Half marathon in May

[Anonymous]

I do CrossFit and try to do the treadmill when I can. I now live in a place that has a lot of snow and ice, and it’s frigging cold. The treadmill is so boring. When do I need to get serious about getting my runs in to make it to May?

[Anonymous]

Now

[Anonymous]

Since it sounds like you have very little recent running experience, the answer is most definitely now. I’d you can’t handle the treadmill wouldn’t bother aiming for May if where you live has the conditions you describe. Find a decent quality one-not some floppy low end gym one.

[Anonymous]

One tip is never train for more than 24 weeks without taking a 2-3 week break.

I set my training blocks up for 9 weeks at a time. The 9th week ends in the race.

Week 9 take it super easy.

You should start easy on week 1, and build up and up. And like I said take it easy on the last week.

[Anonymous]

Why did you sign up for a half instead of 5k or 10k? That's a really big goal.

[Anonymous]

It's doable but you need to be running 4-5x/week plus 1-2 days of cross-training/weight lifting. Look up training plans to see what your daily/weekly mileage should be to build up to a half.

I used to run halfs (I'm old and lazy now) but I never ran more than 10 miles when training. That was my longest run and I only did that 2 or 3 times before race day. You should aim to be at 10 miles at least 2-3 weeks before race day so you can do a few long runs and then take it a little easier in the days before the race so you're not overly fatigued.

[Anonymous]

Half is easy and doable for anyone in decent shape

[Anonymous]

You have to be more specific: Are you a 25 year old who's been doing Crossfit 5 days a week for years and jumps on the treadmill for an easy 5-6 miler once or twice a week? Then you could do it tomorrow, though a 2-3 month buildup to 20-30 miles a weeks of running will make you faster and make it more comfortable.

Or are you a 55 year old who started Crossfit twice a week a few months ago and slogs through a 2 mile treadmill run every few weeks? Then you need to start focusing right away and do a 3-4 month gradual buildup, increasing your mile by roughly 10 percent a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Half is easy and doable for anyone in decent shape

Good luck OP!

I am not OP, but would it be too ambitious if I am just starting to run again? I walk daily, but just starting to run….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have to be more specific: Are you a 25 year old who's been doing Crossfit 5 days a week for years and jumps on the treadmill for an easy 5-6 miler once or twice a week? Then you could do it tomorrow, though a 2-3 month buildup to 20-30 miles a weeks of running will make you faster and make it more comfortable.

Or are you a 55 year old who started Crossfit twice a week a few months ago and slogs through a 2 mile treadmill run every few weeks? Then you need to start focusing right away and do a 3-4 month gradual buildup, increasing your mile by roughly 10 percent a week.

Thank you for all of the suggestions in the thread.

OP here. I am 50 and have been doing CrossFit regularly for 8 years now. I also play soccer in the summer and fall. I have played soccer pretty much my whole life. I use the treadmill to keep up with the running when I can’t go outside. I do a couple of runs a week but they are just under 5 miles. I started a running app, and it suggests that I start with shorter and faster runs, and then build up over the next few months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Half is easy and doable for anyone in decent shape

Good luck OP!

I am not OP, but would it be too ambitious if I am just starting to run again? I walk daily, but just starting to run….

Need 4-5 months but no

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have to be more specific: Are you a 25 year old who's been doing Crossfit 5 days a week for years and jumps on the treadmill for an easy 5-6 miler once or twice a week? Then you could do it tomorrow, though a 2-3 month buildup to 20-30 miles a weeks of running will make you faster and make it more comfortable.

Or are you a 55 year old who started Crossfit twice a week a few months ago and slogs through a 2 mile treadmill run every few weeks? Then you need to start focusing right away and do a 3-4 month gradual buildup, increasing your mile by roughly 10 percent a week.

Thank you for all of the suggestions in the thread.

OP here. I am 50 and have been doing CrossFit regularly for 8 years now. I also play soccer in the summer and fall. I have played soccer pretty much my whole life. I use the treadmill to keep up with the running when I can’t go outside. I do a couple of runs a week but they are just under 5 miles. I started a running app, and it suggests that I start with shorter and faster runs, and then build up over the next few months.

The fact that you're a soccer player makes me feel like your goal is reasonable.

The later poster who is just starting as a runner, I would not take on a half-marathon this year. Maybe a 10K or 10-miler.

OP, my biggest piece of advice for you is to block out your long runs between now and May, and keep them sacred. I agree with the PP who said you can tap out at 10 miles. Maybe 12 if you think it will make you feel more confident.

Let's say your long run day is Saturday. You can probably do 6 now. Run them fairly slowly -- slow enough that you could carry on a conversation. So try a 6 miler this Saturday and next. Then try an 8-miler. Then back to 6. Then a couple more 8s. Etc., etc.

I'd recommend three runs of 10 miles or more before a half.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have to be more specific: Are you a 25 year old who's been doing Crossfit 5 days a week for years and jumps on the treadmill for an easy 5-6 miler once or twice a week? Then you could do it tomorrow, though a 2-3 month buildup to 20-30 miles a weeks of running will make you faster and make it more comfortable.

Or are you a 55 year old who started Crossfit twice a week a few months ago and slogs through a 2 mile treadmill run every few weeks? Then you need to start focusing right away and do a 3-4 month gradual buildup, increasing your mile by roughly 10 percent a week.

Thank you for all of the suggestions in the thread.

OP here. I am 50 and have been doing CrossFit regularly for 8 years now. I also play soccer in the summer and fall. I have played soccer pretty much my whole life. I use the treadmill to keep up with the running when I can’t go outside. I do a couple of runs a week but they are just under 5 miles. I started a running app, and it suggests that I start with shorter and faster runs, and then build up over the next few months.

This is your answer. Just follow the plan and you will be good. Rest when you need to, dial it back when you need to, dial it forward when you feel you can, and don't feel too guilty if you miss a session. Just move on to the next planned session.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have to be more specific: Are you a 25 year old who's been doing Crossfit 5 days a week for years and jumps on the treadmill for an easy 5-6 miler once or twice a week? Then you could do it tomorrow, though a 2-3 month buildup to 20-30 miles a weeks of running will make you faster and make it more comfortable.

Or are you a 55 year old who started Crossfit twice a week a few months ago and slogs through a 2 mile treadmill run every few weeks? Then you need to start focusing right away and do a 3-4 month gradual buildup, increasing your mile by roughly 10 percent a week.

Thank you for all of the suggestions in the thread.

OP here. I am 50 and have been doing CrossFit regularly for 8 years now. I also play soccer in the summer and fall. I have played soccer pretty much my whole life. I use the treadmill to keep up with the running when I can’t go outside. I do a couple of runs a week but they are just under 5 miles. I started a running app, and it suggests that I start with shorter and faster runs, and then build up over the next few months.

This is your answer. Just follow the plan and you will be good. Rest when you need to, dial it back when you need to, dial it forward when you feel you can, and don't feel too guilty if you miss a session. Just move on to the next planned session.

OP here. Okay. I just did 5 miles tonight with a 3.8 miles/min pace in 50 minutes. I know it is slow, but at least I did it. I felt pretty good, and could have run longer.

Thank you to everyone for the support.

[Anonymous]

I did this training plan for a half marathon:

https://www.rundisney.com/running-training-programs/