First Timer's Tips - 24 Dec 2011
24th Dec - TIPS FOR OUR BATH HALF FIRST TIMERS
Over 11,000 people will run the Bath Half this year and for many it will be their first half marathon. It’s an amazing challenge to take on but we know that it can be around this time of year when some first timers start to wonder what on earth they’ve got themselves into !
With that in mind, we talked this week to one of our 2011 first timers to get her top tips for preparing and running your first half marathon
Hello, tell us a little bit about yourself
Hello, my name is Emelia, I’m 42. I live in Bath with my husband, our daughter and our black Labrador and I work at Stonar School, just outside Bath
Why the Bath Half ?
I hadn’t done any regular exercise for a long time, and with a young family and a busy job I decided that running was my best option for getting fit. I don’t have the time (or the money!) to have a gym membership but with running I can do it cheaply and I can find time early in the morning. I needed a challenge to keep me going so I put aside my youthful ambition of running the London Marathon and signed up for the Bath Half instead !
How did you get started with your training ?
I started running the summer before the 2011 Bath Half with small runs of about 2-3 miles. It was really, really hard work. I set myself a challenge of getting up to 10k by October and entered a 10k race. After successfully completing this, the cold weather and the snow arrived and I didn’t do any running until after Christmas, although I did keep walking the dog !
Did you follow a training plan ?
I started to take my training more seriously after Christmas. My training partner had picked up an injury, so I had to train on my own. This was hard but I did enjoy the freedom of going at my own pace. My goal was simple – to add a mile to my runs each week. Two weeks before the race I ran 11 miles ! The week before the race I just did one six-miler. Although it wasn’t an official training plan, it worked for me
Did you have a running routine ?
I tried to do a couple of short runs with the dog in the week and then a long run at the weekend
Tell us about Race Day ?
I think I did the whole race powered on adrenalin – it just took over. The crowds were amazing and were everywhere on the course – they really kept me going. I also had my own supporters who did a wonderful job of walking all over Bath and shouting me on. As I live in Bath I saw loads of people I knew and that was brilliant. The support from the crowds on the course made me forget all the pain and helped me finish 20 minutes faster than I expected !
What are your tips for Race Day ?
Take something warm to wear at the start. There’s a fair bit of hanging around to do before the start and I was pleased I’d taken a warm jumper *, which I tied around my waist once I started running. My other tip is to not dash off at the start and to try and pace yourself
* (Andrew Taylor - Race Director adds - Quite a lot of runners take an old long-sleaved top which they discard on the side of the start pen just before the race starts, these get recycled for charity. Please don't use 'bin bags' because other runners can trip up on these)
How was it for you ?
I don’t think I can say I enjoyed running every bit of the half marathon – it was hard work – but what I did enjoy was the feeling afterwards. I really felt like I had achieved something. The crowds really make the day – it would have been so much harder without them. I also raised money for Off The Record which is a local charity which helps young people in Bath and North East Somerset
Have you continued to run ?
Yes. I completed the Chippenham Half in September. I also, with my husband, completed a 1.5mile open water charity swim in August. And yes, I signed up for the 2012 Bath Half as soon as I’d finished the 2011 one! I’m much more relaxed about it this year though but really do need to get some more training in after Christmas !
See you on Race Day Emelia, and good luck with your training
Thank you !
