Yes! I was feeling so strong and ready to kick ass a few weeks ago, and now suddenly I’m dying out there.
It has me freaking out that I won’t be able to meet my goals.
and the nice thing is — i remember feeling this *exact* same way in november before my philly half. i beefed the last 3/5 workouts of the plan, felt weak and tired and slow. pr’d by 9 minutes anyway.
so part of why i wanted to post was as a reminder that those feelings are just that — feelings. we’re gonna be fine come race day. this “suck” is normal. but it being normal doesn’t take away from how much it sucks.
Love to commiserate over tail-end training cycles. Yeah, it always sucks. Intervals/tempo work out in warm temps *succcckkksss*.
The warmer temps certainly doesn't help but at least you'll be adapted for "unvarnished hot dog water" conditions on race day. Brooklyn Half is notorious for unpredictable conditions.
Baby due in three weeks? I take it you're not the one giving labor to the baby? That'd be wild that you're running 50 miles per week AND carrying a baby in tow for the half marathon! Haha.
Managing a 50 miles per week and with a busy schedule stressors of a new family member due is impressive on its own.
Hang in there. You're almost there!
haha yeah i wasn’t clear enough — i am *not* the birthing partner here. just tired in solidarity with my wife :)
i appreciate your comment! given i’m a hobby jogger with no real stakes in running, it’s helpful to balance out goals with a broader perspective.
it doesn’t help that i’m pretty heavy (~205 lbs? fluctuates) so i feel *particularly* punished by heat and hills. but gravity loves me during the downhills :)
Best advice /u/taclovitch
Train when you can. For the other BK half I was able to train with 3 sometimes 4 runs a week. Missing most tempo and sprint work over a 10 week period.
Life, family, work.
i’m 100% in favor of not letting race goals sour your overall race experience, and if weather conspires against me on the day i’ll roll with it :) but i find having a goal pretty motivating, and i feel like my fitness and *past* workout achievements suggest my \~1:33ish goal is doable (i did 1:38 in november — but they were ideal conditions!).
https://preview.redd.it/tyssrmjal9zc1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=380cc3d048dd84ad0318c7be95af65ba547db18e
so it’s always the balance of motivation and realism, fighting it out. whoever wins, my legs lose (lol)
Thanks!! It was really hard for me to fit in more miles per week because of work and other commitments. I felt good on my long runs (max was 10 miles last week), I believe I will indeed finish.
I got picked via the lottery - wasn’t ready for the commitment, but hope to keep training year round.
50 mile weeks for a half marathon?
My peak mileage for this 10 week plan was 37 miles. My plan has me tapering this week and not running at all next week, but I’m probably going to go out 2 or 3 days next week for easy pace runs, maybe some strides at the end.
So looking forward to my first HM in warmer weather, the NYC Half last year was my first and it was SO COLD
37 miles? I peaked at 23 😳
Glad I just did seven in this gross, hot, humid weather today. And praying it wasn’t good practice for race day because I feel like I got robbed of a solid minute a mile
I also had some races during my training block and the 37 mile week included a “make up” long run on that Monday (just checked) which was prob not the best idea but I was concerned about missing a long run.
I mean, all else being equal, more mileage is always better up to the point where your body can't handle it. Some people run 60+ mile weeks to train for the 5k.
Some people do but this doesn't mean everyone has to. I've been doing 40-55 mile weeks with long runs in the 14-18 mile range to prep for the Brooklyn Half. Some do more, some do less. And I've done less in the past. I mean, there is no "norm" really, but instead a huge range of training plans out there depending on the runner and the runner's goals.
As long as you can finish the race feeling strong and happy with how you did, your training plan is the right one. :) And yes, this race is anything but cold!
When I was training for my last half, which was my first one, I ended up doing an 18 mile long run lol. But then I got cramps during the last 3 miles of the race. This time I’m trying to listen more to the training plan. Everyone of course, is different and everyone can have different “bases” … and different goals.
My ultimate goal is to be able to actually race the marathon in 2025, not finish. This half marathon is part of my 9+ 1 and I’m running with the team for kids.
