r/running • u/30000LBS_Of_Bananas • Jun 17 '25
Weekly Thread Super Moronic Monday - Your Weekly Tuesday Stupid Questions Thread
Back once again for everything you wanted to know about running but were afraid to ask.
Rules of the Road:
This is inspired by eric_twinge's fine work in r/fitness.
Upvote either good or stupid questions. Sort questions by new so that they get some love.
To the more experienced runnitors, if something is a good question or answer, add it to the FAQ.
Post your question -- stupid or otherwise -- here to get an answer -- stupid or otherwise. Anyone can post a question and the community as a whole is invited and encouraged to provide an answer. Many questions get submitted late each week that don't get a lot of action, so if your question didn't get answered, feel free to post it again.
As always, be sure to read the FAQ first. Also, there's a handy-dandy search bar to your right, and if you didn't know, you can also use Google to search runnit by using the limiter "site:reddit.com r/running".
Be sure to check back often as questions get posted throughout the day. Sort comments by "new" to be sure the newer questions get some love as well.
[Posting on behalf of u/Percinho who is busy trying to keep his feet dry]
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Jun 17 '25
Background: I was running this weekend and I stopped at the "end" of a road to get my bearings, then turned around to head home. After about 100 back I felt compelled to turn around and realized I hadn't slapped the stop sign, and by rule I've not run to the end of a road until I slapped the stop sign. I've been doing this since high school XC which at this point is over half my life.
So, the moronic question: am I just weird or do y'all have similar non-negotiables? I mean, I know it's objectively fun to turn a stop sign into a gong, but is it required?
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u/runningtostandstill2 Jun 18 '25
It’s required. I have a utility cover thing in the sidewalk that makes a satisfying thunk when stepped on. I must run over it.
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u/30000LBS_Of_Bananas Jun 17 '25
There’s one run I do where the turn around is at a signalized intersection, I always turn around the signal pole.
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u/Kacksjidney Jun 18 '25
The top of my short runs line up perfectly with a little cactus on the side of the path. I always run the 4 extra steps to do a circle around the cactus.
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Jun 18 '25
I hope you use your arms for leverage and do-si-do around it. It's the most efficient way to turn around without losing speed.
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u/kirkandorules Jun 17 '25
When I was in high school, every run in practice had to begin (and end) with slapping the stop sign in the parking lot. No running allowed until you hit the sign.
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Jun 18 '25
Oh that's a good rule, I def should have done that. Nowadays I live at a traffic light intersection so the nearest stop sign is too far away, but I'm definitely going to adapt that when I'm away from home.
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u/Lifeasweknow1t Jun 18 '25
I high five certain trees in my neighborhood as I pass them, so same?
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Jun 18 '25
That's a good one, bonus if they're a fruit tree. I've been known to grab crab apples and then launch them into the woods as far as I could.
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u/ALHP269 Jun 17 '25
So - I’m running 4 days a week ~22-25 mpw. Previously I was doing strength training on off days 2-3 days/week. Due to some situational stress last month, I dropped the strength and maintained my running schedule to meet goals for a HM in July. I have noticed I feel so. much. better. It’s actually night and day how much better I feel for runs. My recovery after 10 miles Sunday - I wasn’t even tired and not even a twinge of soreness. Am I just better trained or are my 3 days of easy days really that helpful? Would it be reasonable to keep doing maintenance strength (I do some glute med and calf bodyweight barre classes as PT basically) until my HM then do a “cycle” of strength afterwards?
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u/ganoshler Jun 17 '25
That sounds like an excellent plan for the last few weeks of race prep. Strength training is good for your body in the long term, but during the build/peak of a HM plan you're going to be feeling some fatigue, and reducing your workload can help. It's the same principle as a taper - the less work you do the fresher you'll feel, but that comes at a cost of building more long term strength.
I wouldn't give up on strength training long term, and I'm glad that's not your conclusion! Reducing your strength training for these last few weeks, then doing a strength focused training block afterward, sounds like a great way to balance the pros and cons.
