We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Half Marathon

brianzerfas
brianzerfas Posts: 10 Member
edited January 15 in Fitness and Exercise
So my friend an I decided this Fall we would run a half marathon. I have run a 5k race a few times and the most I personally have ran alone was 6 maybe 7 miles a few years ago. Currently I am trying to get back into running, I am lucky for 2 miles at a time. So running 13.1 miles seems insane. Please give me any real advice. The prospect of running a half marathon is exciting yet frightening.

Replies

  • Starbuck2020
    Starbuck2020 Posts: 173 Member
    I am only doing 2 miles right now so not much experience based advice, but would like to run a half later this year as well. There are all kinds of training programs on runners world that look pretty good.
  • 515TeachNRun
    515TeachNRun Posts: 6,527 Member
    You can absolutely do it! I think the half marathon distance is my favorite! I agree with the previous poster about Runner's World training programs, although there are many other great training programs out there too. I believe that is the key. Find a schedule that fits your life. Commit. Follow through. And enjoy crossing that finish line!

    I had never been a runner. I started running a couple of months shy of my 37th birthday. I turned 43 in December and I've since run several 5Ks, a half, a 20K (12.4 miles) five times, and this last October my first full marathon. Each time I found a training schedule and followed it as closely as I could. My times may not be stellar but I finish :wink:

    Good luck!
  • pobalita
    pobalita Posts: 741 Member
    Gradually build up a base of 10 to 15 miles per week with a few three or four mile runs. Don't increase your current mileage by more than 10% per week. Use Hal Higdons half marathon training program beginning 12 weeks before the race. That's what worked for me.
  • CoraGregoryCPA
    CoraGregoryCPA Posts: 1,087 Member
    It'll be a lot easier than you think. You just have to fuel properly and at minimum make sure you run 10 miles straight one week before the race. My first half marathon I barely trained, but at least ran 1 10 mile run 1 week before the half. I finished the half but died at mile 9 and had to walk the rest. That was because I didn't fuel properly. I had went 6 hours without eating BEFORE the race. Not including the 3 hours it took me to run the race.

    Just keep going! You'll do great and afterwards you will laugh at how easy it is.

    The second time around, I trained a tad more, but was still too busy with work to train properly. I took a couple of snacks to fuel better and ran the whole half and gained 30 minutes on my time. It was a big difference. But I think as long as you can run "some" you can do the whole thing no problem!
This discussion has been closed.

Categories