First half marathon in 2008?? We can do it together.

I am going to run my first half marathon in May 2008.  I thought it would be fun to find other people who are also new to running that want to train with me.  I will start out slow and work my way up. 

I live in the far north so a lot of cross-training (elliptical) will be used until the days get longer and the weather improves.  A 1 day a week outside run is required from the start.  My outdoor run will occur on Sat. or Sun. of each week.  Week runs Mon-Sun.  Currently I run a 10:44 mile, goal 7:30 mile.

Let's start training!!!

Starting cardio: 4 days, at least 45 minutes each sesion

Strength train: 2x per week, both upper and lower body

Outside run: one- 3 mile run (or run/walk) no time limit

YOU MUST HAVE ONE DAY FULL REST!!!!!

If you have a timed mile let me know what it is...also what is your running background, are you completely new to running or did you run years ago in HS track?

Congrats on deciding to train for a 1/2 mary - you'll have a great time!!!

I'm running in my first one in January. The advice I have is to find a training schedule that works for you - and stick to it as much as you can (I know you can't really run outside during the winter, but do you have a gym or a local YMCA you could join?). Running is really different from the elliptical trainer. The program I've been using is by Hal Higdon - he's got all sorts of training programs at www.halhigdon.com

The other little tidbit for you is to have realistic expectations. My goal for my first half marathon is to just finish it without stopping. I don't have any time expectations......I figure once I get my first one out of the way, I can use that time as my benchmark and try and improve my times.

Going from a 10:44 mile to a 7:30 mile is a lot of progress. I'm not saying it's impossible - but it may be really aggressive for a beginner. I started out running a 12 minute mile.....that was about a year ago. I'm now running a 9:40 minute mile for longer distances (anything over 7 miles) and maybe a 9:20 minute mile for shorter ones....

Mix up your cardio - do some longer runs at a slower pace (it's easier to build up your endurance that way....rather than trying to add distance while maintaining your current speed), and do some interval training too.

I was completely new to running....and am now completely addicted to it :)

I'm 14 and I ran my first Half in August. I went from coach potato to runner extrodinare. I wish you the best of luck. Just remember train, train, train! My iPod broke the first mile so my motovation was just telling myself I can do this. Just smile and love every minute!

Fitnessfreak~ I know the elliptical is a lot different but due to my schedule and finances a gym doesn't work.  I run a daycare out of my home with kids from 6:45am-5:45pm, the last thing I want to do is spend 15 min. warming up the car, driving the 30 min. to the gym, working out for 1+ hours... you get the picture.  I have an awsome elliptical in my basement.  After my own kids go to bed I can run down there, do my 60-75 min., eat a small snack, hit the shower and be to bed by 11:30pm.  Or go down in the evenings while the kids watch a movie.  If I went to a gym I would burn out from lack of sleep since I would never leave the house until they were in bed at 8:30-9pm.  I'd just feel guilty not spending the time with them.

I figure once it gets nicer (at least not so dark) I will run more outside.  I am on the edge of town so I can do a lot of gravel running, but not something to do in the dark.  The cold doesn't bother me so much.  I'm born and raised in the cold, last Sat. I went for a run and it was Zero and snowing and I ran for 52 minutes.  If nothing else the elliptical is helping me build stamina.  I can do a 7:10 mile and go 9+ mile at that pace consitanly on the elliptical right now.  I might not make the 7:30 mile goal this year, but I will get there.

Currently one week I do a long run (currently 6 miles) and the next week I do an interval run (as fast as I can for as long as I can, recover, repeat) for 5 miles or  more, when I can run outside more I will mix it up more.

Splenda~ Good for you, I would have never done a 1/2 when I was 14, heck I couldn't run a 400m when I was 14, and I was in track.  It took my sister-in-law becoming an avid runner to realize that maybe I could do it.  Some day we will run a marathon together.  But she blew out her knee training last year for a full marathon and shouldn't run anything (though she still runs 20-30 miles a week).

I am doing my first half in 2008 as well! Mine is in May. When is yours?

