Half Marathon Question

[kelly94942]

Halfers -- what kind of training schedule did you use?

http://www.halhigdon.com/halfmarathon/novice.htm

Found that one, looks pretty good... in using half or marathon training schedules, do you follow strictly what they recommend for each day? Or do you just make sure you pretty much get the right mileage for the week and do the runs on the days that work best for your schedule?

Thinking about trying for a half on June 10... which gives me plenty of time to almost exactly follow that schedule!!!!

[Yellow Jacket]

Re: Half Marathon Question

I used Hal Higdon's novice marathon training program to run 2 marathons. The first time I tried, I could not get my long run over 13 miles without getting severe muscle cramps in my hamstrings and rear. They were so severe that I was afraid I was going to tear a muscle just walking back. The next year, I followed the mileage runs to the letter, but I never did any cross training. I finished the marathon with no problem.

There are lots of theories about leg cramps. One is too little water, another is too little nutrients, and another one is lack of conditioning. I tend to think the last was my problem, because after I had spent another year running after the first failed attempt, I was able to sail through Hal Higdon's program and run a marathon.

The next year, I did the same and had a little more trouble because I'd gained a little weight. The third marathon I trained for I had to cancel because I'd gained too much weight. I have a thin skeletal frame, and 172 pounds is just too much pounding for my joints. If I am less than 155 pounds, then I have virtually no pain in my joints. I'm now back around 156, so I could probably handle the training again.

There is another program I've read about, and it seems pretty good. It's Jeff Galloway's marathon training program. I'm sure the principles could be applied to half marathons as well. There's a little more to it than this, but basically you switch between walking and running. For example, you run for one MILE, then walk for one MINUTE. Keep alternating like that. You use different muscles to walk, and it gives your running muscles a chance to rest. It may seem like a slow way to do it, but supposedly you don't lose that much time. I'm not sure. I ran the first marathon in 4:42:57 using Hal Higdon, and I ran the second marathon in 4:55:53 using Hal Higdon's training program but trying the 1 mile/1 minute Jeff Galloway method to run the actual marathon. Granted I was heavier during the second one. Who knows...If I'd tried to run straight through, I might have been slower.

Here's his website: www.jeffgalloway.com

[ttdriver]

Re: Half Marathon Question

I used this one for my marathon training, but no reason you couldn't follow it for a halfer.


http://www.marathontraining.com/faq/faq_hm.html

Betty