Distance running, advice?
Discussion
I used to be a fairly regular runner, although never anything that competitive.
About 2 years back we had a gym put in at work, and I've been a regular almost every day, all good. Personal preference for CV work has been the bike, but this week I've decided to start up with the running again, hopefully with the aim of taking part in half and full marathons.
Any advice as to how best to train for distance running? Doubt I'll ever be fast, I'm relatively heavy (100kg), old (ish-41 in november). But I'd like to be able to at least complete a distance run without collapsing .... and I'm hoping that the change in exercise regime will assist with dropping a few kg :-)
So should I be continuing the treadmill at work, but any specific types of program to use (ie. hill, speed, interval training), or would I be better off just getting out on an evening and running around town?
About 2 years back we had a gym put in at work, and I've been a regular almost every day, all good. Personal preference for CV work has been the bike, but this week I've decided to start up with the running again, hopefully with the aim of taking part in half and full marathons.
Any advice as to how best to train for distance running? Doubt I'll ever be fast, I'm relatively heavy (100kg), old (ish-41 in november). But I'd like to be able to at least complete a distance run without collapsing .... and I'm hoping that the change in exercise regime will assist with dropping a few kg :-)
So should I be continuing the treadmill at work, but any specific types of program to use (ie. hill, speed, interval training), or would I be better off just getting out on an evening and running around town?
goldblum said:
Do you have the date of a race?
Most programs to take you up to completing a half marathon take about 18 weeks.
Assuming you can run for about 1/2 hr already?
No specific runs in mind, I've missed the local 5k and the reading half marathon, and I doubt I'd be ready for the London Marathon ....Most programs to take you up to completing a half marathon take about 18 weeks.
Assuming you can run for about 1/2 hr already?
I can easily run for 30-60 minutes (treadmills tend to be restricted to 60 mins), its more a case of general advice on how to prepare for road or grass running.
clonmult said:
goldblum said:
Do you have the date of a race?
Most programs to take you up to completing a half marathon take about 18 weeks.
Assuming you can run for about 1/2 hr already?
No specific runs in mind, I've missed the local 5k and the reading half marathon, and I doubt I'd be ready for the London Marathon ....Most programs to take you up to completing a half marathon take about 18 weeks.
Assuming you can run for about 1/2 hr already?
I can easily run for 30-60 minutes (treadmills tend to be restricted to 60 mins), its more a case of general advice on how to prepare for road or grass running.
On road,obviously.As the date of the race got nearer you would lengthen your long runs and introduce speed/interval work.
Hope this helps.Good luck.
You're far too late to get into the london now anyway.
My advice would be to find a 10k first and see how you get on with that. maybe do a couple, then go for a half.
When I started about 18 months ago now, took me about 4 months to get upto a good 10k time (52 mins) and another 2 months on that to do a 10 mile cross country, that was a killer though!
I've recently done my first marathon to give you an idea of timescale so roughly 18 months from a couch potato to marathon.
My advice would be to find a 10k first and see how you get on with that. maybe do a couple, then go for a half.
When I started about 18 months ago now, took me about 4 months to get upto a good 10k time (52 mins) and another 2 months on that to do a 10 mile cross country, that was a killer though!
I've recently done my first marathon to give you an idea of timescale so roughly 18 months from a couch potato to marathon.
I was in a similar situation to you a couple of years ago, however I initially couldnt run more than ten minutes. 6 months laster i did a sub 2hr half marathon. I tried lots of things, however the thing that gave me the most benefit early on was a heart rate monitor. no need to go mad, spend about 30 quid. It enabled me to run to a heart rate which initially meant very slowly, almost walking sometimes, however as I gradulally got fitter I was able to up the pace and the disctances gradually got longer. It was the best piece ofadvcie (for me) at that time and I would highly recomend it.
K87 said:
You're far too late to get into the london now anyway.
My advice would be to find a 10k first and see how you get on with that. maybe do a couple, then go for a half.
When I started about 18 months ago now, took me about 4 months to get upto a good 10k time (52 mins) and another 2 months on that to do a 10 mile cross country, that was a killer though!
I've recently done my first marathon to give you an idea of timescale so roughly 18 months from a couch potato to marathon.
For a reason that has always escaped me, I've somehow always been able to do a sub hour 10k. Cross country would kill me right now though .... My advice would be to find a 10k first and see how you get on with that. maybe do a couple, then go for a half.
When I started about 18 months ago now, took me about 4 months to get upto a good 10k time (52 mins) and another 2 months on that to do a 10 mile cross country, that was a killer though!
I've recently done my first marathon to give you an idea of timescale so roughly 18 months from a couch potato to marathon.
As for the heart rate monitor, I had one (el cheapo), lost the chest strap. Then got a cheapo Polar. And lost the sensor. So now I have 2xHRM watches with 1x back strap. No sensors.
If funds allow, I may get the bluetooth one to link into the sports tracker app on the phone. Thats been a cracking app on bike rides - altitude, speed, direction, overlaid onto openstreetmap along with a rough calorie count.
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