First Half Marathon tomorrow!!

Don't start out too fast, its easy to get caught up in the excitement and burn out quickly. Eat carbs tonight, and a light breakfast an hour before the race.

Most of all have fun!

No advice here. Good luck, have fun and be proud of yourself! :bigsmile: I know I couldn't do a HM anytime soon!

Maintain the pace you feel like you've trained for and don't show up and try something different race day. If you've trained a walk/run method stick to it. Also, break your race into segments mentally. For me I look at a half like 5 miles, 5 miles, then a 10K. Focus on one segment at at time and forget about the next one. Good luck!

I've only done one so far. I would say:

1. Don't try anything new on race day.
2. Stay hydrated. If the water stops have both water and gatorade, I would alternate.
3. Don't start off too fast.
4. Don't be afraid to take walk breaks.
5. Remember to have fun!

Good luck! You'll do great!

Get to the venue early.
Don't forget your race bib/chip. It should be included with your race packet.
Get plenty of rest tonight.
Don't eat or drink anything exotic.
Don't wear shoes, socks, clothing you haven't trained in.
Start out mid pack and run your own race, it's your first race so your adrenaline will be pumping.
Take advantage of all the water stations.
HAVE FUN! You put in the roadwork, now enjoy the view!
Good luck!

Free of charge, my top three tips:

1) don't go out too fast!
2) don't go out too fast!
3) don't go out too fast!

Get to the venue early.
Don't forget your race bib/chip. It should be included with your race packet.
Get plenty of rest tonight.
Don't eat or drink anything exotic.
Don't wear shoes, socks, clothing you haven't trained in.
Start out mid pack and run your own race, it's your first race so your adrenaline will be pumping.
Take advantage of all the water stations.
HAVE FUN! You put in the roadwork, now enjoy the view!
Good luck!

All of this and make sure that you go to the bathroom before you start. And pay attention to the port-o-potty lines, they get longer the closer it gets to the start of the race, so get in line at least 30 minutes before the start. Even if you don't think you have to go, go. It's better than having to stop along the way.

Totally rock it! Let us know how you do!

Can't wait for mine in October!

Hi, I ran the Prague Half Marathon earlier this year and it was my first one too. This is what I learnt:

Try and keep your speed at a constant level. Having a watch with a tracker helps a lot because there'll be times when you might be going at, eg, 8 minute a mile and others when you are going at 10 minutes a mile. Try and keep yourself focused at all times to avoid losing concentration because you are more likely to change your speed when you lose focus.

Drink water at every opportunity, even if it's a sip, because that sip will help over the race. I didn't take any of the the energy drinks, capsules or pod things they gave out, but friends who did said they helped a lot. It's just a sugary drink like Powerade, Gaterode or Lucozade (or the equivalent of whatever one is sponsoring the event).

Make sure your shoes and in good shape and your laces are tied to your EXACT preference. I stopped 3 times to redo them.

I actually fell at about 18 or 19km (11 miles-ish) because my legs just gone and smashed my right knee onto the ground! And I fell to the ground and a lot of people just ran past and didn't help me up (still can't believe how unbelievably selfish those people were when they saw my lying on the ground) but a woman came towards me and helped me up because I couldn't do so on my own (I'll NEVER forget that). So if you see someone lying down or feeling sick, don’t be afraid to help them or pat them on the back and say “You can do it”. I said that to a completely random guy who was walking and he started running again.

Music helped me so much, but that's personal preference. Don't put songs on there that you aren't familiar with but songs that you actually like and enjoy listening to without wanting to skip them whenever (we all have those tracks!).

Eat plenty of complex carbs the day and night before and simple and complex carbs the morning of the race. Drink PLENTY of water throughout the day.

One strange thing to note is that at the end of the race, your body will be EXTREMELY COLD, and I mean literally freezing at the end (at least everyone in my race was) and we were given an aluminium sheet to warm us up. So gather together at the end with your friends and get home, get warm and make sure that you STRETCH as soon as you can and EAT as soon as you can. They gave us all fruit at the end and you should eat AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. You lose about 100 calories for every mile, so if you lose roughly 1300 calories, you need to replenish your glycogen levels and avoid further muscle breakdown. Take the entire week off if you feel you need to after woods. I think I took 5 days off and then started training again normaly but I was still exhausted. It hurt to walk up the steps to get to the hotel reception. All our legs were completely and utterly shattered.

Good luck!

And don't let anyone talk you into the new Mexican restaurant tonight because rice has carbs!

:laugh: So much this!! :laugh:

Never done one........Good luck!

No advice just good luck! I am hoping to do my first half next year. A friend of mine is doing a full Air Force Marathon in Dayton, OH, tomorrow. Is that where you are?

I did my very first Half Marathon this May. That was the first time I did any kind of race since my senior year in high school!!! (My second one will be this February.)

For your first long distance run, your goal is simply to finish. DO NOT worry about a finish time for this one, seriously!!

Start a bit on the slow side to save your energy for the end of the race. Each mile marker is a victory on the way to the finish line!!!

A banana and a bagel are an excellent pre-run breakfast along with 8 oz of water.

Have fun and celebrate each step!!!!!

Awesome, enjoy yourself. Im retired AF!

Congratulations!! You'll do great. The best thing I can tell you is hydrate hydrate hydrate!!! Don't be afraid of the Gatorade, either....you're gonna need it at that distance even if you're usually a water drinker. Good luck!

Oh and most importantly....HAVE FUN!!!