First half marathon?

RubyLou25

How long did you run before you ran your first half marathon? I've been running for around 5 month now and love it. I run 4 miles 3 or 4 times a week right now and do a few miles for time. I'm looking at one in November.

LadyEm06

Longest distance was 3-4 miles. I had done a few 5K races, averaging 10:30 miles, probably.

I'm not a "runner"; I am someone who ran a few times and happened to lose weight - so, it became a means to an end. I don't not enjoy running, don't get me wrong, but to me it's not a whole lot different than being at the gym in a class or riding a bike, etc. But, I saw results with running. I lost 40 lbs via diet and running. I learned of a half marathon in my town (Boston) that was 3-4 months out and on a generally flat course. So, I signed up! I like a challenge and I also figured the $75 entry fee would keep me accountable/motivate me to actually run the race.

Find yourself a good training plan (I recommend Hal Higdon Half Marathon Novice 2, given the level you've described) and get out there. It's a 12-week program, but stretch it out if you have the time. I trained the 12-week program over 16 weeks and that helped me get used to the longer distances, which I was initially totally scared of.

Good luck!!

LadyEm06

Another tip I forgot to mention: if you sign up, try you hardest to learn the course. If you can't run it first, drive it. Just get a good feeling of major mile markers. Those are the little mental games you can plan to help yourself on your first race. I didn't do it on my first, but did on my second and I was glad I did. November gives you plenty of time. I just started training for my third half, and it's in October.

Again, good luck

arc918

Another tip I forgot to mention: if you sign up, try you hardest to learn the course. If you can't run it first, drive it. Just get a good feeling of major mile markers. Those are the little mental games you can plan to help yourself on your first race. I didn't do it on my first, but did on my second and I was glad I did. November gives you plenty of time. I just started training for my third half, and it's in October.

Again, good luck

I'm just the opposite. I like to train for the proper terrain (hills, etc.) but I don't like knowing every inch of the course ahead of time. I'm now at the point where I've done some of the local marathons & halfs 5 or 6 times already, so I know them a little better than I'd like...

Training planwise: another vote for Higdon.

RubyLou25

Find yourself a good training plan (I recommend Hal Higdon Half Marathon Novice 2, given the level you've described) and get out there. It's a 12-week program, but stretch it out if you have the time. I trained the 12-week program over 16 weeks and that helped me get used to the longer distances, which I was initially totally scared of.

Good luck!!

Just looked up that training plan, and I think it would work. Thank you!

nikamar

I personally recommend you to try running 10-12k race in September and see how it feels.
Race (of any length) is a completely different experience than just putting your running shoes on and going jogging.

I ran my first HM about 10 months after I started running, but at the point your're at now (5 months of running) I was comfortably logging 7-8 miles 3x a week.

RubyLou25

I personally recommend you to try running 10-12k race in September and see how it feels.
Race (of any length) is a completely different experience than just putting your running shoes on and going jogging.

I ran my first HM about 10 months after I started running, but at the point your're at now (5 months of running) I was comfortably logging 7-8 miles 3x a week.

in the past month I've added more distance to my run and I feel that I could do more, but I want to gradually add more.

ZenInTexas

I ran a half marathon 8 months after starting running. I used a Hal Higdon plan.

PeteWhoLikesToRunAlot

I had been running pretty solidly for approaching 2 years when I did my first half. Up until that time, I was gradually pulling off the majority of the weight I wanted to lose, and had got in a few 5Ks and one 10K. The day after I finished the 10K, I signed up for the 13.1. You've got plenty of time, you'll be able to knock it dead!

CarsonRuns

I had been running for 3 years before I ran my first HM. It was a success. I was prepared for it and ran faster than my goal time.

KateRunsColorado

I ran my first 5K in July, and then my first Half Marathon in March, so about 8 months.

I definitely think you have time and it sounds like you have a pretty solid base! Do it!

EDIT to add that I used a Hal Higdon plan modified to fit into my schedule. I'm also going to use his plans to train for my first marathon in January!

RubyLou25

Thank you for the responses!

RunnerElizabeth

I started running in April 2012. In June of 2012 I started working on a plan to improve my 5k time that had me with 20+ miles of running a week and 8 mile long runs. While working on this, my training partner convinced me to sign up for an October half in Boston, so 6 months for me. I'm currently training for my 3rd half in October, same race as last year. So definitely go ahead and do it. Halfs are fun! And you have time to work up to it! Follow a good training plan, it helps!

moni_tb_192

I'm doing my first half at the end of August... That's about 8 months after I started running. I've been on a training plan for 3 months now.