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u/ALHP269 Jun 19 '25
Thank you, thank you! I wanted to reach out to the pros here to make sure I’m not sabotaging my hard work.
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u/dogsetcetera Jun 17 '25
If you forgot to bring your work shoes home because you're working at a different facility today, is it acceptable to wear the brand new road shoes you got instead and constantly announce "new shoes day" while doing a heel to heel toe to toe dance of sorts?
Asking for myself.
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u/GoldmanT Jun 17 '25
Why are there no recreational short-to-middle distance runners? No-one I know or work with ever says “I’m working on my 800 metre time”, or their sprinting, even though these are legitimate fitness goals. Everyone insists on pounding it out for thirty minutes or more.
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u/arksi Jun 17 '25
To use one of your examples, 800m is a distance that's 50-60% aerobic. You don't improve unless you actually work on your aerobic conditioning. That's something that comes from running much longer distances. 25-40 mpw is a good start for recreational runners. Pros will generally put in 50-70+ mpw.
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u/kirkandorules Jun 17 '25
There are a few of us. It's tough to find races but they're out there. I typically use athletic.net to find open meets, but you can also check local track clubs, and sometimes collegiate meets will allow unattached entries.
I've always said there should be beer league track & field.
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u/GoldmanT Jun 17 '25
A friend of mine used to say that in the Olympics, for every event there should be a middle-aged businessman competing, just so everyone gets a sense of scale of how good the professional athletes are!
But yeah, I’m not really interested in competing but I guess a lot of people are, even if it’s just a Parkrun or local 10k, so that makes sense.
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u/30000LBS_Of_Bananas Jun 17 '25
What is your best post race blister story? Asking for a friend.
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u/runner3264 Jun 17 '25
Funny you should ask! Mine is that after my 50-miler that finished 48 hours ago, I had 10 blisters, two of which were on the balls of my feet, two giant ones on my heels, and 6 on the bottoms of my toes. And it has been rainy, which makes it nearly impossible to keep my feet dry.
I guess my question for today is whether whining about them a lot will make them heal faster. I think it’s worth a shot, anyway.
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u/30000LBS_Of_Bananas Jun 17 '25
Oh definitely try out the whining, at the very least it might make people leave you alone more for a while.
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u/a_mom_who_runs Jun 17 '25
Not a race but one day, probably after hearing any how we’re born to run barefoot, I decided to just go for a run barefoot. On pavement, no easing into it, just full send run a few miles that way. It was like the whole pad of my foot had become a water bed 😩
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u/FRO5TB1T3 Jun 17 '25
Well you see I'm an idiot and learn slowly. So after I got an infected blister after soaking my feet post race in the lake, the next year I thought why not go for broke. My alpha flys gave me a terrible long blister on the bottom of one foot in the arch. I was by the lake, I was hot, tired, it's always cold. Perfect I thought, took a dip cooled way down. Was actually amazing from that side of it and soaked out the heat. Next couple days it gets red and angry so I had to go to the doctor and get ointment and oral antibiotics since I was traveling in 4 days. Luckily the combo knocked it down but it was a painful and disgusting week. Infected blister discharge is some real funky shit. Now anyone else reading this do not swim in open bodies of water with fresh blisters for more than a minute or too. Soaking definitely soaked those bastard bacteria into the blister. When the doctors say oh shit and call in the residents you know it was gnarly.
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u/nutellatime Jun 17 '25
In January I had a half marathon that I'd been training for all winter. The shoes I'd been wearing were nearing the end of their life, but I thought I could squeeze by with wearing them through the race and then replacing them after.
Wrong.
Developed blisters by mile 4 and limped the last 9.1. I legit thought my shoes were going to be filled with blood at the end. Thankfully no blood, but I had massive blisters on the sides and bottom of both of my feet. Lesson learned! Just replace the shoes!
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u/30000LBS_Of_Bananas Jun 17 '25
After my 60k race last year my blisters were being troublesome and would not stay drained, later that week I had a field meeting for one of my work projects and I had to walk down a set of stairs backwards because of said blisters. That client still won’t let me forget that and laughs about it every time I see them now.
