One sunny day on February, I was bored and my day is so unproductive that random thoughts have flooded up my mind like a tsunami. Thoughts like, should I apply for a cruise-ship based job? Is it time to move out of Dubai? And guess what? I had another crazy random thought! A half-marathon in less than 30 days! What happened? Where did that come from?
βI ran the 10 KM in Standard Chartered Marathon last January 25 within my target time, so whatβs next?β
And exactly an hour later, I found myself registered in Hatta Hills Run 2019 - 21KM Category. Mind you, the race is happening on 08th March - exactly less than 30 days from this day!
Half-marathon in less than 30 days? How can you prepare for that?! Who in the right mind would do that?
I know, I knowβ¦ I am going to push my limit and the room for injury is very huge! My limit is obviously the previous 10 KM and few HIKING ACTIVITIES. It was a crazy idea and trust me, Iβm never gonna do that again!
Disclaimer: Please donβt take after me and donβt overestimate your body. We have different capabilities and what worked for me MIGHT NOT work for you. However, I am not stopping you to take a challenge and push yourself. But please, prepare in advance and train your body and mind accordingly. π
So how did I prepare for the half-marathon? I planned a training program suitable for my capability so that I have a guideline to follow. I assure you that this program is very boring unlike the training workouts out there on the Internet.
The Program - Recovery Runs:
According to Runnerβs Blueprint, Recovery Run is defined as relatively short, easy-paced, run performed within 24 hours after a hard session, usually an interval workout or a long run.
Some say that Recovery Run is running at your normal and comfortable pace where you can still talk with your running partner/buddy.
I don't have hard sessions before the actual recovery run but I chose the pacing and the comfortable level of recovery runs as my training program. But why? Because this is where I am confident to last long. I know for a fact, that if I run slow, I can go and finish that distance. I donβt want to compete with all the participants and dream of winning the prize anyway.
Here are the details of my training program. It is composed of runs which are distance-based and time-based goals. I gradually increased the distance and the time on my next training schedules.
Training Program:
I am no expert nor a running coach but as I mentioned before, this program is to customized according to my capabilities. Instead of focusing on speed, I trained for endurance hence the below training.
| Date | Target Run | Achieved Run |
| 10-Feb-2019 | 3 km - 30 minutes | 3.02 km - 31:26 |
| 12-Feb-2019 | 5 km - 45 minutes | 4.74 km - 45:54 |
| 14-Feb-2019 | 8 km - 60 minutes | 6.6 km - 59:27 |
| 16-Feb-2019 | 10 km - 1 hour and 15 minutes | 9 km - 1:19:31 |
| 18-Feb-2019 | 12 km - 1 hour and 20 minutes | ABSENT |
| 20-Feb-2019 | 10 km - 1 hour and 30 minutes | 8.02 km - 1:20:29 |
| 22-Feb-2019 | 15 km - 1 hour and 45 minutes | 12 km - 1:39:55 |
| 24-Feb-2019 | 17 km - 2 hours | ABSENT |
| 26-Feb-2019 | 19 km - 2 hours and 15 minutes | 6.71 km - 1:08:39 |
| 28-Feb-2019 | Any distance for 2 hours | 1-hour run with Run 4 A Purpose |
| 2-Mar-2019 | Any distance for 1 hour | ABSENT |
As you can see, out of all the runs I did, I achieved only one among the target distance runs. I failed every single one of them and missed a lot. I'm not disciplined enough for sure. However, I learned a lot from this experience which is to continue showing up and have a little compassion for myself.
Sure, I hated and pitied myself for not achieving any of the runs. But I remembered that I'm crazy enough to register for a half-marathon, so why just not finish it? And that's how it went, I continued to showed up on every single run and let the time take of its course.
Race Day - Hatta Hills Run 2019
Based on the results of my training program, itβs nowhere close to what I have in mind. Blessing in disguise, this phase (of being unmotivated) helped me save all my energy during the last few nights of my training. The gift of tapering yahoo!
And because my body was able to save all my energy and recover from being exhausted and tired from all the training days, I finished the half marathon under the cut off time! I DID IT!
Half Marathon Performance in Hatta Hills Run 2019:
Drum roll please β¦β¦
Is that it?? Are you proud of that result? Seriously?!
Confidently yes! Itβs my first time and I overcome the fear that I wonβt be able to finish the race before the cut off time!
Instead, I was ableΒ to finish the race without any injury at all cost and within the cut off time - 3 minutes before the cut off time to be exact!
Remember I trained and prepared for this half-marathon challenge in less than 30 days! Also, the goal is just to finish it!
Look at me shining so brightly in the morning! It doesn't look like I'm nervous at all, isn't it?
(Photo courtesy to Super Sports UAE)
Special mention to my friends who cheered me up and supported me during the race and waited for me at the finish line!
And there you go, I made it! A first timer who only wanted to push her limit, it's a success! Time didn't matter to me for now but only wanting to accomplish a half-marathon despite preparing only in less than 30 days. What a challenge!
If you havenβt tried running a half-marathon, I urge you to do it and challenge your body and mind but prepare in advance! Donβt let the fear, doubt and othersβ performance hold you back! Itβs a big achievement and your body and mind will thank you later for doing some exercise.
Please feel free to let me know your experience when preparing for a half or full marathon! π