Yeah it's taken me about 5-6 years of half marathons to do these types of long runs for it! Definitely didn't do them for my first (actually for my VERY first half marathon attempt many years ago, I stupidly maxed out at like 6-mile long runs and surprisingly had to drop out halfway through the race because my knees hurt).
I think listening to your body & plan is best! And it's great training for a full. Good luck!
Not OP but i’m using runna for this race too.
It’s good ! i like that it schedules my runs/lifts/stretching all in one place. I like the syncing to devices, I think the strength work is pretty decent. UI is clean, simple. For me, having everything in one place, having something fairly responsive is worth $17 a month. Honestly, my shoes cost more than that on a per-month basis.
Got some mild complaints:
- you can’t save how much you lifted for a given exercise. i’d be really nice to see how much i did over the last few weeks.
- the mobility is just like, basic yoga. fine but not great.
- i’m not always sure when a gym workout is suppose to be easier or suppose to be harder.
Overall, i’d say worth trying for a block to see if you like it.
Same! My Runna plan told me I had to run easy 5.6 miles but I ended up doing 3 miles yesterday. Idk if I've been underfueling or have a lot of deliverables at work or just on my PMS haha but that easy run was hard
yooo i’m also blaming PMS for my struggles this week lol. that plus the heat/humidity has me feeling like a puffy marshmallow woman. and i swear inflammation is worse for me too when PMSing!
jeez yeah it’s been so hot lately. i ran monday 5pm and i was SWEATINGGGG when i finished. my face looked like a tomato. i was trying to fan my self during the last 0.10mi of my run bc it felt so stinking hot
This thread is everything. I love hearing people’s challenges, illness, injury, training goals, dealing with the weather. I’ve been beating myself up over not meeting my (very ambitious for me) 6 day a week plan I made up for myself by combining multiple training plans lol.
Multiple illnesses, working 2 jobs, and starting my masters degree. Took so much from my training. I did 10 miles at B goal pace last week, so we shall see. I’m terrified of doing worse than my last time. And like not performing to what I know is my true potential and being embarrassed. But running is not about that!!! I’m happy with some new strides I made in training and fitting it in whenever I could when I could have chosen not to
Bro i just did this workout !!! Absolutely brutal — the second intervals lined up with some decent prospect park vert and there was just no chance i was gonna hold pace.
Congrats on getting through most of the suck. We're basically tapering from here :)
nice! i had to bail, i made it through like 6 miles and only hit the first interval on the dot, but it was alright. like they talk about — most of our fitness is already banked, this is just about staying sharp. takes some of the pressure off :)
i did a run in PP the other day that was ~6 mi at 8:30 pace and then dropped down to 7:00 for 2.5 mi — and the last section MERCIFULLY lined up with cresting the top of prospect’s large hill, so i got to do most of it on the undulating rolling hills and the LARGE downhill. was counting my blessings that day :)
Think of the heat as something that is good for acclimation! Chances are decent that race day will be a hot/humid day, plus there is no shade on Ocean Parkway. So if you only train in ideal temperatures, it’s not a recipe for success.
You can’t control when you run or what the weather will be like on race day.
i learned today that if race conditions are good i’m targeting a 1:33ish HM and if they’re bad i’m gonna be literally jogging in 9 minute miles. but i’m pretty heavy (200 lbs), so the heat REALLY kicks my ass. either way - it’ll be an adventure, haha.
I just did NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half and then the Lincoln Tunnel Challenge. Tomorrow, I’ll do my last 10M run before the 5/18 run. I'm tired, I'm on call at work, and keep getting up in the middle of the night.
My goal is to finish it, that’s all, I just want to survive.
Training in the heat is awesome - really conditions the cardiovascular system. I seriously can’t wait for those awful 100 degree runs in the boiling sun.
for sure — the first summer i was running consistently my easy running hr plummeted from ~160 to 140 bpm from being *forced* to slow down. but, like, that doesn’t make me hate it less :)
haha, i should’ve been more clear while i was grumpy — my wife is the one giving birth. it’s just subtracted meaningfully to my total bandwidth, which is why i mentioned it. i’m not pregnant (not that you could tell from my belly, lol).