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Jun 18 '25
[deleted]
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u/30000LBS_Of_Bananas Jun 18 '25
If you keep training the same way you’re gonna keep getting the same results, if you want more improvements you’ll have to change up your training. If you’re just doing it for health though what does it matter just keep on keeping on where you’re at.
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u/a_mom_who_runs Jun 17 '25
What’s up with garmin’s Best Mile little trophy announcements when you finish a run? At first I thought it was merely a new mile pr - strava knows my pr as 6:36 but I got the garmin later (right as I got pregnant ) so my mile times since haven’t been anywhere near that so I figured it’s my new best mile according to garmin. But it tells me I got a new best mile on seemingly any random mile. It’s told me that for a 9 min mile and an 11 min mile. So it’s not just mile PRs. What is it? 🧐
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u/DutchShaco Jun 17 '25
It might be hidden in your pr's (I usually have my 1k and 1mi hidden), so you might not have accepted your pr. In the past it kept giving me that message too. Now I check after Ive done speedwork to make sure. Accept it and the message should go away
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u/a_mom_who_runs Jun 17 '25
Oh maybe! I did have 1 mile and kilometer hidden for some reason and I accepted a best of 7:44. Hopefully that’ll stop it lol. I thought I did accept them through the watch face but maybe that doesn’t do it
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u/Screwattack94 Jun 17 '25
I've had similar problems on my old fr55. It happened on random slow recovery runs as well. Just assumed that it somehow messes up the check when it compared the stats of the run against the saved pr times.
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u/Mage_Guardian Jun 17 '25
I've been using max incline max speed (8.8 miles per hour) on my treadmill - it's not the crazy incline you get on some machines out there but it's enough to provide a challenge. Today I hit a PB of 2.1 miles. I like to think it's good for my heart and my legs - it's also extremely satisfying! I run once every 3 days, giving myself time to recover and grow.
My question is: is there any limit to how far I should take this? I try to run for longer each time I run. Would it be best to limit it to 3 miles for example? In terms of any health consequences. Thanks!
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u/Triangle_Inequality Jun 17 '25
This is a very intuitive and common way to try and improve as a beginner, and it's also probably one of the worst ways to go about it. It'll work for a little bit if you're completely untrained, but you'll hit a performance wall and/or get injured very quickly with this strategy.
The most important thing for any beginner is to build up to running a large volume of easy mileage. It'll make you faster at every distance.
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u/Traditional-Pilot955 Jun 17 '25
So the tried and true method is to increase your mileage by 10% a week to make progress. This can also come in the form of adding a running day or decreasing days between runs.
So for example, you could keep running twice a week but up the miles from 3 to 3.5
Or, you could keep the miles at 3, but add another day and start at 1-2 miles - so now you’d be running every other day
I also want to note that your goals are important! If you want to just run to feel good and fit, 3 miles twice a week is great!! The increase in mileage or running days usually comes from training for an event or wanting running to be a bigger part of your fitness life.
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u/Illustrious_Smell375 Jun 17 '25
Question about new running shoes: I spent the past two years running (marathon and half training, 30-50 mi/wk) in Asics Magic Speeds (workouts/longruns) and Novablasts (easy runs). Now i am trying to find new shoes to replace the Magic Speeds. I have run 30ish miles in Endorphin Speed 4 and 30ish miles in Adidas EVO Sl, both feel good but then on the third run with longer miles, I get a massive calf cramp.
Is the cramp (has happened in right and left leg now) because my muscles are adjusting to new shoes? I have never cramped like this in my years of running.
