listed at my home
page (in my sig) - runner's world, kicksports.com, etc.
and find a good one. Basically you are going to be increasing
one long run a week, some pacework... stuff like that.
