Just completed my first HM by running a local marked course.  Very happy with 2hours 7 mins esopecially as I turned 58 two days ago!  Actually ran on for another 1K just to be sure!  Quite pleased with my progress from Couch to 5K stated 8 months ago.  Now for a big plate of tea and toast!

Thanks for the advice people. Im glad to have found the forum part of this website, I use forums alot and get alot out of them as its the lack of knowledge which nobbles me not the lack of enthusiasm.

I was using a training schedule that a friend had given me which told me to run for a minute rest for a minute etc etc slowly building up and I found that I started to hate running with it.  Some days I could stick to it and other days I would find it really hard and as a result I started to get a little dispondant that maybe I wasnt putting enough effort in compared with what the schedule said I should be able to cope with by now etc.  I used it on a particular lap that I run, the 4.7 mile one and I took 58 mins following the schedule one day.  Another day I ran without the schedule and rested when I felt I needed to and ran when I felt able for as long as I felt able to and I took 7 minutes off the time instantly and enjoyed doing it alot more so I dont use it anymore, I just keep going when I can and rest when I cant.  I do use the graphs and stats table on here alot though as a motivator to see my progress and love that facility.  If I didnt have a target to beat I would find it harder to keep going and motivated I think. I want to start increasing my distance and for the intial couple of time I will not bother trying to get a good time just find a route I enjoy first with the increased distance.

 I beat my time yesterday although that was on a treadmill as it was raining.  I only took a minute off but thats another minute! Rest day today, tomorrow and maybe monday too.

@Mike - "Respect the rest days" - how very true!!

Hear, hear - well done mate, keep it going, stay motivated, and you'll never look back!

Paul

My advice would be to find a plan online and then follow the schedule.

If you put in your race date and distance and rough estimated time it will all be calculated for you.

The most important thing is to respect the rest days - they are there for a reason. You'll also find that the pace/distances are progressive and all this is designed to get you to the start line fresh, fit and uninjured.

There are plans on the Runners World web site; Asics; Lucozade and probably on here to!

Just make sure you go for a "beginner's plan" to start with - no ego (yet)!

Good luck 

Thats great Paul, well done! Sounds like you are becoming a new man.

I have accepted a challenge from fellow collegues to run the Para's 10 on Sept 11th. 

http://www.paras10.com/index.php

I should add that when they asked me I was an ex smoker in a job which is rarely physical, not caring too much about what I ate and never trained at anything so when I was asked I saw a massive mountain and I was convinced they had asked the wrong person.  That was six weeks ago and I have been training slowly but steadily and my fastest time so far is 4.7 miles in 51 minutes which I was delighted with.  I was like alot of people, not able to run at all without near collapsing and I have been suprised at how quick my fitness has picked up.  It still hurts and I think most of my pain comes from lack of experience and knowledge, when to stretch and how and when to push yourself and when you should be taking it easy.  I picked up an injury to my shin last week that caused me to cut my run short and limp two miles home.  I rested it for a week and only walked, albeit a fast 10 mile walk carrying 5kg but it feels better now and I will be out tomorrow to see how it is.  Im hoping to get myself up to 7 miles by the end of this month and doing it with constant 11 minute miles at slowest.

Well done Keith! I have just done my first HM distance - a lovely run from my ront door to the front door fo Windsor Castle and back again, 2 hours 21 mins, which I am well chuffed with! That last 2 miles was tough going, but I kept going - it would have been far too embarrasing to ask my wife to pick me up from the other side of the village! :o)

I'd imagine it does Keith! Congratulations, have a well earned beer - you'll sleep well tonight!

I did it!!!! 20km in 2 hours 9 minutes. Kept an easy pace throughout, didn't think too much about how far I had to run, just relaxed. And no aches and pains afterward!!

Does this make me officially fit????