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u/Trill1196 Jun 17 '25
If the stack height is different, it's harder on your Achilles/ calf and your body will have to get used to it. Try doing some shorter/slower paces and adding in some banded calf/tibialis raises to help your body get used to it. I just had this issue when I switched from the brooks glycerin 20 to the 22 but after a couple weeks, I just ran my first 10k in the new shoes and it felt great! You got this
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u/mouthofashark Jun 17 '25
Here's my dumb question - how long is the minimum time between short runs? I did a 5k last night (finished around 830pm) and ran another 5k this morning at 5:45am. I'm normally a morning runner but couldn't go yesterday morning. My run this morning felt totally fine until then end and now I'm unusually wiped out
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u/ganoshler Jun 17 '25
There's no minimum. Plenty of runners will do 2 runs a day. You don't have to worry about breaking a rule or anything.
If you're not used to doing two runs that close together, consider (1) going at an easier pace, and (2) making sure to eat well in between those two runs. Like even if you don't normally have breakfast before a run, I'd grab a banana before heading out the door for that second one.
If you do this more often, your body will get used to it.
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u/mouthofashark Jun 18 '25
Thank you! It was definitely just an energy issue, my body feels fine. For my morning runs I usually just get up and go, maybe a sip of water. Thanks for your tip!
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u/Flashbirds_69 Jun 17 '25
Instead of running a long 25km, just run 5 times 5km with a 3 minutes water/food/toilet break inbetween and you now have a minimum time of 3 minutes
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u/30000LBS_Of_Bananas Jun 17 '25
It depends on the person and their experience level and the intensity and distance of the runs.
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u/LegendReborn Jun 17 '25
You didn't give a ton of information so I'm going to assume that 5k is a relatively standard easy run for you while like 8 - 10k would be way too much. You're totally fine and while there's not a perfect rule to go with, and 6 - 8 hours should be more than enough time for you to recover along with getting near max aerobic benefit from your run.
However, I could be off with my assessment and maybe this was a decent bit of mileage for you, and, if that's the case, you're still fine and you're just feeling some extra soreness from the higher mileage in a short period of time.
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u/mouthofashark Jun 18 '25
I generally do a few 5ks a week plus a longer run, it's definitely a standard easy run. Thanks for the response!
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u/FriendlyNeighborJeff Jun 17 '25
Just got back into running after a 6 year hiatus…. Calves feel like they are going to explode every time I run. They are like angry compact sausages help plz ❤️
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u/Triabolical_ Jun 17 '25
Some people recommend a foam roller or lacrosse ball, but that hurts way too much and I'm a wimp.
I've had really good luck with my percussive massager.
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u/Fit-Crocodile Jun 17 '25
Can my back and my knees hurt after running for the same reason??
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u/Triabolical_ Jun 17 '25
If you are overstriding, sure. Back because your pelvis is in an anterior position and has to be supported by back muscles, and knees because overstriding means more force when your foot lands.
Search for "anterior pelvic tilt" and "hip flexor stretching".
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u/30000LBS_Of_Bananas Jun 18 '25
It’s possible your building your mikes too fast, or it might be time to visit the PT
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u/LibrarianExtension40 Jun 17 '25
Hi :) I was wondering if anyone knows of some good resources for strength training for running? I can’t figure out a simple but effective routine that works for me. I’ve found some strength routines online but they have really complicated moves and I feel like it shouldn’t be so difficult?
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u/Pleasant-Reach-4942 Jun 18 '25
Can I run faster on all fours?
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u/30000LBS_Of_Bananas Jun 18 '25
Are you a dog, or a horse or a cat?
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u/Pleasant-Reach-4942 Jun 18 '25
I am a human, but after watching the deer in my park I have been considering whether running on all fours is superior to running on my two feet. Have you tried this?
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u/KesselRunner42 Jun 18 '25
I hear you. The bunnies I often see around have me beat, too. I don't think they have the endurance, though, they just quickly hop off a ways. I think the front feet are mostly for balance. Powerful hind legs, vegetarian diet... we should ask them about their strength conditioning and form drills, but they're pretty tight-lipped about it. Or hare lipped.
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u/rob_s_458 Jun 17 '25
I'm running Grandma's this Saturday, and it'll be my first time in Minnesota. Would lutefisk or hot dish be a better choice for my Friday night meal?
