Marathon or half marathon training?

I'm doing a half marathon in mid June. Feel free to add me

I'm training for the Biggest Loser half-marathon September 22, this will be my first! The most I've ran in a race is 10 miles so I'm very excited about this. I don't follow a training program as of yet.
What did you eat the night before and morning of your half?

Same as I ate the night before and morning of the long runs. The advice on the forums and the podcasts at marathontrainingacademy.com was helpful, to not do anything new on race day...wear the same clothes and shoes, eat the same breakfast, drink on long runs what they will be serving in the race.

I am a bit compulsive and always eat the same protein bar for breakfast before I run, then for long runs I start breaking off bits of clif bar every other mile beginning at mile 7. I think I'm afraid to mess up what seems to be working!

That's great that you have already run a 10 mile race.

I'm running the 1st Half of the SF Marathon in June! Looking forward to it... it will be my first in two years!

We talk about anything to do with running, come and join. It's actually a group with active members

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/13157-from-plodders-to-sprinters

I'm doing my 2nd Half in the space of 2weeks on Sunday

I did my first official half last year and was training for a full when I injured myself six months ago. So let me give two pieces of advice and suggest you please read more.

As to eating, it's important. I went for months doing long runs and coming home, showering, eating, and then laying around the rest of the day napping. I had let my blood sugar drop because I had not done some mild "carbing up" beforehand. That's easily fixed so please read about it. For me, it was just changing slightly what I ate the night before (no pizza, but something with rice in it, for example) and then eating something as simple as 2 or 3 pieces of whole wheat toast for breakfast an hour before I ran. For very long runs (3 hours or more), I think I may need to take one or two of those little energy packet thingies (like GU) with me but I haven't tried them yet as I'm building up my long runs slowly right now.

As to injuries, please try to avoid them. I was doing fine training regularly but then work got in the way and I started doing the weekend warrior thing by not training during the week and then doing two long runs on the weekends. After a few weeks of that, I messed up my knee and was out from running completely for four months. I had previously had a tendon injury, too, which put me out of commission for three months by doing something similar. That's devastating because running is main form of exercise and it made it really hard for me to exercise and lose weight. I don't know what the answer is to avoid injuries, but I assume it is (1) run often but not too often or too hard (so build up your distances slowly), and (2) keep up with cross-training (lunges, squats, core exercises, etc.) on your non-running days. I am much more relaxed now about running and if I don't feel ready for a particular race, I happily blow it off and wait for another.

Good luck!

I will send you a friend request... I am training for my 2nd half in May. Anyone can feel free to friend me!

Im on runkeeper if anyone wants to add? PM me for details(pretty novice at distance running, all helps levels accepted)

Currently training for the Athleta Iron Girl Half Marathon....its exactly 26 days away...EEEKKK!!!! :noway:

How are you fixed?

I'm doing a half marathon in September and trying to convince the hubby to let me do a "sprint distance" triathalon in June!!

The sprints are fun. I've got a handful under my belt and have another one scheduled for June 2. I am aiming for my first half marathon sometime this fall but haven't picked one yet.

Anyone feel free to add me as I need some running friends. I'm thinking about doing a marathon this summer/fall but don't have a race picked out. I was thinking about a local 25K in 2 months, but don't know if I'll be ready.

I've got a half mary next weekend and another for June.

I'll be doing my 4th half marathon (Colfax Half, Denver) on May 19. The last one I did was in September, I came down with a really bad cold 2 days before and felt terrible, so no PR, but I finished. I've been a bit lazy over the fall/winter and am just getting back into shape after gaining about 10 pounds and losing some fitness...so I've gotta start training hardcore!

I'm training for my 10th Half Marathon... just three weeks away! Will be doing the Salt Lake City Half Marathon on April 20th.

Although I'm really good about sticking to my running plan, my food choices aren't always the best! :laugh:

I didn't start running until 4 years and ran my first half three years ago. If you had told me before that I would be running (let alone running 13 miles) I would have thought you were nuts. But I just love that feeling of crossing the finish line! :drinker:

I've run a few marathons and half-marathons. Research a lot and figure out what works best for you. I've found that four or five-day running weeks work best for me so I schedule two longer run days per week (like this week I have a 6-mile day and a 5-mile day -- but I allow the 5-mile day to be split between two runs if I want) and two shorter.

Also, it's true to practice on your long runs how you want your race to go. We got to the point where we could run a marathon and not need anything until mile 17 and that was only as a precaution and was typically only a gel pack and a little powerade. But we trained that way, we only had water/gatorade most long run days.

Good luck on your half-marathon and marathon ventures! It's addictive.