 As far as my running background, I was never in track or much of a runner other than a few laps we'd run in volleyball practice to warm up. I am finishing up the couch to 5k programs (training for the training, so to speak) I haven't officially decided which training program to follow, but will probably go with http://www.500festival.com/images/content/doc uments/MiniMarathonRunSchedule07.pdf

It incorporates running and cross training, which from what I read is really important to reduce burnout. I don't have a set goal for time. My current pace is approx is pretty slow (about a 12 minute mile) but my main goal is to finish!

It sounds like you have a great plan working out in the basesment, but if at all possible, bundle up and run a few days a week to be sure that your body is learning how to handle the impact of running, etc.

melty~ mine is May 17.  It's the only marathon that has "go" and "far" in the name.  It's in Fargo, ND.  It's a pretty big one.  I haven't picked my specific training program yet, there are 3 of them that I'm debating.  One has runing only 3 days a week and the other 3 cross-training, it's probably the one I will go with.  My goal is to run outside one day a week now, by Feb. I think I will up that to 2 or 3.  I have mapped out a few runs from 6-13 miles around here, it's nice they will be mostly country gravel ones, less impact.  I know I will have to up the pavement runs once I get closer.  There is a running store in town that is going to put together a weekly run program for people wanting to run the half.  The owner of the store has run a lot of full marathons, and even won the Boston.  So I think I could learn a lot going to that, it's starts after the first of the year. 

I love caloriecount.com!!  I am doing my first half marathon too, in August!  Right now I am near Chicago so I am getting into running mode again for the next month and a half. I've been following the training website listed above www.halhigdon.com. I am on week three of an 8 week prep for a 10K. Then I am going to prep for another 8 weeks at fuller intensity for the actual 10K in March. (It is called the Shamrock Shuffle). 
After this, I am going to prepare myself using his training program for the Chicago half marathon which occurs in August. I have not run for more than an hour in 1.5 years so I hope to get back into shape to run three!
My long term goal is to run the Chicago marathon the following year. It all depends on where I decide to do my internship. We will see! 

Congratulations everyone!  I love to hear it when people talk about running, whether they are beginners or have been running for years.  I am a sophmore in college and a dietetics major, and I run on my schools cross country team.  I just finished my 2nd half marathon and ran it in 1hr44min.  I love running and encourage ya'll to keep up the good work, I know it is hard sometimes, but it is soooooo worth when you cross that finish line!

I'm looking to do my first 1/2 in april, so I would love to buddy up.  But I do agree, running is a lot different from the elipitical and plan to spend way more miles actually running than crosstraining.  I'm doing about a 10 minute mile for my 5 mile runs, I can cut it to 9 on my shorter runs and if I am doing the just mile around 8....anyway, My goal is also just to finish without walking, without any time goals...I just started running in July so I think that it would be a reasonable goal

You all should come over and post your miles run on the run around the world thread. There are a lot of very experienced runners and some that are pretty new to the sport.  I myself am working on just finding time for around 12 miles a week.

Good luck on your training goals!

It's great to have this many people popping in.  I would really like to run more outside but with the short days and cold weather I don't dare.  I just bought my elliptical last year (at about $2k) so I'm not about to invest in a tredmill, maybe next year.  If I'm going to buy one I'm going to get one that will last, which means at least $1k, probably $1500.

Last night I got 45 min. in on the elliptical 5.2 miles, not to bad.  Going to do some weights tonight and get on the elliptical.  Hopefully the forcast changes, they are saying highs of about 10 above this weekend.  I guess if there is no wind it might not be too bad for running.  I will do my 6.2 mile loop if I do go out.

Does anyone else have an iPod nano?  I have the sprots kit and was wondering if anyone has used the training programs and if they are worth the $10-15 each?

Did not get an oppertunity to run outside this weekend.  The high temp. on Sat. was 0, and today it was 6.  With the wind chill values between -20 and -30 I thiught is was smarter to stay inside.  Pushed really hard on the elliptical Sat. night, only went 60 minutes but I stayed on level 4 and went just under 8 miles, not a PR but pretty good for me.