How much is too much

[April]

Hello. I have enjoyed casual running for a few years now and wanted to do more events. I completed my first ever race, the PEC half, in the fall and I am registered for the 7.5 Fat Ass. Being new to running, I wanted to do more half's this upcoming season. I just wondered how many is too many? I'm not going for any speed records or anything, I just really enjoyed my first experience and want to do some more.
I would really like to do the learn to run program, but unfortunately nights and weekends aren't good for me. I started the bootcamp this week and will continue with that. I need the leg and core work.

P.S. Thanks for running with me Mike. It probably helped me push a little harder than if I'd done it alone. And I believe I won the burping contest.

[Sandy]

That sounds like I missed out on some fun at boot camp!

April after running with you on the trails you are way beyond the learn to run group, bootcamp is probably a good place for the winter.  As far as how many halfs can you do a year?  That answer depends on how long you have been running and how many halfs you have done.  Based on the fact that PEC was your first, I would recommend for 2009/2010 no more than two each year, one in the spring and one in the fall.  After that if you have stayed injury free you could do them more frequently if you desired. 

Remember a few things though.  It takes years for your body to adapt so that it can handle the rigors of running distance and staying injury free, don't rush it, enjoy the process.  You are currently working off the high of a great running experience which is wonderful, but don't let it suck you in to the too much process.  Smaller races such as 5-10k's are good to do so that you can maintain some speed and proper running form as well as they are short enough that you can recover quickly from so you can race these more frequently.

Hopefully some of the other runners will weigh in on what their experiences have been with training and racing for the longer distances.  They are loads of fun and very satisfying as you have discovered, they also take up loads of time and can be addictive.

Happy running!

[chattyfeet]

couldn't agree with Sandy more!  I took up running after the birth of my first child, almost 12 yrs ago, in '97.  I was 28.  I was relatively fit, but had only done aerobics classes, and had only quit smoking two years previous.    So I ran my first half marathon in the spring of 97, and loved it.  I ran my second half marathon in the fall of '99 then got pregnant with my second child.  Took a couple years off of running (but still working out regularly...aerobics and spinning classes) because I had a third child only a year and a half later!  Then I ran my third half marathon in 2002, about a year after the birth of my last child.   I decided that since the birthing years were officially over, I'd tackle more half marathons, and I did one each spring in '03, '04 and '05.  So basically one a year.  In Jan. of '06 I decided to tackle a full, in Ottawa in spring.  So I did a half in Mississauga in May of that same year (it worked out perfectly with the full training schedule), and the following two years I did the Peterbourough half in February, also as part of my  training for the Ottawa full, and I have done that every year since.....the Peterborough half followed by the Ottawa full.  I threw in a PEC half  one year to run with a friend who was tackling her first half.  So I have been doing about two a year (half's) on average.  I am not a racer, I am a runner, and I run simply to finish.  My avg. marathon time is about 4.5 hours, my avg. half time is 2:10-2:25.  I have never suffered an injury from running, in all these years.  I listen to my body, and I never "overdo" it.   do what feels right for YOU.  But always, always, listen to your body!  I agree with Sandy that it takes a while before the body is conditioned for more running.  For example this summer I took the entire summer off...didn't run ONCE in July or Aug.  By the time I got back to running first of Sept. I hadn't run in 10 weeks.  My first run was only 3 miles long and I was ready to quit by the end of it!  But it didn't take me long at all to "get back into it" so to speak, and I  prepared for the Niagara Falls half marathon on Oct. 26 in only 6 weeks.  I had a great run and felt great for the whole thing. I could never have done such a thing 10 years ago...probably not even 5 years ago....but every year I find my conditioning gets better and better.

[The Moose1]

I agree.  Listen to the people who haven't been injured, and not me.
As a new runner you need to remember that many of the people you are running with have a great deal more experience, but also a great deal more conditioning.  It's very difficult for some of us to remember what it was like when we started out (for me it was more than 20 years ago.) and might be giving advice on what we think is easy now.  Those suggestions may not be realistic for where you are in your development, or your goals.  Even runners who have been away from the sport have a certain amount of "muscle memory" that allows them to do things that should be difficult for you.  Don't forget, I started running at 16, and never ran farther than 10 kms until I started training for my first full marathon, 18 years later.  Honestly I thought running a 1/2 in your first year was amazing, maybe even foolish.  I wouldn't recommend that to anyone.  Having said that, I congratulate you for pulling it off, and in a good time.  Like I said, amazing.

Random thoughts:
Set goals that are difficult, but not unlikely (eg. a 15 minute 3 km run may be difficult, but if you seriously doubt you can run the same pace for 5k, then run the 3k and work up to the 5 as it gets easier)

Remember to alternate easy and hard days.

Rest days are part of the process, your body needs them, take them.

Take it easy when you're tired, sloppy running is a great way to get hurt.

It's easier to concentrate on form when you aren't watching the time.  Slow down and go faster (better form leads to better times, not the other way around.)

Now that the white stuff is here, be very careful, and get some shoes that you can put screws into.  Call me and I'll show you how.

OR, if you want to push really hard, and risk being injured alot (like me), come along with me, or listen to Tim.

Peace,

Mike

P.S.  You're welcome, I had a great time.  And yes, you definitely won that contest.

[chattyfeet]

good point re: rest days.  Why does it take new runners so long to "get it?".  Just like the taper, I now fully appreciate, enjoy, and must have rest days, ESP. before my long runs during marathon or half marathon training.  I'm sure all (or most) runners will agree that they have their best runs after a day of rest.  Even two days of rest makes a long run feel better.  I have a friend who trained for her first half marathon with me and even though I told her all of this, she kept going for runs (long-ish ones at that!) the day before our long runs!  Drove me crazy that she wouldn't listen to someone who has been running half's for 12 years! (and 3 fulls)  So finally after we started training for her second half, a year later, she decided to listen to me and tried it.  And during our run she said, "you know you were right, the long run IS easier if you don't run the day before...".  I wanted to scream "DUUUUUUH!"