The All New MSE Running Club.

Indie_Kid

leftieM wrote: »

Hi folks. I'm considering doing a half marathon in early September so 9 weeks of training. I currently run 6-7k 3 times a week and my times are 5.5 to 6 mins per kilometre. Have I a hope of increasing that in time? Any good plans out there?
Thanks

I'm not following a plan. I am just increasing my long run by 1-2k per week.

Chickvic

I've entered my first half in October and all I've done is increase my long Saturday run. I tend to do 2 x 5k (Mon/Thu) slightly longer on Tuesday 6/8k and on Saturday I'm alternating between 10k and 16k (10 miles). I will probably run 13.1 miles once over the summer before I actually do the race but apart from that will stick to what I'm doing...and hope like mad it works

donglemouse

leftieM wrote: »

Hi folks. I'm considering doing a half marathon in early September so 9 weeks of training. I currently run 6-7k 3 times a week and my times are 5.5 to 6 mins per kilometre. Have I a hope of increasing that in time? Any good plans out there?
Thanks

lots of plans if you like them - asics website (my asics tool - which i use), runners world website & bupa plus many others if you search

assuming you are running 6-7k x3 = approx 20k per week it's definitely achievable

you might want to focus on a modest finish time and just get round for a first time rather than set excessively ambitious targets on the time front - if you finish it will be a pb regardless of time!

most plans don't suggest you actually run 13 miles in advance of the event - they usually suggest max around 10/11 miles for the longest training runs and you then wind down your training in the 2 weeks before the event

good luck

leftieM

Thanks folks. I'll work on increasing my distance and see how it goes. I'm not bothered about timings. I just included that in case it was too slow. I'm still thrilled that I run at all.
I accidentally did 8.5 miles in May with a friend when we got lost practising our 5k marathon leg so maybe there's some hope!

vegasvisitor

Hi,

First time I have found this thread, and looking for a bit of advice.

Yesterday I did my local Parkrun (5k). I don't run enough, but I have done Parkrun around every second week for the last couple of months, and I was out twice through the week doing 3k.

Anyway, I had won the trainers from Sweatshop, and was trying them out. Again I had wore these twice through the week and no issues. I got them instore and was on the treadmill with them on etc to be checked. All good, I don't blame the trainers....reason I mention them is that I was hoping to get a PB first time wearing them at Parkrun

Anyway, I beat my PB by almost a minute and a half. I'm not fast, so my time was just under 34 minutes but I was very pleased with this. So this is good. But I was very knackered. I headed straight for a bench and sat to get my breath back. When I went to stand up my calf muscles completely seized. I then did my normal almost mile walk to cool off, with sore calf muscles on both sides.

Then got home, every time I sit down and stand up I can't get off my tiptoes at first.

My husband says it's the sitting down that did it. I know it was silly, but I wondered if there is a reason that sitting down could do that, or did I just totally overdo it and that's when it became apparent? I've had sore calf muscles before after a run, only once or twice, and never this sore! I know it will go away in a few days but I want to know why it happened so I can stop it happening again.

A bit gutted as it's likely to stop me playing tennis today!

Lizling

Did your running style feel the same as usual? Going faster and wearing different trainers are both things that can change your gait, and if you shifted towards landing on your forefoot when you've always landed on your heel before, that'd shift a lot of the stress of running to your calf muscles.

If I'm right (and this is pure guesswork), it's no bad thing but just be careful you don't push your calves too hard because they need time to adjust. For now, give them a good hard massage - rolling a tennis ball over them really helps.



I doubt that sitting down afterwards would make much difference.

vegasvisitor

Thanks Lizling

I don't think any permanent damage done. Funny how it came on so suddenly after sitting, it was like a cramp. Hopefully as you say it's just some adjustment with new shoes and going a bit quicker.

I thought the shoes were fine as I'd done 2 separate 3k's in them through the week. But then did 5k, and my pace was faster than my 3k! Interesting how people being around and being timed seems to make me able to go faster! Still sore today, hopefully will ease off in time to go for a 3k on Tuesday. Thanks.

Added: Sorry, should have answered your question, yes running style felt the same. Was only marginally faster really and the last 1km I pushed it a bit because I had a feeling I was getting a PB.

krustylouise

Hi all,

I'm new to this thread!

Went for my first jog, since April, this morning. I feel like getting up at 5:30am, after very little sleep and a busy day ahead, was an achievement in itself.

I just did an old 1mile jog I had saved on mapmyrun. My previous time in April was 1 mile in 11:08mins, this morning my time was 12:43 so much worse. But I'm not going to get down about it, I can only improve!

fufu_banterwaite

lesley74 wrote: »

I headed straight for a bench and sat to get my breath back. When I went to stand up my calf muscles completely seized. I then did my normal almost mile walk to cool off, with sore calf muscles on both sides.

Then got home, every time I sit down and stand up I can't get off my tiptoes at first.

My husband says it's the sitting down that did it. I know it was silly, but I wondered if there is a reason that sitting down could do that, or did I just totally overdo it and that's when it became apparent?!

Best thing to do after a run is to do some static stretches as when you run your muscles shorten, and doing some static stretches helps them return to their normal length.

Also try having some chocolate milk as it has a good blend of carbs and protein to repair the muscles and refuel the body.

Indie_Kid

Rather low mileage for me this month. I'm sure this weather isn't helping me.