Beginner Running Group 19 February 2012

Hello Everyone,

We’re in major countdown mode for the half-marathon – 5 weeks to go!!!  The last week we’ll be tapering down our training, so basically we have 4 weeks of training left which will look like this:
23 Feb – 1 hour 50 minutes to Canary Wharf
1 Mar – 2 hours to Kew
8 Mar – “only” 90 minutes to Wembley – we cut back a bit this week to allow for recovery.  This route is important as it is almost 100% non-stop running – very similar to how the race will feel
15 Mar – 2 hours 10 minutes – route to be determined

All of these times are only estimates.  You’ve seen now how the front of the pack sometimes finishes the route slightly under the suggested “running time” and the back of the pack is running for more minutes than the estimated time.  This is fine – no worries.  It’s supposed to work this way.  At this point in the schedule, I’m giving you the minutes of running time but I know what that will equate to in terms of mileage.  If you are completing the run, then you’re doing the necessary mileage to be ready for the race.  It doesn’t matter if that distance takes you 1:48 instead of 1:50 or 2 hours instead of 1:50.  

Over the next few weeks, you should continue to run three times per week with one run being long, one 60 minutes and one 45 minutes.  If your goal in Lisbon is to finish the race (with dignity intact!!!) then there is no need to push your pace on any of these runs.  It’s more important that you enjoy the running and not get hurt.  This program takes a lot of discipline – the long runs alone can be overwhelming.  If you are stressing your body/mind on the shorter runs, it may all become too much.  That being said, if you are wanting to get faster or do the half-marathon in a certain time, then do your 45 minute run at a tempo pace.  That means try to run a route that doesn’t have a lot of street crossings (the canal is perfect) and run hard enough that you could talk but you don’t really want to.  This type of running is not necessary to perform well in Lisbon.  It’s 100% your choice, but what I would recommend is to hang with the pace we’ve been doing for now then after the race work on increasing your speed.  
For Thursday, bring your water bottles and a gel if you’ve bought some.  I’ll have a bunch of gels with me for anyone who needs one.  We’ll take the Jubilee Line back to SJW.  For anyone in a hurry, you should be back to SJW by 11:00-11:15 depending on how the run goes.  
Lastly, I know these times/routes may seem intimidating, but you can do it.  As we run, we’ll talk about how to mentally tackle long-distances.  We’re a strong group – you have a ton of support from your co-runners.  Some people find it helps to not think of running an hour and 50 minutes, but to think “This is only 10 minutes more than what I did 2 weeks ago”.  And to all of you who are not coming to Lisbon, please keep coming out and doing these long runs.  We miss you!  You don’t have to be going to Lisbon to get yourself fitness enough to do a half-marathon.  Come train with us!
See you Thursday,
Paula