First Half Marathon This Saturday

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Teeladog
Teeladog Posts: 157 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I am running my first half this saturday. Any tips from people who have run halfs or fulls before? I have done a number of 5k's and a couple of 10k's before. Despite the fact that I feel that I have trained exactly as I should for this race I somehow don't really feel ready.

Thanks!

Replies

  • kag1526
    kag1526 Posts: 210 Member
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    I'm not really qualified to comment as I haven't run any races but I just wanted to say that not feeling your ready is probably all in your head. Your trying something new that you know is hard so your a bit nervous. I'm sure once you start you will be fine :)
  • gabe_irun4coffee
    gabe_irun4coffee Posts: 232 Member
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    Good luck on your race Saturday! I read an article from Runners World Mag about this here is the link : http://askcoachjenny.runnersworld.com/2010/09/10-tips-for-first-time-half-and-full-marathoners.html
    I hope this helps. And let me know how you do. Good luck again and I think you'll do Great!
  • lovestobaketoo
    lovestobaketoo Posts: 76 Member
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    WooHoo!! Good for you!! Best advice is stick to your routinue. Drink lots of water ALL week, especially on Thursday and get a good night sleep, my nerves always get the best of me before any race so going to bed early is key to me:) I am sure you will do awesome and enjoy the party afterwards!!
  • Kloss914
    Kloss914 Posts: 27 Member
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    TRUST your training because you will get nervous. But once you start running, it's back to basics !!!! Hydrate all week . Don't do anything different !!!! Eat your go to meal before a long run (you should have a good idea by now what it is) and don't deviate. I ate white pasta before my first half ( I'm all whole wheat for years now) and will do that differently the next time ! Can't wait to hear all about it. Once you start and your nerves are under control, don't forget to soak it all in !!!! Enjoy !!!!!!!!!
  • skinnylove712
    skinnylove712 Posts: 2
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    I was really nervous before my first half too...kept feeling like AHHH what if i didn't train enough?? but once you start running it all just flies out the window. The only thing I kept saying to myself was don't walk. It's SO HARD to start running again once you walk, and walking isn't going to feel much better on your muscles than a slow jog would....at least in my opinion. No better feeling than crossing that finish line knowing you ran 13 miles. amazing! good luck!
  • ema727
    ema727 Posts: 18 Member
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    Don't change anything from your normal running routine (new clothes, shoes, eats/drinks). 13.1 miles is a long way to go having tummy or chafing issues. Don't eat anything new the night before either.

    Don't start off too fast. It is easy to get pulled by runners early on. You want to save some gas in the tank for the end.

    When you get to the race get in line for the bathroom. The lines become incredibly long. When you go the first time get in line again. :)

    Relax and enjoy it all. It is an incredible experience crossing that finish line for the first time.

    Good luck and have fun.
  • BAMFMeredith
    BAMFMeredith Posts: 2,829 Member
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    I'm running my second one on Sunday! My best advice is to HAVE FUN. Take it slow in the beginning and if you feel good halfway through, pick up the pace a bit. Also, even if you don't feel thirsty, grab a water/gatorade at each stop. I alternate water, then gatorade, then water. Around mile 7 last time I didn't want anymore gatorade though so I stuck to water.

    I also made sure I kept moving--when you grab your water, keep moving. Pinch the top of the cup a bit so it doesn't splash all over you when you try to drink and run at the same time. And eat a light breakfast. You don't want anything too heavy on your stomach. My favorite before a long run is a small bowl of oatmeal, a couple slices of turkey bacon, and then about 30 minutes before the race begins, a light fruit like a small apple. Get plenty of rest the night before too!

    Don't change up your diet or anything this week, and don't wear anything you haven't worn before to run. Also, there's this amazing stuff called Body Glide that I put on my skin under where my sports bra hits my ribs and the band of my running tights. It keeps your clothes from chafing at all (it feels like you're putting deodorant all over yourself, but it's awesome).

    Good luck!!
  • Whodatgirl77
    Whodatgirl77 Posts: 238 Member
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    That's awesome! Good luck!!
  • catcher_in_the_pie
    catcher_in_the_pie Posts: 37 Member
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    Good luck with your first half marathon!

    I agree with ema727. Resist the urge to go out too fast in the beginning. 13.1 miles isn't supposed to be a sprint. Race day adrenalin will make you want to go hard in the beginning and keep up with the other people around you, but hold back a little. You can always pick it up towards the end and pass everyone!
  • Mommawarrior
    Mommawarrior Posts: 897 Member
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    Just run your run. Don't worry about what anyone else is doing. Do what you have been doing, don't change anything. Most of all, enjoy yourself. You will never forget the feeling you have when you step across the finish line.
    Hope you have a great run. Wish I was doing it with ya.
  • danielleneumann
    danielleneumann Posts: 15 Member
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    I just did my first half marathon last year.
    -Always take the shortest route (sounds dumb but there are so many people that you'll want to dodge around or move to the other side of the road to avoid, if you do this careful because you might be wasting time)
    -Never wear anything different because it might chafe you
    - Don't eat or drink anything different than you normally do the day before or during the race
    -Ask friends/framily to cheer you on and meet you at certain spots along the way - it's SUCH good encouragement!
    -Get there early because roads are usually blocked so you usually can't get dropped off right at the start point and might have to walk a bit.
    -If you've been training with "walk breaks" then do the run with walk breaks. I hurt my knee because I tried to skip all of my walk breaks in the second half of the marathon because I was excited, feeling good and wanted a better time on my race. My knee still hurts and it was so not worth it.

    Have fun! It was so much more fun than I thought it was going to be :)
  • Di3012
    Di3012 Posts: 2,250 Member
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    I am running my first half this saturday. Any tips from people who have run halfs or fulls before? I have done a number of 5k's and a couple of 10k's before. Despite the fact that I feel that I have trained exactly as I should for this race I somehow don't really feel ready.

    Thanks!

    I don't think anybody actually ever feels ready to be honest, but I bet you are.

    Wishing you the very best with your race on Saturday, hoping you get everything out of it that you want. xxx

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