Advice for a half-marathon trainee?

50 to 60 miles a week seems to be very high for training for a 1/2 marathon. Not sure what program that you are following but I'm training right now for a full and averaging 35-45 a week. I'm using the FIRST training program. It sets 3 quality runs per week (1 interval, tempo and long) with either 2 days of cross or subbing an easy run for 1 of the cross days. It also demands 2 rest days for recovery. Just ran a 1/2 last week and ran a PB. Personally if I was running 50-60 miles (with any additional training) per week I don't think I could maintain the day to day routine. As far as calorie intake, I average around 2150 a day and seem to have the energy to complete the targets set in the program.

I don't think you are eating enough. I am 53, 6'0", 178 Lbs, around 10 to 12% bodyfat, and run most weeks between 65 and 80 miles a week without weights and eat usually over 3000 per day.

You should probably increase your daily intake by at least 500 cal per day. Watch the scale for a couple of weeks to see what effect it has. You will recover better from your workouts.

In that training mode, you need to nourish your body and fuel it for your runs. Even if you are still trying to lose weight, you need to eat your exercise calories.

Set MFP to lose 1 lb/week. Eat those NET calories. For example, if MFP says eat 1800 to lose 1 lb/wk, and you burn 1000 calories in a longer run, you need to eat 2800 calories. You will still lose weight. If you don't make it to 2800, you should come close--2400+.

Continue to eat quality foods. Eat a Clif bar or the like 30-60 min before your run. Have a good recovery drink to replenish your glycogen. Plus you should have some cake or ice cream (or beer or cheeseburgers, whatever you prefer)--don't overdo it, but you sound like you are earning a little treat now and then. Even with a treat, you should stay within your allowed calories easily.

Good luck.

The 50 to 60 miles per week is very high for a half marathon training program, even for a fast time. Training plans usually focus on quality of the workout, not quantity. So you will usually have in a week one speed workout, one tempo workout, one long run and two to three easy recovery runs (short distances) for between those. Even when training for a marathon 5-6 days a week, I topped out at 60 miles (I too now use the FIRST training program which is 3 days a week running and cross training on the off days).

Also, it sounds like you are focusing on protein for recovery but after your runs, especially the long ones, you really need to refuel with carbs (glucose and sucrose is preferential). I stick with a 3:1 carb to protein ratio to make it simple and try to intake this within 60 minutes to provide maximum benefit. For running, you are utilizing the fuel in your muscles to drive you which comes from the carbs. Yes, you do break muscle fiber and need to repair those but it isn't as drastic as strength training. My best guess to your hunger is that your body is starved for carbs.

Poke around the web as there is a lot of good information on refueling after running. Hopefully this helps you out!

I agree with the others, eat back your exercise calories and make sure you're hitting your carb/protien goals.

You may be in an issue where you're overtraining as well. Have you run a 13 mile distance in the past? For me the "just finishing" in a first event is more important than time. Overtraining can and does hurt you in the long run because your body will be more injury prone.

Bump.