My First 1/2 Marathon

Good luck! My first half is in April. I think I could do it right now (except the weather is terrible LOL). The farthest I've run is about 10.5 miles.

I'm not doing a particular training program. I kind of made up my own. I run 3 times a week (I'd like to do 4, and will when the weather is warmer). One week I'll do two short runs and one medium run and the next week I'll do two short runs and one long run. Then repeat the two week cycle. My short runs are up to 3.5 miles, medium is 3.6 to 7.5 miles, and long runs over 7.5 miles. I'll stretch my long runs gradually to 13 miles and then taper off a couple weeks before the race.

I have done 5 Halfs so far. I walked most of them and then this last one, I ran about 20% of it and took 26 minutes off my best time. I will be doing my sixth one in December or January and plan on taking off another 20 minutes at least as I am now (finally) learning and training to run for distance. No matter what, there is nothing like crossing the finish line! And be warned, they are addictive!

Good luck!

I have run 7 half marathons and multiple 5 & 10 K's. I am currently registered for Carlsbad Half on January 27, Women's Half (San Diego) on February 24, San Diego Half on March 10, and Hooley's to Hooley's Half on March 17....I may be dead in April...lol. I will be 45 next week and have only been running since 2010, with some injury timeouts last year. So, if I can do it, anyone can!! Good for all of you who are getting into it...you WILL get addicted, but it is good!! Enjoy it!!

I did my first half in november and I loved it! I didnt really follow a training plan just kind of winged it on my own. I run three days a week with my long run being on sunday. When I first started out I just added a mile to my long run every week untill I got to 10. Although my advice to you would be train past 10! Everyone always says that 10 is all you need and that your adrenaline will get you through the last 3.1. I struggled that 3.1! Also I was starving at mile 6! so maybe bring a snack with you or get used to those gels. I have never taken the gel and they were handing them out along the way but I as afraid to eat them because i didnt know if it would make me sick or not. One other thing I would have done differently which probably wont be a factor to you since your race is in four months and probably wont be cold, but anyways I would have dressed in layers. It was cold in the morning during my race so I wore long sleeves and I was burning up at about mile 4 but couldnt take anything off because i didnt have anything under it. Good luck! With the exception of giving birth to my two beautiful daughters, completing that half marathon was the proudest and most accomplished ive ever felt of myself! Its an awesome feeling!