1/2 Marathon Advice

kimd1974

I need some advice from 1/2 marathon veterans. What should I eat if anything before I run my first 1/2 marathon Sunday morning at 6:30? I am thinking maybe a banana or 1 slice of toast with PB. I am also concerned about my morning caffine. Do I drink my diet coke or not? I normally eat oatmeal and have 1 diet coke 2 hours before I run but I have never ran before 9:00 in the morning before. HELP!!!!!

Angiebug1969

The main thing is to not do anything drastically different than you've done throughout your training. I know getting out there early (I'll be doing the 26.2 this Sunday...) is a change, but as far as nutrition... stick with what you've been doing. If you drink coffe usually on a day that you run, it's not going to hurt race day. If you eat oatmeal generally, I'd stick with that.

Personally, before every race, I fuel with half a cinnamon raisin bagel with a little PB. That works for me! But I make sure I'm not eating right before the start... 6:30 is mighty early!! So I'm guessing, I'll be in bed EARLY Saturday night... and up by, oh, 4am.

Above all... ENJOY your morning Sunday!! And Congrats on your first 1/2 Mary!! :bigsmile:

Angie

CharmingCherry

I'm not a veteran but when I did my half marathon, I had a banana and energy drink before. This got me through ok.

bunnysone

have you run other events before, like 10km events? I'm running my first half too in a few weeks time, but Im not doing anything different to what I do before a shorter event.

I normaly have a small, easily digestable breakfast early like what you suggest. Caffeine is proven to give you an energy hit, but I wont be drinking coffee beforehand due to the diaretic and dehydrating effect it has on me.

I dont drink any kind of soda, coke or otherwise, I am planning on drinking a few litres of water, perhaps with a watered down electrolyte drink, in the 48 hours before as part of my tapering off process, along with stretching.

Running in the morning is the best! You get it out of the way early, dont have all day to stress about it and you can enjoy a big breakfast afterwards. I would suggest dragging yourself out of bed for a few training runs at the same kind of time so you can assess what kind of layers of clothing you should be wearing etc so you know what you are likely to be in for!

Happy to help you on your training if you like as I need all the support I can get too xx

Jdigaetano

Good for you getting to the start line of your first half marathon! You're going to be so proud of yourself!

You've been doing long runs, yes? Those 8-10 mile runs have been practice for the big day. If you did one of them in the morning think about what you did that morning and everything was fine, replicate it, just at different hours.

Consider giving yourself a good solid two hours between the "main event" and "breakfast", but touch up with light high carb snacks if you think you may feel peckish before the race and you know you can stomach it.

The mantra is don't do anything different on Race Day that you don't have to do different. Stick with what works and relax.

Caffeine is a personal thing, if you normally use it in the mornings, go ahead and use it race morning too. It's known to be a (legal) performance enhancer, but it can have mild diuretic effects too so be mindful of hydration. The same rule basically applies, stick with what you know works and don't worry.

You're going to do great!

FargoCurt

I have done 3 1/2's and 1 full. My advice 'would' have been to do at least 2 training runs the same as the race day. Get up and run at 6:30 so that you would know how your body would react, but since that boat has sailed. My advice is to do everything as close to the way you have been training as possible. If you normally eat before you train, then eat before you race. If you normally drink a coke before you train, then drink a coke before you race. Don't do anything that you haven't done before. Don't eat any new foods or drink anything new.

JennLifts

I'd suggest doing the same things you've been doing. So for your training runs, if you ate that, go for it! Keep it the same so you don't hit any bumps the day of.

kimd1974

Problem is I can't do the same thing I normally do. I would have to get up around 3:30 in the morning to replicate my normal routine and I think I'm going to need every min. of rest I can get. We are staying in a hotel the night before the race because it is in Cincinnati and parking is going to be a nightmare, I never sleep well in hotels.

arc918

Like everyone said, nothing new on race day. Do the same thing as you did on your training runs. Hopefully you trained outside and not just on the dreadmill.

Good luck and have fun!

Jdigaetano

Problem is I can't do the same thing I normally do. I would have to get up around 3:30 in the morning to replicate my normal routine and I think I'm going to need every min. of rest I can get. We are staying in a hotel the night before the race because it is in Cincinnati and parking is going to be a nightmare, I never sleep well in hotels.

