Training for a Half-Marathon

April 6, 2021 | 5 minute read

Half Marathon Training, a Newly-Found Happiness!

It’s something that I never thought I’d hear myself say – but this year, I’m going to be training to run the distance of a half marathon.

If you know me well enough, you’ll know that I’m not a sporty person. Whilst I loved my time at school, I found PE an abhorrent subject that I never had any interest in, and was never any good at.

I wasn’t a talented person in sport; I was always picked last in the team games. I was in bottom set PE, and the sports such as football and rugby which were played often, I have no interest in.

Therefore, because of PE, I’d attached a negative stigma around exercise, and instead opted to steer clear of any exercise wherever possible.

But last year when the first lockdown was introduced, mundane activities took on more significance in my day-to-day life.

Going out for daily walks and going to the shops was possibly the most thrilling part of my day. After a few weeks of walking, something came over me, and I suddenly decided to start doing the Couch to 5K programme.

Whilst it was difficult at first, I soon got the hang of running three times a week. By the end of the summer, I was regularly running 5K in just under half an hour.

As the nights drew in and daylight became more precious; my runs became few and far between. With less regular runs, I could see my endurance start to fall, and my 5K times tumbled.

This was very demoralising, and as the clocks went back at the end of October; I’d realised I had not run at all for a whole month.

Picking up Running, and Training for a Half Marathon

Fast-forward to January, and along with a handful of New Years resolutions (and a new Apple Watch), I decided to put my running shoes back on and try again.

Being in another lockdown has meant that my daily runs have become a much bigger part of my day, like before. This latest lockdown has also been more social than before. I now speak to my friends on a daily basis on a quick video chat.

It was here when I was talking about my new years resolution, and one of them said – why don’t we all train to run a half marathon.

21 kilometres – a good 4 times longer than I’d ever run before. I was eager to step up to this challenge.

Of course, this would require a lot more training than what I’m used to – there are plenty of weekly training courses designed to ease you into running longer distances.

However, with my Strava app, I decided to keep it structured at my own pace. I knew I could run 5K easy enough, so the next challenge would be 7k, then 10, then 15, etc.

My friends and I set a date for the end of May, and (Covid-permitting) we would aim to run the length of the Cuckoo Trail from Horam to Eastbourne.

After a month of half marathon training, I am pleased to report it’s going well. The furthest I have run is 14K, and I’m aiming to match that or do better each weekend.

My time in the week is slightly more precious, so I’m limiting myself to how far I can run in 45 minutes, at the moment that’s just over 7K.

I have to say taking the goal out of the equation, I have come to like running and exercise a lot more. I’ve realised it’s more team sports I don’t fare well in, and sports where the competitive element is removed! It’s clear that I’ll come out of lockdown a much fitter and active person.

When May comes around, I’ll post another blog with how I’m getting on with my half marathon training, and whether I’m ready to complete the whole 21K.