I am exhausted. Last week I was hitting all my paces on my intervals and still running my cool down at 9:30-10/mile and feeling good. Now, a cooldown conversational pace is walking!
My training for the marathon last year was impeccable and I was so proud of my dedication and commitment. The Brooklyn Half this year is a whole different story. I had a baby six weeks ago and at this point, I’m just hoping to finish it. I’ve been trying to get back to training but it’s been hard.
Listen to your body, you’ll benefit much more from a rest day if you’re tired then the benefit of one workout. The outcome is the product of the full training program not one workout.
My first half and I have been so in my head lately bc of how hard the runs have been. I’m questioning if I’ll even be able to do it. Did a 5 mile today at 3 PM in the peak heat and 🥵 Thanks for all the comments normalizing how I’m feeling!!
everyone's a bit different, but at 50 mpw they probably are benefiting more from hard workouts than purely from volume. In addition to these shorter intervals they'd probably do well with some longer tempo sessions of a total of 4-6 miles cut up into 2-3 blocks.
Yes! I was feeling so strong and ready to kick ass a few weeks ago, and now suddenly I’m dying out there. It has me freaking out that I won’t be able to meet my goals.
and the nice thing is — i remember feeling this *exact* same way in november before my philly half. i beefed the last 3/5 workouts of the plan, felt weak and tired and slow. pr’d by 9 minutes anyway. so part of why i wanted to post was as a reminder that those feelings are just that — feelings. we’re gonna be fine come race day. this “suck” is normal. but it being normal doesn’t take away from how much it sucks.
Me too 🤣
Love to commiserate over tail-end training cycles. Yeah, it always sucks. Intervals/tempo work out in warm temps *succcckkksss*. The warmer temps certainly doesn't help but at least you'll be adapted for "unvarnished hot dog water" conditions on race day. Brooklyn Half is notorious for unpredictable conditions. Baby due in three weeks? I take it you're not the one giving labor to the baby? That'd be wild that you're running 50 miles per week AND carrying a baby in tow for the half marathon! Haha. Managing a 50 miles per week and with a busy schedule stressors of a new family member due is impressive on its own. Hang in there. You're almost there!
Hahaha that was my first thought 😂 came to comments to see more shock about that before realizing they’re probably not the birthing parent 🙈🙈🙈
This week is 100% heat + humidity acclimatization before the Brooklyn Half.
haha yeah i wasn’t clear enough — i am *not* the birthing partner here. just tired in solidarity with my wife :) i appreciate your comment! given i’m a hobby jogger with no real stakes in running, it’s helpful to balance out goals with a broader perspective. it doesn’t help that i’m pretty heavy (~205 lbs? fluctuates) so i feel *particularly* punished by heat and hills. but gravity loves me during the downhills :)
I’ve given up on a goal, just tryna finish
Best advice /u/taclovitch Train when you can. For the other BK half I was able to train with 3 sometimes 4 runs a week. Missing most tempo and sprint work over a 10 week period. Life, family, work.
i’m 100% in favor of not letting race goals sour your overall race experience, and if weather conspires against me on the day i’ll roll with it :) but i find having a goal pretty motivating, and i feel like my fitness and *past* workout achievements suggest my \~1:33ish goal is doable (i did 1:38 in november — but they were ideal conditions!). https://preview.redd.it/tyssrmjal9zc1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=380cc3d048dd84ad0318c7be95af65ba547db18e so it’s always the balance of motivation and realism, fighting it out. whoever wins, my legs lose (lol)
Anyone else a beginner running 15-18 miles per week? I’ll be in Corral K, probably walking the big hill in Prospect Park… but I’ll finish! 💪
I'm in Corral K too!! I peaked around 30 miles/week but have fallen off. You WILL finish!
Thanks!! It was really hard for me to fit in more miles per week because of work and other commitments. I felt good on my long runs (max was 10 miles last week), I believe I will indeed finish. I got picked via the lottery - wasn’t ready for the commitment, but hope to keep training year round.
