Bath Half Marathon - Events

Tatiana

18/10/2011 at 17:52

Took part in Bath Half 2011 and thoroughly enjoyed it so signed up for Bath Half 2012 too. I'm hoping to beat this year's time by 10 minutes at least...
I'm not really a fast runner (my finishing time was 02:29:38) so any advice how to achieve my goal would be much appreciated.

Edited: 18/10/2011 at 18:04

fixie

18/10/2011 at 18:41

Tatiana, at nearly £3 a mile for Bath I'd be inclined to spend as long out on the course as possible to get my monies worth!

I would follow a structured training programme such as the FIRST 3+2 schedule (especially if time to train is an issue) or any that you can find on this website. I'd also pick a different course with less runners to give yourself a fighting chance of achieving your full potential.

spen71

18/10/2011 at 19:43

I was talking to someone who does this and says it is 40 quid to enter.

Tatiana

19/10/2011 at 09:59

It is 40 quid I'm afraid...But it is a pleasant run and the race is well organized (plus I'm a creature of habit so if something works, I stick with it...) that I don't mind that much paying it...

Amy Runs

19/10/2011 at 14:22

Try the running school...better technique taught at the running school will increase your time two fold!

Edited: 19/10/2011 at 14:22

Moe

19/10/2011 at 14:49

................................

Tatiana

19/10/2011 at 15:00

I like the sound of that, Amy

Amy Runs

19/10/2011 at 16:07

I am currently enrolled in the running school bristol check out their website www.runningschool.co.uk
hope that helps

Tatiana

19/10/2011 at 17:21

I'll have to find something close to Hertford...

Tatiana

20/10/2011 at 18:01

Who else is taking part in this one? Please share your training experience...

Edited: 20/10/2011 at 18:02

Rick Johns 5

20/10/2011 at 21:53

Hi I have done the Bath Half for the last 2 years and it is very well organised however I am not doing it again as the cost is high compared to many half marathons. Not worth it I think. They are trading on the fact that it is one of the country's oldest races and not sure that is necessarily a good thing. Rick

Tatiana

25/10/2011 at 10:38

Okay...we've discussed the cost now. Anybody running this one then?
Have you started training? Any tips?

degsy-m-

25/10/2011 at 11:15

Tatiana wrote (see)

Okay...we've discussed the cost now. Anybody running this one then?
Have you started training? Any tips?

I'm running it...i'll start training after xmas!! (im not too keen on training lol)

Tatiana

25/10/2011 at 11:57

Yay! finally a co-runner!
I'm with you on that one, winter running is not always fun...
Are you following any specific schedule?

degsy-m-

25/10/2011 at 14:03

No schedule, just gonna get out 2-3 times a week hopefully. How bout you?

ringo100

25/10/2011 at 15:13

Ran this last year and running it in 2012. I agree it is expensive,but the organisation and support were the best I have experienced so worth the money for an unforgettible day.

The course is also PB territory. I just hope its warmer,though I liked the idea of wearing a jumper and then disposing of it on the start line.

Tatiana

25/10/2011 at 16:02

Ringo, I agree, it's definitely value for the money..
I hope it'll be warmer next year too. I ran it this year and nearly got frostbite when waiting for the start (I might be exaggerating a bit there

It's going to be my second half-marathon next year so would definitely like to shave at least 10 mins of my finishing time...

Edited: 25/10/2011 at 16:03

Steve Callister

30/10/2011 at 16:18

I have entered this one, (plus entered my sister for her first half marathon as her christmas present!) im not running much at the moment as i injured my knee doing the eden project half marathon earlier in the month, but i plan to get a good time in this one as its flat. I got 2hr 8 min at eden and that was very hilly, so im aiming for a pb of around 1hr 55min for this.

tigerrunner

30/10/2011 at 21:15

I'm in again. Did it last year for the first time like Tatiana. I thought it was a great race, well organised, well marshaled and fabulous support. Not to mention Bath being a lovely place for a weekend.

It is definitely a PB course I ran 1.24.01 and hope to beat it next year by 2 minutes. I start training for the VLM in a weeks time and this race will be used as a bench mark to see how by training has gone.

Tatiana if I was you I would start raining now. If you really want to improve. Take your time just building up your endurance. Don't increase your weekly mileage by more than 10%. After a few weeks reduce the mileage and have an easy week.

Just slowly build it up to the tempo you need to get the time you want. Starting now will give you plenty of time, you never no whats round the corner....... bad weather, injury illness, work commitments etc...

Any way good luck to you all and enjoy your winter training. Personally I prefer it to summer!!

JAMES MENZIES

30/10/2011 at 22:49

I've just entered. This is my hubbie's RW subscription, so I've hijacked it! Tatiana, my HM PB is very close to yours - 2:29:18 so happy to swap training tips and moans with you as we head to March! I found a RW 10 week training programme for 1:50 plus which looked good plus an Ironbridge runner 16 week programme for beginners which looked good (but a little more gruelling than the RW version). Am thinking of going with the RW version starting on 1st Jan as that gives exactly 10 weeks until race day. I am currently running between 10-12 miles a week with a long run on Sat of between 6-8 miles and I want to up my mileage to 20 miles per week by Xmas (slowly adding 10% a week). My next race is an off-road 10 miler on 27th Nov which I'm slightly regretting having entered as have found out it involves running along streams!!! Bex66