General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Is 67 days enough to prep for 0.5 'thon? Rss Feed  
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2006-02-21 11:05 PM

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Subject: Is 67 days enough to prep for 0.5 'thon?
I'm currently running in small increments, as I am just now learning to build slowly. Which really means I'm not as young as I used to be and when I think I am and try to move out accordingly, two weeks later I can't walk from the excruciating shin pain. But I bought a HRM last summer so I've been trying to use it more. I'm running for time at a brutally slow pace in line with keeping my HR b/t 140-160 (which I think is a tad low), this week 12 mins every third day, 5 mins the 2 days in between. I'm adding 10% to each day the third time I run my longer day (every 9 days, rather than each week). I think I started about a month ago. I didn't have a goal then other than to shed a few of my 185 lbs...

But there is a "race" coming up the end of April. I was thinking of consolidating my program into an 3x/wk run without the short between days, and possibly increasing by .15 rather than .1. Even if I do, I still won't have run (at one time) for the length of time a .5 'thon would take me, nor will I have covered that distance during training. Is this doable, or should I just keep building base and look at something farther down the road? How much of a base is enough?

Edited by Mr. Freeze 2006-02-21 11:07 PM


2006-02-22 8:38 AM
in reply to: #351624

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molto veloce mama
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Subject: RE: Is 67 days enough to prep for 0.5 'thon?
look at the 1/2 marathon beginner plan at halhigdon.com and see how it compares to what you've been doing and what your goals are. i pushed the envelope training for my first 1/2 marathon, but that was after 6 months of tri training and 3 months of racing. your body needs time to get used to running longer distances. pushing to far too soon is a prescription for injury. many people told me just that back before my first 1/2 marathon, and i did it anyway, but that doesn't mean it isn't good advice.

do you know the distances you are covering during the runs you're doing now? are there other races, like 10k distance, you could focus on for spring? are there other 1/2 marathons you could shoot for later in the season? is it more important to finish the 1/2 marathon earlier in the season? or to enjoy yourself while doing it? can you do a run/walk combination for the race?

i do understand the desire to set high goals (one of my favorite quotes of all time is from t.s. elliot = "only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."). i thought seriously about doing my first marathon this year, but then realized that it might jeapordize my main goal of finishing my first 1/2 ironman.

Edited by autumn 2006-02-22 8:46 AM
2006-02-22 8:47 AM
in reply to: #351624

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Master
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Subject: RE: Is 67 days enough to prep for 0.5 'thon?

Follow Autumn's advice! You might also want to test yourself with a 5K in the next few weeks. Even running 3 miles will help you get a feel for racing and everything that goes with it. If you feel good after that, find a 10K race and see how it goes. It looks like you've been consistent so far, which is the key. You don't want to mess something up by rushing the race, but if you think you're ready (and you don't mind run/walking if need be), go for it.

2006-02-22 8:48 AM
in reply to: #351624

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Subject: RE: Is 67 days enough to prep for 0.5 'thon?

I would be very cautious about how quickly you ramp up your mileage, and I say this from personal experience.  I'm still experiencing IT band problems that probably originally stemmed from increasing my own mileage too quickly over too short a period of time.  There was no real warning either.  It just started hurting one day at the end of a run, and it's been a problem ever since.

Be careful and don't sacrifice your long term health for short term goals.

2006-02-22 8:50 AM
in reply to: #351624

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Expert
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Subject: RE: Is 67 days enough to prep for 0.5 'thon?

are you a new runner? I think for someone who has been running a while this is no problem but I have a hard time understanding what you're saying are you saying you run 12 minutes total? as a long run? if thats the case and you're kind of a newbie to running I don't think I would do that because while you're increasing at the reccommened rate and even a little higher at .15 you could very well run yourself into injury with the pressure of having signed up for the race you might push yourself past what your body can handle because of the new activity like I said thats if you're a newbie never run a "race" before...LIke the above poster said I would start with the 10k...

If I misunderstood and you're NOT a first time runner then I would say its probably fine and if you're not doing it already you can get those duration times up faster by doing run walking .

And if you've got shin pain get some new shoes. This has all the ingredients of making a first timers race season a disappointment because of injury.