Ah! The Flying Pig! Great race! I ran the marathon there last year. (Profile pic is me near the finish line, it was WET last year.)

You expect to sleep decently the night before your first half marathon. That's cute. Get extra sleep tonight and tomorrow night. Go to bed early Saturday night but trust me when I tell you it will be restless.

If you don't want to get up at 3:30 then don't. Get up at 4:30-5:00. Eat something right away, then prep whatever else you need to do and head down to the race with another item to munch on in hand.

Mainly, relax! You'll do great!

Angiebug1969

Problem is I can't do the same thing I normally do. I would have to get up around 3:30 in the morning to replicate my normal routine and I think I'm going to need every min. of rest I can get. We are staying in a hotel the night before the race because it is in Cincinnati and parking is going to be a nightmare, I never sleep well in hotels.

AHHH! The Flying Pig!! That's where I'll be! So, I'm with ya Girl! Good luck this Sunday... I'm sure you'll do GREAT!! And even if you can't SLEEP... being in a hotel & pre-race emotions... just try to not toss & turn. As long as you're resting, you'll be fine! Please post how it goes, or blog about it!!

:flowerforyou: Angie

Angiebug1969

You expect to sleep decently the night before your first half marathon. That's cute. Get extra sleep tonight and tomorrow night. Go to bed early Saturday night but trust me when I tell you it will be restless.

LoL... very true, great advice!!

guidnca

First half, I wish I was you. The first half is awesome.
I have done 10 marys and 25 1/2's.
I eat a Clif Bar, water, and gatorade/powerade. I choose clif because it is made of rice, easier digestion.

Diet Coke. :frown: My concern about your Diet Coke is that is a pretty useless hydrator. I used to be a Diet Coke fiend drinking 3 to 4 a day. What I found was that i loved a cold diet coke after the race or a long run. Your body needs hydration, Diet Coke does not hydrate. If you need a sip or three that is OK, just don't rely upon it as a hydrator. Caffiene...sister your first 1/2...you will be awake.

Second thing, how does your stomach do? My stomach likes to have about 30 minutes to digest. when I get 10 minutes that is too little time. An hour too much time. Dry toast and a banana are pretty standard easy to go down foods. If you have stomach issues, get up early and fuel. It will be a pain in the butt and it adds to the story you share on Monday. "Yeah I did a 1/2 that is why I am a little slow and I am tired. Got up at 3AM and then ran 13.1 miles. What did you do on Sunday? Ohh, sat on the couch and watched the NBA playoffs...sounds like a big deal.":laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Have fun at the Flying Pig, it is one of the one's that is on my radar to do.

rybo

Not much more I can say that already hasn't been said.

I got really excited reading all the posts as my 1st full is in 16 days. I have planned & re-planned my whole routine. I'm ready for the race to get here.

Good luck!

kimd1974

Thanks so much for all the great advice. I love this site! I will drag myself up a little early and make sure I drink plenty of water the day and night before, maybe a 1/2 diet coke. I only drink one diet coke a day and it is first thing in the morning, it's my coffee. I think I'm going with toast and some PB. I did walk a 1/2 marathon last year with no problems but it was later in the day and running is a lot more exhausting than walking.

kimd1974

Problem is I can't do the same thing I normally do. I would have to get up around 3:30 in the morning to replicate my normal routine and I think I'm going to need every min. of rest I can get. We are staying in a hotel the night before the race because it is in Cincinnati and parking is going to be a nightmare, I never sleep well in hotels.

AHHH! The Flying Pig!! That's where I'll be! So, I'm with ya Girl! Good luck this Sunday... I'm sure you'll do GREAT!! And even if you can't SLEEP... being in a hotel & pre-race emotions... just try to not toss & turn. As long as you're resting, you'll be fine! Please post how it goes, or blog about it!!

:flowerforyou: Angie

Let's hope for nice weather! Good Luck to you too.

voom1396

It sounds like everyone gave you the advice you need, so I just want to say Good Luck with your 1/2 in Cincy!