At this point with only 2 weeks to go it's a question of maintaining what you've done - so no new tips, just enjoy your taper.

But I do have some race day tips.

1) Don't go out too fast.

2) Don't try anything new.

3) Don't go out too fast.

4) Have fun.


Oh - and don't go out too fast. Seriously. (Not that I've done that.)

And I'll add to the above - don't go out too fast!!

QFT

How exciting, as someone who just finished her first Half I can agree with what everyone else has said. Going to share some of the advice I received here from our fellow runners.

Control you’re pacing

"Don’t go out too fast"

Save a bit of juice for the last .1....so you can sprint across the line!

Run smart and pace yourself

Remember to have fun!

Look out for pacers

Number 1 rule is not to do anything new for the race that you haven't done in training

Soak in every moment...running that distance is special, and something most can’t or don't do. Have a great experience!

Body glide!!!

Be confident in your training

And last but not least have three achievable goals, here are the 3 goals:
A) The achievable reach - best time you think is possible

A slower range that you will still be happy with

C) To finish and have fun

My first Half was hard due to weather and being sick, but I still managed to have fun and enjoy the moment. Have fun and make sure to come back and report on your race Good Luck

Hi all,

there seems to be quite a few of us doing first time half marathons in March.

I am feeling nervous now that we are in the month but reassured too after reading weightloss32 great report back from hers. She did it! with a cold and crappy weather!

So any tips and advice for the next two weeks?? I am going to continue speed work with the running club and spinning and do my last long run next sun but just keep it to 10 miles.

regards,

valentine

Have fun! Please give us a summary, gets me more encouraged to do a 1/2! I love reading about everyone's accomplishments.

OP- I train with a running club and they make us up schedules for training. Mine has the taper starting 2 weeks out, with our longest run being 2 weeks before the half. The next two weeks look like this for my schedule:

Saturday: LONGEST RUN (mine will be 12- think you said yours was 10)
Sunday: REST
Monday: 4
Tuesday:3
Wednesday: 6 (tempo)
Thursday: REST
Friday: 4
Saturday: 6
Sunday:REST
Monday: 4
Tuesday:4
Wednesday: 3.5 (tempo)
Thursady: REST
Friday: 3
Saturday: HALF MARATHON


Hope that helps as an example- I'm sure your schedule will look different.

During a taper, rest more if you think you need it. Do NOT run more if you think you need it. Basically, you take your longest mileage week (ex- for me it's 31 miles) and then the next week (first week of taper) you run 2/3ish of that mileage, then the next week, you just do a few light and easy runs, with maybe one short tempo to keep those fast-twitch muscles ready.

I suggest a light run the day before your half marathon to keep your legs fresh and loose.

Have a blast in the last of your training and go out and kill that half!

Weightloss32 I know you were ill before your 1/2, but what do you recommend for the taper? remember I am a complete and utter novice I only ran my first race last summer so really don't know what I am doing...

i did two short runs taper week, I think one was like 1.5 mile and the other was two. Like you said I was sick so I was just trying to keep my legs in movement so that I would not get stiff. Like someone told me the reason for the taper is just to make sure your legs do not get stiff and not do any hard runs.

I was following this plan
http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51312/Half-Marathon-Novice-2-Training-Program

I did not do the three runs and I made sure to have Thursday and Friday as rest days since my half was on Saturday.

Good luck and cannot wait to read your full report.