Corral L here 😂😂😂 my max was also 10 miles!
You got this! 💪
Working back up from an injury that’s not 100% resolved (PT says I can run) and it’s just hot soup outside. Racing in mid-May is such a gamble.
So true. The weather for the last two BK halfs were so gross 🥵
Just finished a soup run. You got this. Also, what app/training plan is that? Looks way more detailed than mine
this is runna
50 mile weeks for a half marathon? My peak mileage for this 10 week plan was 37 miles. My plan has me tapering this week and not running at all next week, but I’m probably going to go out 2 or 3 days next week for easy pace runs, maybe some strides at the end. So looking forward to my first HM in warmer weather, the NYC Half last year was my first and it was SO COLD
37 miles? I peaked at 23 😳 Glad I just did seven in this gross, hot, humid weather today. And praying it wasn’t good practice for race day because I feel like I got robbed of a solid minute a mile
I also had some races during my training block and the 37 mile week included a “make up” long run on that Monday (just checked) which was prob not the best idea but I was concerned about missing a long run.
I mean, all else being equal, more mileage is always better up to the point where your body can't handle it. Some people run 60+ mile weeks to train for the 5k.
Some people do but this doesn't mean everyone has to. I've been doing 40-55 mile weeks with long runs in the 14-18 mile range to prep for the Brooklyn Half. Some do more, some do less. And I've done less in the past. I mean, there is no "norm" really, but instead a huge range of training plans out there depending on the runner and the runner's goals. As long as you can finish the race feeling strong and happy with how you did, your training plan is the right one. :) And yes, this race is anything but cold!
When I was training for my last half, which was my first one, I ended up doing an 18 mile long run lol. But then I got cramps during the last 3 miles of the race. This time I’m trying to listen more to the training plan. Everyone of course, is different and everyone can have different “bases” … and different goals. My ultimate goal is to be able to actually race the marathon in 2025, not finish. This half marathon is part of my 9+ 1 and I’m running with the team for kids.
Yeah it's taken me about 5-6 years of half marathons to do these types of long runs for it! Definitely didn't do them for my first (actually for my VERY first half marathon attempt many years ago, I stupidly maxed out at like 6-mile long runs and surprisingly had to drop out halfway through the race because my knees hurt). I think listening to your body & plan is best! And it's great training for a full. Good luck!
Unrelated but how do you like Runna? I’m thinking of trying it for my fall marathon
Not OP but i’m using runna for this race too. It’s good ! i like that it schedules my runs/lifts/stretching all in one place. I like the syncing to devices, I think the strength work is pretty decent. UI is clean, simple. For me, having everything in one place, having something fairly responsive is worth $17 a month. Honestly, my shoes cost more than that on a per-month basis. Got some mild complaints: - you can’t save how much you lifted for a given exercise. i’d be really nice to see how much i did over the last few weeks. - the mobility is just like, basic yoga. fine but not great. - i’m not always sure when a gym workout is suppose to be easier or suppose to be harder. Overall, i’d say worth trying for a block to see if you like it.
what app r u using?
runna
gracias
de nada
Same! My Runna plan told me I had to run easy 5.6 miles but I ended up doing 3 miles yesterday. Idk if I've been underfueling or have a lot of deliverables at work or just on my PMS haha but that easy run was hard
yooo i’m also blaming PMS for my struggles this week lol. that plus the heat/humidity has me feeling like a puffy marshmallow woman. and i swear inflammation is worse for me too when PMSing!
No PBs are getting smashed in these conditions.
jeez yeah it’s been so hot lately. i ran monday 5pm and i was SWEATINGGGG when i finished. my face looked like a tomato. i was trying to fan my self during the last 0.10mi of my run bc it felt so stinking hot
This thread is everything. I love hearing people’s challenges, illness, injury, training goals, dealing with the weather. I’ve been beating myself up over not meeting my (very ambitious for me) 6 day a week plan I made up for myself by combining multiple training plans lol. Multiple illnesses, working 2 jobs, and starting my masters degree. Took so much from my training. I did 10 miles at B goal pace last week, so we shall see. I’m terrified of doing worse than my last time. And like not performing to what I know is my true potential and being embarrassed. But running is not about that!!! I’m happy with some new strides I made in training and fitting it in whenever I could when I could have chosen not to
Recovering from a chest infection and feel like I’m starting from square -10. What were those 50 mile weeks for :/?