Training Schedules - 16 Dec 2011
16th Dec - LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN
The weeks are ticking by and at the last count it will be 12 weeks on Sunday until race day. It’s usually around this time each year that our runners start thinking about taking their training up to the next level
We also know that it’s a really tough time of year to keep the training going. It’s cold outside and the journey from sofa to front door can be a particularly challenging one
Working to a training programme and having more structure to your training can really help you through this winter period. With that in mind, we have teamed up with Martin Yelling of Yelling Performance, who has prepared a series of ten week training programmes to suit all of our Bath Half runners
Martin is husband and coach to Olympian and Commonwealth Games medallist, Liz Yelling (who currently holds the Bath Half women’s record). He works with runners and triathletes at all levels – from total novices to full time professionals – and is an experienced runner himself (twice winning the national elite duathlon championships)
Martin has put together three 10-Week training schedules :
- Beginners currently running for 20-30minutes continuously
- Improvers regular runners planning on running four times per week
- Advanced regular runners planning on running five-six times per week
He’s also got some great tips on how to get your training off to a good start, how to ‘up the ante’ in your training and how to run the perfect half marathon
Martin has also put together a motivation campaign, ‘Jantastic’, which you can register free for at Martin’s successful Marathon Talk site. This is a well timed campaign for Bath Half runners to take advantage of. It’s very much about personal progress and having fun with your running. Runners need to register by the end of December
You can find Martin’s training schedules in the Support section of our website, so do check it out
Stay safe and warm, and have a very Happy Christmas
Andrew Taylor
Race Director
Your Bath Half Story - 16 Dec 2011
4th Dec - YOUR BATH HALF STORY
We all have different motivations for deciding to run a half marathon. Over the coming weeks we’d like to share some of our runners’ stories with the aim of inspiring and motivating others on their journey to Race Day
Whether you’re a first timer or a seasoned half marathon runner or maybe you’re running to raise money for charity, or as part of a Corporate Challenge team, then we’d love to hear from you
This is your opportunity to share the unique details of why you have chosen to run the 2012 Bath Half. Your story may be featured on the Bath Half website, or in our Bath Half blog and/or newsletter, or in our news releases sent to the local media
Please send us an email with 'My Bath Half Story' in the subject line
You might want to include details of why you’re running in this year’s race (e.g. health and fitness, personal goal, raising money for a charity, in honour of a friend or relative or as a workplace challenge)
Let us know how you’re getting on with your training, what challenges you have overcome so far and how your friends, families or colleagues are supporting you. You might have some great training or race day tips for other runners ?
What’s your aim on race day ? Are you hoping to set a new personal best, or are you simply working towards getting around the course ? What time are you hoping to run ?
Hearing your stories really inspires us all down here at Bath Half HQ, so please do get in touch. We can’t promise to feature everyone who sends in their story but we’ll do our best to pick ones that really highlight the variety of our amazing Bath Half entrants. We’ll get in touch directly with those runners whose stories we’re planning on using
Best wishes
ANDREW TAYLOR - Race Director
Winter Training Tips - 16 Dec 2011
28th Nov - WINTER TRAINING – OUR TOP TIPS
Although the recent run of mild weather has made it feel like this autumn was here to stay, there’s no denying that the clock change, the darker evenings and the recent drop in temperatures signal the start of winter
We’ve now reached the sold-out point for ‘own place’ general public Bath Half runners (still some corporate challenge and charity places remaining), so we know that many of you will now be starting your training in earnest. This certainly isn’t made any easier with the reduction in daytime hours and the slowly cooling off of temperatures
Being properly kitted out for winter training goes some way to easing the challenge of getting out of the door on these darker evenings or chillier mornings
Our top tips for winter training
- If you’re running in the dark then make sure you are wearing reflective clothing. It’s really important that drivers can see you - it could save your life
- Wearing layers is the easiest way to stay warm – but don’t overdo it – if you feel toasty warm before you step out of the door then you’re probably wearing too much. A long sleeved top and water-proof jacket worn with running tights should keep you warm but won’t let you overheat
- Cover exposed skin – wear a hat and gloves – you can always take them off and tuck them into your tights if you’re feeling a too warm
- Remember that stretching and warming up are very important parts of training and should not be overlooked. Do it right after a run when you muscles are warm and loose. This will help you feel better after a run, improve your stride, and help prevent injury
- Stay hydrated, but avoid overdrinking. Try drinking a measured amount of water (or weak squash or fruit juice, or energy drink) 30 minutes before you go out for your run and again after you finish. Drink slowly over time, don't gulp in one go. Adjust the amount you drink to ensure correct drinking balance - your urine should be light straw in colour, but mild dehydration and feeling thirsty after a run is normal. You shouldn't need to carry drinks on shorter runs
- Wear the right footwear and take extra care if conditions turn icy
This is our first Bath Half 2012 blog post and we’ll be writing more over the coming weeks in the build up to the Bath Half. We’ll post these on the website and also signpost them through our fortnightly newsletters and through Facebook and Twitter. If there’s a topic you would like us to cover in our blogs, then don’t hesitate to get in touch using our ON-LINE ENQUIRY FORM
Best wishes
ANDREW TAYLOR - Race Director
Corporate Challenge entries sold out - 16 Dec 2011
Corporate Challenge entries for business teams are now sold out
But reserved entries are still available from the Lead Race Charity, Guide Dogs for the Blind, and our other official race charities
Click here to see our OFFICIAL CHARITY LIST