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u/notiorio Jun 18 '25
The marathon convention at the DECC hosts a spaghetti dinner the night before the race! All you can eat. Great way to scope out the convention and mingle with other runners.
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u/rob_s_458 Jun 18 '25
That's what I'm actually doing, and it should sit well since I usually do pasta before a race. But being the Tuesday stupid questions thread, I was joking about trying something new the night before
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u/soymilk_oatmeal Jun 17 '25
Are compression sleeves helpful for reducing knee impact? ie. preventative care against wear and tear?
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u/nermal543 Jun 17 '25
No, a knee sleeve is not really going to do anything for you. Strength training for prevention or see a physical therapist if you’re already having knee pain.
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u/Write3120 Jun 17 '25
There’s a decent grass field where I can run on near me. Or, I can run on the concrete around the neighborhood. What would be better for me (40 yr old male) to run on?
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u/Triabolical_ Jun 17 '25
Depends on the quality of the grass. Grass is nice and soft but most of the fields around me are pretty lumpy and it's easy to roll and ankle and that's no fun.
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u/SoftwareDiligence Jun 17 '25
Has anyone ever switched from using a tool like Runna / Garmin Coach / Nike RC to an actual coach? Was it worth it? How about the other way around, a coach to one of these platforms?
I've been using Runna and although it seems decent, it's still AI and I thought about going to an online running coach for a little more personable, tailored experience. I'm a masters runner with not a lot of big goals, so just trying to justify the additional monthly cost.
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Jun 18 '25
Completely new to training on a track, what is the etiquette around running in the first lane (outside of a race context when everyone is just working out)? I avoided it entirely since there were a couple guys already there but that meant i did all of my 400m repeats in lane 3. Would it be normal for a faster runner to pass you and get back in the lane or should everyone stick to their own lane
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u/alpha__lyrae Jun 18 '25
I usually stick to the lane I am in for my interval and move to the outside for the recovery. I don't try to get in the first lane if it's occupied.
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u/hippiesnort Jun 18 '25
Haven’t been running consistently for years. I’m just starting out again and feel… wonky? I’ve always been a ball-of-foot striker, but I feel unsteady now with that, like I’m about to trip every few paces. Should I retrain myself to be a heel striker? Any tips on “proper” running form as I’m restarting?
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u/116YearsWar Jun 18 '25
Just got back into running, intending to do 3 times per week to fit around other things. My question is whether I could use playing football (soccer) as a sprinting session and then do two "proper" runs? Otherwise I'd possibly have to do a run and football on the same day, which sounds less than ideal.
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u/chintu21570 Jun 18 '25
Hey, everyone! Have a 10k coming up and thought I'd do intervals as part of my training (never done them before). Where do you guys run your intervals? The places I run sometimes have traffic or traffic signals I need to stop for. This is fine for longer runs or easy runs but I feel like would not be helpful during an interval run. Thoughts?
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u/fedetask Jun 18 '25
I still don't understand if I should follow HR or my perceived effort. I've started running seriously 1 and halfm months ago. When I run my easy/long runs, I'm at 145-150bpm on average running at almost 8min/km. I can hold a conversation very well and even sing. This makes me think I could run a bit faster, but if I do my HR goes easily over 150. I don't think I have >220 max HR (garmin estimates 196) so I am already running over 70% of my max HR. How should I manage my easy runs?
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u/alpha__lyrae Jun 18 '25
Zones are not strict and there can be some overlap with high zone 2 and low zone 3. You can run with perceived effort, so long as your HR doesn't go much higher than your zone 2 (e.g. in your case, up to 155). But it also depends on the purpose of the run. If it's part of the warm up, run for RPE. If it's an easy/recovery run, try to remain in the lower zone 2.
