I'm sure someone has made a similar thread in the past, I just couldn't find it. I wanted to start a similar thread to the weightlifting one to discuss all things running from shoes, to program suggestions, general tips, progress, to general questions, or just a place to humble or not-so-humble brag.

I've been running fairly consistently with a few short breaks for injuries over the last year and a half, and really got serious about it about 3 months ago. Prior to 6 months ago, I had never ran further than 3 miles in my life.

Did my first 5k back in April and ran it at exactly 25 minutes, although I spent the first half running with my GF before I decided to increase my pace. Just did a 10k trail run a couple weeks ago coming in at 1:01, although my GF made me promise not to ditch her this time given it was pretty easy to get lost on the route. I ran a 10k for a PR attempt for fun on my own a few weeks back and ran it in 54:34.

I signed up for the San Antonio RnR half a few days ago with a goal of <1:50. I'm currently running 20-30 miles/wk. I'm not sure if this pace goal is reasonable but figured I have plenty of time and room for improvement given the half is in 4.5 months. I would also likely need to cut some weight, 10-15lbs, to get to that time, as well as to prevent injuries.

Looking through most programs I've been suggested by friends and family, they all seem to be for those just looking to complete a half rather than looking to be "competitive" (I know my goal time isn't competitive). I already know I can run a half, but I am very competitive and don't see a point in doing things unless there is something or someone I am competing with (in this case, just competing with myself).

Do any of y'all have programs you'd suggest for someone like myself? What percentage of my training should be low intensity/low heart rate training and what percentage should be speed or goal pace training?

Good idea for a thread!

TDL;DR: didn't see real progress until I started taking running seriously.

Little history on me- I ran hurdles and the quarter mile in high school. Ran in the Corps at A&M. Started long distance running in 2015. Had no plan except to run until I didn't jiggle anymore. Literally started by just run/walking 30 min each day.

Ran the BCS marathon that year with no real training plan. In fact, I had only run twice in the 2 months before. Finished in 4:35:04. Worst thing I could have done because I thought that I could run marathons just fine without really training. This led to:

2019 Austin: 5:14:20
2019 NYC: 4:58:13
2021 Chicago: 5:08:09 (although I had 2 shots and 4 beers over the last 6 miles during this one. Do NOT recommend)

I was diagnosed with Low T in September 2021 and started shots. I have had to cycle off and back on them twice due to surgeries. https://texags.com/forums/48/topics/3224830

After neck surgery last year I walked my butt off for 2 months before I was allowed to run again. I was cleared to run again at the start of April and built a base using Hal Higdon's "Run with Hal" app. Around about that time Ragoo gave me his old Garmin Fnix 3. Revolutionized how I ran.

At the end of May I started his Intermediate marathon plan, topping out somewhere above 40mpw. Ran a 3:58:00 in Berlin at the end of September. This was a 37 min marathon PR, along with 2 half marathon PRs under 2 hours each.

As I was leaving Berlin I got the notice that I was running Berlin in March, so I rolled right into Hal's advanced program once again using the app. Maxed out right at 60 mpw. I also found a screaming deal on a Fnix 6, so I upgraded. I read "Racing Weight" by Matt Fitzgerald and started paying attention to what I ate and how much. Read "80/20 Running" by him as well and started training with Hal's schedule, but Fitzgerald's rules. Got a chest heart rate strap to be as accurate as possible. Started listening to running podcasts to help keep me motivated and focused.

All this led to me running a 1:37:50 half in January and a 3:27:50 full in March. A PR of 30 min! (Both those were my first times wearing valorflys)

When I got back from Japan I was in a car crash that led to me not running for a month, then injured myself trying to ramp back up too fast. Then had liver surgery in June.

I just finished my second week back running. I hit 23 miles this week at an average pace of about 11:30 a mile. It's frustrating how slow I have gotten. I am incorporating a strength routine and lots of core work as I ease back into things. Hopefully all goes well and I start Pete Pfitzinger's Half Marathon schedule 1 (from his book "Faster Road Racing") September 11th.

Want to finish out the year running 40mpw regularly. Hoping to hear in October if I have a charity spot for London in April.

I post often on the daily so I figure I should post here. Back in 2013 I decided to pick up running as an easy to start form of exercise and I wanted to set an example for my kids. That year I ran a 5k race and was happy with how it went so I started increasing mileage and intensity without a plan. Ended up hurting myself in the process. I didnt lace up for a long time.

2022 came around, and this time with my kids older and observing my sedentary lifestyle, I decided to pick up running again. I was mindful about picking it up this time and put a plan together. Spent 1 month walking, 3 months walking/running intervals, and ran 5k in July. I slowly ran more and more miles each week I was until up to 5k daily. That culminated with running Buffalo Stampede in October. I decided to prep for and run the half portion of BCS marathon in December. That also went well, aside from some calf pain and walking breaks I still hit my goal of under 2 hours.

Since then I have built up my base mileage to 40 MPW and ramped up pace with an eye on the full marathon this December. In a few weeks I will transition to (loosely) following Higdon's intermediate 2 plan. Currently aiming for 8:30 pace.

Don't discount the value of starting over with a couch to 5k program. Having some structure to the plan always helped me start over.

Swarely said:

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If you haven't already, check out a running store like fleet feet to get your hair checked so they can recommend the best shoes for you.

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Fleet Feet does a lot of things for runners, but I have never seen them be all that concerned about one's hair.

Type gait a couple hundred times over the next couple of weeks, and the autocorrect machine learning might catch on.