Okay, so I have two questions in one post. I started Hal Higdon's Novice 2 training plan a week late, but I'm somehow finishing the plan a week early and running my 12 miles training run two weeks before the half instead of one week before the half. Should I just repeat my taper week twice or are there other suggestions? Also, I really want to get new shoes because it's time and there's some good sales going on, but if I buy new shoes should I wait to use them until after the half? Other than having some IT Band stiffness and sore calves at the end of my long runs, my shoes aren't really bothering me now and my instinct is telling me that I should hold off on wearing new shoes until after the half marathon. My half marathon is on the 24th of February.

Any tips would be appreciated! Thanks!