DFW Running Club

hi there, this is the first time ive come across this thread, i am doing my 2nd half marathon in feb in brighton, i did it last year but i really wasnt that happy with my time so im doing it again, i also quite love/hate the whole running thing, love it when its going well, hate it when its raining or frosty etc! i did a 5 mile today but im worried im not far enough into the training for a 1/2 marathon on the 17th feb, any advice from seasoned runners? i try do to do 2 3/4 runs a week and a long one on a sun morning, hoping to up my milage by 1 mile a week, week on week from now on to get on track. any ideas to help me?

southernbelle wrote: »

I don't tend to do any training though, I am quite fit in general through other things. I really need to improve my running though.

Will be following with interest

I would respectfully suggest that you will find it difficult to improve if you don't train. I found that if I only ever trained at one pace then my race pace would certainly be no faster.

southernbelle wrote: »

I've improved on my times each time through my general fitness - as I said though, I'd like to improve my running in general so will be starting to train. I need to get out of the mind set that training is cheating - there will come a time when I can no longer run 13 miles with no preparation.

It is definitely not "cheating" but a means to an end.
I was certainly no natural athlete at any time but, by the means of regular training, I managed to finish 32 full marathons and around 150 half marathons. In addition, I ran all sorts of smaller distance races and distances between 5 miles and 20 miles in training. If I hadn't done the training, I most certainly wouldn't have done what I did and carry my fitness though to my mid-60s (which is where I am now).

Your best bet is, perhaps, to find others to run with in training. That will get you out of the house with your trainers on when you might feel like doing something less energetic instead.