Training for 6.2 mile road race, 6-month goal coming up. How to train?

[Heather I 500]

Okay, I was sleeved 9/19, and there is a local St. Patrick's road race on my 6-month anniversary that I'd LOVE to run/walk to Celebrate my anniversary.

It's 6.2 miles. Four years ago I jogged a 5k pretty easily at a slow 11-minute pace, which was fine with me. My goal was just to RUN the whole thing and make no stops. Aside from an emergency pee break, I did it and felt great.

Another kid, three years later, and -30 lbs from when I ran back then, I'm debating singing up for it and, if I do, how do I train for it?

I just recently rejoined the gym and am spinning 2x a week and doing Pump class 2x a week. I live in the Northeast, so it's been cold and rainy all winter long. I can't count on good weather to get outside until very late February, which only leaves about a month to train outside.

I also have two kids, 3 and 4, who I have to figure out how to incorporate them into running for training. I do have a double jogging stroller and a nice bike path in town that's 3.5 miles. However, it's not maintained for snow/ice, so only passable when dry for several days in a row. Not trying to make excuses, but want to also be realistic.

I can take the kids to the gym with me and use the treadmill, just didn't know if that's okay for running training since the terrain is so different?

Thoughts? Tips? I think this would be an awesome celebration of my anniversary, but I don't want to sink my battleship and end up hating doing the race. I'm not at all interested in a fast time or anything, just would like to consistently jog the whole race (which has some steep hills.) That, to me, would be a huge accomplishment.

What do you think? Doable? If so, what should I be doing? Length/miles/time/occurrence per week to train?

Edited January 26, 2017 by Heather I

[JamieLogical 8,684]

If you haven't already, you should look into Couch to 10k. That's a GREAT program that gets you up to running a 10k without stopping in 12 weeks if you stick to the schedule. You can also start a couple "weeks" into it if the first few week's workouts are too easy for you.The issue I see is that St. Patrick's day is only 8 weeks away, so you may not be able to get through the whole program unless you are able to start with Week 4 or so.

[Heather I 500]

Okay, good to know, @@JamieLogical! I have looked at couch to 5k in the past and used it. I guess I won't know until I try and see where my stamina is at -- if I'm able to jump in at week 3-4 or need to do the baby steps.