Hello,

I have recently decided that I needed something to aim towards if I'm ever going to get properly fit.

I have decided to enter the Henley half marathon which is on the 8th October!

I have normally tried to keep fit by either swimming or attending the gym but I've never attempted long distance running. I did try a 3 mile road run the other day I must be honest I really struggled. I went to the gym last night and did a 45 minute run on the treadmill at a steady pace (well to me anyway) and I completed just over 8k.

Basically my main questions are:

1. Is road running going to be a lot better training for me than going on a running machine in the gym?

2. I only have 8 weeks to train so I want to train hard and get a fit as possible, I plan to swim on my rest days as I have had back trouble in the past and swimming always helps. Is swimming on rest days acceptable?

3. Most programs I look at are for more than a 8 week schedule, does anyone have any advice for an 8 week schedule?

Any advice welcome!!

Thanks,

The advantages of road running over the treadmill is that it simulates the surface that you'll be running on much better and also is slightly harder than a treadmill at 0% incline (I seem to remember reading in RW once that a 1.5% incline on a treadmill is like running on a flat surface in terms of difficulty).

Running on a treadmill can be better for measuring distance, times, improvements and the like and has less impact than on a road so you're less likely to get injured on a treadmill. I tend to find treadmill running pretty boring so I usually steer clear of it unless I'm doing something which requires accurate measurements etc.

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