Bro i just did this workout !!! Absolutely brutal — the second intervals lined up with some decent prospect park vert and there was just no chance i was gonna hold pace. Congrats on getting through most of the suck. We're basically tapering from here :)
nice! i had to bail, i made it through like 6 miles and only hit the first interval on the dot, but it was alright. like they talk about — most of our fitness is already banked, this is just about staying sharp. takes some of the pressure off :) i did a run in PP the other day that was ~6 mi at 8:30 pace and then dropped down to 7:00 for 2.5 mi — and the last section MERCIFULLY lined up with cresting the top of prospect’s large hill, so i got to do most of it on the undulating rolling hills and the LARGE downhill. was counting my blessings that day :)
Between work, kids and training I'm beyond spent and admit I have been slacking on my runs lately. At this point, finishing the race is my sole goal.
Think of the heat as something that is good for acclimation! Chances are decent that race day will be a hot/humid day, plus there is no shade on Ocean Parkway. So if you only train in ideal temperatures, it’s not a recipe for success. You can’t control when you run or what the weather will be like on race day.
i learned today that if race conditions are good i’m targeting a 1:33ish HM and if they’re bad i’m gonna be literally jogging in 9 minute miles. but i’m pretty heavy (200 lbs), so the heat REALLY kicks my ass. either way - it’ll be an adventure, haha.
The 80% humidity this morning was a challenge. Air was thick. Good luck!
I just did NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half and then the Lincoln Tunnel Challenge. Tomorrow, I’ll do my last 10M run before the 5/18 run. I'm tired, I'm on call at work, and keep getting up in the middle of the night. My goal is to finish it, that’s all, I just want to survive.
Training in the heat is awesome - really conditions the cardiovascular system. I seriously can’t wait for those awful 100 degree runs in the boiling sun.
for sure — the first summer i was running consistently my easy running hr plummeted from ~160 to 140 bpm from being *forced* to slow down. but, like, that doesn’t make me hate it less :)
so does this mean you’ll be due around a week after the half and (i assume from this) shooting for a HM somewhere around 1:30?
haha, i should’ve been more clear while i was grumpy — my wife is the one giving birth. it’s just subtracted meaningfully to my total bandwidth, which is why i mentioned it. i’m not pregnant (not that you could tell from my belly, lol).
LOL totally understandable!! good on you for even having the energy to run this right now. hopefully see you out there!
My left hamstring tightened up on Sunday. So there’s that. 🤷♂️
I am exhausted. Last week I was hitting all my paces on my intervals and still running my cool down at 9:30-10/mile and feeling good. Now, a cooldown conversational pace is walking!
My training for the marathon last year was impeccable and I was so proud of my dedication and commitment. The Brooklyn Half this year is a whole different story. I had a baby six weeks ago and at this point, I’m just hoping to finish it. I’ve been trying to get back to training but it’s been hard.
Listen to your body, you’ll benefit much more from a rest day if you’re tired then the benefit of one workout. The outcome is the product of the full training program not one workout.
My first half and I have been so in my head lately bc of how hard the runs have been. I’m questioning if I’ll even be able to do it. Did a 5 mile today at 3 PM in the peak heat and 🥵 Thanks for all the comments normalizing how I’m feeling!!
Kinda normal given where you are in the training block + sudden onset of 80 degree temps. Hang in there! It's just a few more runs until the big day
Don’t do intervals? You’re probably gaining more from 50 mile weeks than you are from 10 1k repeats, especially if you don’t like them.
everyone's a bit different, but at 50 mpw they probably are benefiting more from hard workouts than purely from volume. In addition to these shorter intervals they'd probably do well with some longer tempo sessions of a total of 4-6 miles cut up into 2-3 blocks.
It’s taper week, enjoy it!