Is 2 months enough time to train for a half marathon??

Question

I am about 1 and half stone overweight and havent gone running for about 4-5 months!

Just say no? Or can it be done??!!!

My main goal is to make it to the finish line without dying!

Answer 1

I hope so as I'm running my second half marathon in 2 months and have only just started my training again! Yes you can do it but you need to be sensible about your goals and you will need to stay focused and committed to your training.

Start by working on endurance - so running for a length of time. Then work on your speed by doing stints of fast run/walk/fast run/walk. Start combining the two until you get your speed and distance up.

Don't worry so much about making it in a fast time - the key thing is to find the pace you are comfortable with and stick to it. Wear a stopwatch and also a pace band (you can sometimes get them on the day or make one yourself). Basically have a list of the time you should pass each mile marker in line with your personal pace. Your first 6 miles should be your slowest as you want to ease into it and conserve energy.

Invest in some decent trainers if you can and get out there at least 3 times and preferably four times a week.

Here is a link from the Runners World website for a 10 week training schedule:

http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/news/article.asp?UAN=99

This is for people wanting to run in 1 hr 50 mins or more - if you just want to get round then aim for 2 hrs 30 - 3hrs. Really don't worry about being at the back - there's often a real sense of fun at the back as everyone is egging each other on just to finish rather than being competitive about time.

Even if your training is hard and it seems like a goal you won't reach don't worry - the crowd on the day makes a huge difference because the adrenelin really carries you through.

Also - make sure you get some hills in your training otherwise they could bring you to a halt on the day!

Try and eat the right foods for the next few months - that means a balanced diet. On the week before the race - carb up. By that I mean get loads of energy into your stores for slow-release energy from pasta, potatoes etc (not bread!). On the night before get an early early night and eat a big bowl of pasta. Then on the day warm up as well as you can before you set off.

Stay hydrated - dehydration can seriously affect performance. Hopefully there'll be lots of water stops and lucozade stops on your way. Don't eat or drink too much before the race as this can give you stitch. So get up in plenty of time to have a decent breakfast and give it time to digest.

Have a wee just before the race if you can - I think the nerves and excitement and exercise can make a lot of people need to go a short way in to the race (I had to knock on someone's door a mile in last year!).

Answer 2

Before embarking on the training you might want to ask why you're interested in running the half-marathon so soon. The half-marathon is a solid running accomplishment and if you have your heart set on it then go for it and have fun. If you're running it because you made a bet with your mates or want to impress a woman you probably won't enjoy it. If you are running the race to lose the weight then re-evaluate your strategy - lose the weight while you train and then when you reach your goal weight use the race training as a reward.

If you decide you are going to run it 8 weeks is cutting it a little close for someone starting from ground zero, but it can be done. Don't worry about the weight - many runners (like me) are a stone or more over their ideal training weight. Just take it easy and don't overdo your training - have a gentle run of 30-45 minutes 3 or 4 times a week and one longer run on the weekend. Start at whatever mileage level you can handle comfortably and add one mile each week until the weekend before your race. Take the long run slowly and easily - if you feel like walking for portions of it then walk and resume running when you feel up to it. If you can get the long run distance to 10 miles you should be fine for the race. Anything over 10 miles would be that much better. Just don't push yourself too hard - there are a lot of half-marathon races and if the race in 8 weeks doesn't work out for you just pick one a few months after that to train for.

Answer 3

Of course it can be done especially if your goal is just to finish. Obviously if you had more time it would be better for you but you can do anything if you put your mind to it.

You will just need to make sure to build up your distance over the next month and half and be sure to taper starting a few weeks before the race. But if you are in decent shape and have run in the past it should be a problem.

Answer 4

yes very much...look at this...
HALF MARATHON Training Program

WEEK MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN
1 R 5 5 Cross Train R 5 7
2 R 5 5 Cross Train R 5 8
3 R 7 5 Cross Train R 5 10
4 R 8 5 Cross Train R 5 12
5 R 8 R 8 R 5 14
6 R 8 R 8 R 6 16
7 R 8 8 8 R 8 19
8 R 8 R 12 R 8 16
9 R 8 R 5 5 R d day

Note:
1. All distances are in kilometers
2. Base - Ability to jog 3 km at a stretch, any given time
3. K - Kilometers
4. R - Rest
5. Cross Train - is any other form of aerobic exercise that allows you to use slightly different muscles than the ones you use during running. The best cross-training exercises are swimming, cycling or even walking. (45 min)
6. d day is marathon day

well i did try this program and have succedded much...
Keep hydrated. Drink eight glasses of water per day, and make sure to keep drinking while exercising.

Decrease or eliminate junk food. It supplies empty calories, excess fat and sodium, sugar and food additives.

Avoid crash dieting or starvation diets. If weight loss is part of your fitness goals, speak with a nutritionist or other health professional about healthy methods of losing weight.

Feed your muscles. They need energy to work, and their main energy source is glycogen. Carbohydrates are your best source of glycogen.

Eat 5 to 6 grams of carbohydrates per kilogram of body weight to supply adequate glycogen to muscles.

Choose healthy sources of carbohydrates. Eat fruits, salads, pasta, cereals and whole-grain breads. They not only provide carbohydrates, but are packed with fiber, vitamins and minerals.

Check with a professional trainer or nutritionist to assess whether you need extra protein. If you are training vigorously, extra protein may be worth considering. The added amount is usually small, even for professional athletes.

Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. The USDA's (United States Department of Agriculture) Food Guide Pyramid suggests three to five servings of vegetables and two to four servings of fruit every day.

Make sure to get fat in your diet, even if you are on a weight loss program. Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are better for you than saturated. The recommended amount is no more than 30 percent of your total intake of calories.

Answer 5

I could see two months for being ready for a 10 K, but that may be ambitious for a half marathon. Either way, you must commit to serious and daily training. Build up over that time carefully. Don't do too much too early or you will get hurt and discoouraged.
But do get out there each day and enjoy the runs and set goals with the help of someone who knows distance running.

Answer 6

Without more details of your current level of fitness it is hard to say, but by the sound of it you will not be racing it. To get round the course, I'd say it is definately feasible. If you are getting back to running after a long lay off you will need to build up to doing a long run of about 10 miles about two weeks before the race. I would concentrate on doing slow paced running, gradually building up the distance over the next six weeks. If you can manage 10 miles two weeks before race day you would definately have a chance of completing a half marathon by run/walking. If you don't feel ready by then you will definately have improved your fitness and feel more ready to take on a similar challenge in the near future! Good luck!

Answer 7

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Answer 9

yes. absolutely. you can do it easily. You may not have the fastest time until you're all trained up and have lost some weight, but you'll still be able to do it. 2 months is plenty of time for you to train to get a decent half-marathon time. 13 miles is nothing and anybody can finish one if they want to. Now, if it was 26 miler, you might need to train a little more.

Answer 10

Yes. But you will have to put in A LOT of training if you want a fast time say 1 hour 30 minutes for 13.1 miles.. And a healthy diet will have to be Incorporated with the training...Good luck