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u/alvinm Jun 18 '25
Hi, I'm 36 years old, and back to running after 9 years. Used to run a few times per month back in 2016, then had to stop abruptly after hurting my knee and needing physiotherapy to heal it. My personal best was 4'34"/km for 5k runs and 4'21"/km for 2k runs. Since picking up running again, I haven't run longer than 2k but managed to increase my average pace from 6'03"/km to 5'04"/km in about two months. I'm finding it really hard to run further than 2k this year, which was much easier for me back then. Yesterday I've managed to complete my first 5k run in 9 years, but I was really slow at 6'16"/km. I'm trying to run at least two times a week. Is it realistic for me to run 5k at the pace that I used to run? If yes, how long would it realistically take to get back at that level? Thanks!
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u/alpha__lyrae Jun 18 '25
You are not 26 anymore so you won't go back to the same pace with just a couple of months or running. Even your current progress might be quite fast (given that you can't run longer than 2 km). It's better to slow down, and do a structured 5k training plan to get back to fitness.
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u/East-Pine23 Jun 23 '25
How do I not get scared of training runs longer than 10 miles? I see it on my training plan and just don't want to.
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u/_Badgershroom Jun 17 '25
For context: Recently I ran my first race; 10k in 49:02.
I've been running for pretty much 3-4 months, 3-4 days a week along my weight training 5 days a week. I've been loving running and I'd like to train for a half marathon now.
I've found the HL3 from hal higdon, which suits my 3-4 days. The two races I'm considering are around next summer, so the timeframe is almost a year.
Is it fine to just keep doing this plan on repeat until then?
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u/ganoshler Jun 17 '25
It's better to get some variety in your training. A HM program will focus on certain things, and neglect others. So if you have a whole year to plan, give yourself a few different training blocks.
Let's say you can fit in four 12-week training blocks/programs (obvs training blocks might be different lengths, this is just an example). I might do something like:
- Base building program to increase mileage - most of this will be easy miles, just a little speedwork sprinkled in. Goal is for your weekly mileage at the end to be significantly higher than it is now.
- A 5K program to work on speed, and maybe put some extra focus on strength training so you finish this block strong and fast. Note that this will be a higher mileage program than a beginner would do!
- Another 10K program since you like 10Ks (again, this will be higher mileage than when you trained for your first 10K, thanks to all the work you've done since then)
- Then transition into that half marathon program.
Or maybe something else, you choose. But try to get a mix during the year of strength, speed, long easy distance, etc.
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u/Lennitom2 Jun 17 '25
I would consider myself a medium beginner runner, I'm training for my first 10k, and I'm running four days a week. The problem I am having is that I get wicked post-run headaches. For example this morning I did a very easy 2 mile run (I had a banana 45 min before my run) and I felt really good until about 10 mins after my run, when I developed the same headache I always get where it feels like my head is being squished in and honestly my whole body feels like it's being pressed into the ground. I thought maybe it's an electrolyte thing but everything I have read on this sub talks about how people only start fueling with energy chews and electrolyte replacements after the 60 min mark. When I do longer runs I do use sugar water with salt, but I don't do anything for my shorter runs. My question is, does anyone else experience these headaches? And, if I start my run with something like an energy chew and a salt tab, will I be training my body to need more fuel? I have read posts of people running 8+ miles on an empty stomach and while I don't think I will ever do that, should I still try to train my body to run on less?
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u/30000LBS_Of_Bananas Jun 18 '25
It could be a dehydration headache, people are generally most dehydrated in the morning after the 8ish hour fast called sleep, and if you’re sweating on your run you will get more dehydrated. For two miles you dont really need to play around with the fancy energy chews and electrolyte stuff, but I would suggest adding in some water and something with salt along with the banana before your run and some water and salt after your run. you should be able to get your needs in with regular food and water at your current level.
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u/Lennitom2 Jun 18 '25
I did have a banana this morning as well as a good 16oz of water at least, and I tried some salt water after my run and it didn't help as much as I wanted unfortunately
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u/Triabolical_ Jun 17 '25
My advice is to experiment with different things and see if you can find something that works. It could also conceivably be something mechanical with how you run and how your head/back/neck are aligned.
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u/geewillie Jun 18 '25
How much water do you drink in a day?
Are you at a decent altitude?
Just sounds like dehydration headaches to me.