Edited by soupaman 2006-02-22 8:53 AM
2006-02-22 8:53 AM
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2006-02-22 8:56 AM
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Master
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Subject: RE: Is 67 days enough to prep for 0.5 'thon?
Autumn is on target as ususal. I think the key to distance running is slowly building your weekly long run at a compfortable pace. How long is your weekly long run now? For long runs, I think its better to focus on time and HR instead of distance.
2006-02-22 8:56 AM
in reply to: #351624

Member
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Subject: RE: Is 67 days enough to prep for 0.5 'thon?
You don't need to ask us bud, just ask yourself. Better yet, tell yourself you can do it...then make yourself do it.
Go slow, but go for it.
2006-02-22 12:32 PM
in reply to: #351624

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Subject: RE: Is 67 days enough to prep for 0.5 'thon?
In addition, most half-marathon (and other endurance) plans alternate build weeks with drop-back ones. For instance, long runs may go 6-7-8-7-9-8-10-8-12-8-race. For me, at least, this was much more effective than just building straight, and I always felt fabulous on the drop back runs, which was a big incentive to keep going.
2006-02-22 12:49 PM
in reply to: #351624

Memphis, Tn
Subject: RE: Is 67 days enough to prep for 0.5 'thon?
I recently heard this on a simplystu pocast, and it makes perfect sense. Paraphrasing... Don't risk injury, there will always be other races.

Work towards it. If you get there, great. If not, plan for the next one.
2006-02-22 1:05 PM
in reply to: #351624

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Subject: RE: Is 67 days enough to prep for 0.5 'thon?
I'm not new to running, but new to running of my own free will. I was in the Army right after high school, but that has been a little while. Right now my weekly time is around 45 mins; I haven't been keeping track of miles, purposely, because when I do, the next time I run I try to beat my last time over that distance, regardless of what the training plan or HRM says...I don't have any splints now, but when I started last summer I naively thought "I used to run 5-6 miles, I'll start with 2-3 on this concrete path, hills, 30 more pounds, and old shoes." You know the rest...

I know I can finish, and I'm not too proud to early start and walk a little. But I also don't want to get fat again when I can't get back out there because I was too ambitious.

Thanks for the advice...


2006-02-22 1:10 PM
in reply to: #351624

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Subject: RE: Is 67 days enough to prep for 0.5 'thon?
If you believe you can do it then go for it....when I decided to switch from the Half IM to Full IM half way through my training plan I found all of about 2 of probably 50 people who said go for it ..... well I went for it and I'll be proud until the day I die.
2006-02-22 1:27 PM
in reply to: #351624

Subject: RE: Is 67 days enough to prep for 0.5 'thon?
Can I ask - why this half marathon? If something like a five mile race is still a challenge for you, then why not make that your goal? It's still a big accomplishment!
2006-02-22 5:54 PM
in reply to: #352181

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Subject: RE: Is 67 days enough to prep for 0.5 'thon?
danielle860 - 2006-02-22 1:27 PM

Can I ask - why this half marathon? If something like a five mile race is still a challenge for you, then why not make that your goal? It's still a big accomplishment!


It's the OKC memorial marathon, and I start medical school in the fall (=no time to train for next year, or much at all for that matter) My father-in-law survived the bombing, and I wanted to run the 10-yr. anniv last year to kinda "give back" in a small way, but didn't. I want to do a lot of things...

They also have a full relay, with five unequal legs if I can find 4 other crazy people. I'm a firefighter, so that shouldn't be too hard. That'd be even closer to fitting into my projected base.

I just wondered if that was enough time to prepare my legs for the pain that my mind and heart are willing to put them through...
2006-02-22 6:06 PM
in reply to: #352503

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Subject: RE: Is 67 days enough to prep for 0.5 'thon?

Medical school is a great time to train.  I did plenty of activities that weren't medically related.  Hell, I picked up this triathlon thing in the middle of my residency.  Your life won't end with this, and you'll be able to do far more than you think.

Mr. Freeze - 2006-02-22 5:54 PM
danielle860 - 2006-02-22 1:27 PM Can I ask - why this half marathon? If something like a five mile race is still a challenge for you, then why not make that your goal? It's still a big accomplishment!
It's the OKC memorial marathon, and I start medical school in the fall (=no time to train for next year, or much at all for that matter)

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