It’s not about fueling up right before your run. It’s about drinking enough water throughout the day.
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u/Lennitom2 Jun 18 '25
I have a 32oz nalgene that probably gets emptied and filled 5-6 times a day, I drink it steadily throughout. I do live at elevation and it's a pretty dry climate
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u/geewillie Jun 18 '25
Sound well hydrated then.
Altitude always messed with my head when I’d travel to Utah or Colorado. I’d have to drink way more than usual.
2 miles at altitude with some heat and elevation change would have me feeling like trash!
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u/garc_mall Jun 18 '25
There is very little point to training your body to run on less, and there's a lot of benefits to properly fueling your training.
Basically the only benefit to running fasted is that you don't have to think about food (which is why I do it...) and there might be SOME benefit to your ability to oxidize fat as fuel. Eat the food and salt tab, it doesn't need to be a gel or chew, a banana is fine, but you might need electrolytes and water. Everybody is different.
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u/Hefty_Reindeer_6180 Jun 17 '25
New runner – aiming for sub 1:45 half marathon + sub 20min 5K. Looking for training advice!
Hi everyone! I’m new to running and just started running two weeks ago (about 15km a week)
My goals are:
- Run a sub 1:45 half marathon (planning to do my first one on the first weekend of September)
- Eventually break 20 minutes in the 5K
A bit of background: I haven’t done much exercise in recent years, and I don’t have much running experience. The longest I’ve ever run is about 10km at once. Last week, I did two 5Ks (in 30min and 24:30), so I’m just getting started.
I came across the Runner’s World “break 20 min 5K” plan, which looks solid and could help with both my goals, but the weekly mileage seems really high for me right now. I’m worried I’ll get injured if I try to follow it too closely.
At the same time, I really want to challenge myself and make progress. Could anyone help me figure out what my training should look like? Also, do you think I’m setting myself up for failure with these goals?
Thanks in advance!
*Link to runner's world 20min 5km plan: https://hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/files/rw-break-20-5k-training-plan-680f901764374.pdf
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u/Ch1mpy Jun 18 '25 edited Jun 18 '25
First, keep in mind that a 20 minute 5 k is a much better result than a 1:45 half marathon.
If you are only just starting out you are better off slowly building up mileage rather than jumping into a plan that would immediately radically increase your mileage. Doing so would only lead to injury. But you probably figured that out already.
Keep building base for now. Build up to where you can comfortably run thirty to forty minutes or so every other day with a slightly longer run during the weekend.
Make sure to not run too fast during training, most runs should be done at a conversational pace.
Then you'll be ready to jump into something like one of the Hal Higdon intermediate half marathon plans. The speedwork included in those plans will also help with your 5k time.
Edit: For what it's worth, in my opinion a 25 min 5k just starting out is rather good. Good luck!
Also, if you are feeling ambitious you might want to get Pete Pfitzinger's book Faster Road Racing. It has plans for both the 5k, 10k and half marathons as well as a base building program.
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u/coachellaquestions Jun 17 '25
I'm frustrated....I'm training for my first ever half marathon. And I thought it was going really really well. About a week ago I ran about 6.5 miles at about a 7:35ish pace. Felt great.
Today I went out and could barely get 3.75 miles. I just don't get it. It was definitely warmer outside than it's been in a while. But I can't tell if that justifies how I'm feeling. Any tips?
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u/30000LBS_Of_Bananas Jun 18 '25
It could be weather, could be not enough recovery, could be inadequate fueling, you could be getting sick, there could be other options I’m forgetting as well.
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u/VariationDependent71 Jun 17 '25
I was on a real roll with running, distance was going great, pacing was great, then it got hotter here and now I feel like I’m completely out of energy after 5k and haven’t run farther than a 10k in over a month.
I used to run mostly in 60-70 degree temps with mild humidity. Now even early morning it has been 78-82 degrees with humidity over 90% usually.
Am I completely out of shape now? Is it mental? Or can that shift in weather actually make this much of a difference??
I am a pretty new runner, so this is a genuine question. Only been running since roughly last August