Bring some spare toilet paper in case the portaloos have run out.

The start and finish lines are a heck of a buzz. You'll love it.

You'll already have read the more obvious items I am sure:
- try nothing new on race day
- don't go out too fast at the start
But they are worthy of repeating because each one can lead to a miserable experience.

I'd suggest:
- if it's likely to be raining that day, have a throwaway poncho (or make one from a large rubbish bag) to wear before the start
- also if its going to rain take a peaked cap to keep it off your face
- prepare all your kit the night before, pin on your race number etc
- if planning to wear headphone, make sure they are allowed
- get up early, good breakfast 3 hours before the start (but not something you don't normally have), good bowel movement
- drink a good amount of water
- leave the house early in case of traffic - expect parking to be a bloody nightmare
- stop drinking water about 1 hr before the start
- have a little bit of water 15 mins before start time
- pee before the start. If you haven't pooped already, try again.
- some races have pace board markers. Others you have to ask around. Be in the right zone for your pace. It's demoralising to have 500 people overtake you in the first 5 minutes - but uplifting if you are overtaking a few people yourself
- enjoy yourself. It's a heck of an achievement and you're going to love it.

Oh yeah. Lotta pressure. You gotta rise above it. You gotta harness in the good energy, block out the bad. Harness. Energy. Block. Bad. Feel the flow Happy. Feel it. It's circular. It's like a carousel. You pay the quarter, you get on the horse, it goes up and down, and AROUND. It's circular. Circle, with the music, the flow. All good things.

Psycho!


/edit I have bad speeling.

Don't forget to enjoy yourself during your race. Smile. Say thank you to the Volunteers. High Five a kid on the sidelines. Give the ol' gun to the head pose when you pass a photographer on the course.

Beer?! After all the calories I just burned running?! SERIOUSLY?!

I kid. I didn't even think about that when I was determining which HM I wanted to do, but I am thinking free beer will influence my decision on any future races.

One of the running groups I run with is called the Fishtown Beer Runners, and honestly a LOT of the races here in Philly end with free beer. It is wonderful. I don't recommend an IPA/DoubleIPA/Stout after a half, but a nice pale ale? mmmmmm

Also, I seriously felt like a genius when I first figured out the sundress thing.

Plan where you are going to park. Plan where you are going to meet up with anyone afterwards. Physically go there if possible before race day and get the lay of the land. Expect your phone to die/have lousy reception. Relax and trust your training. Eat like you would for a long run, or maybe something light and bland. Don't carb load the night before, but having an extra serving of pasta 2 days before won't kill you. Don't give into the temptation to race out of the gate, slow and steady keeps you from dying at mile 10. Walk through the water stops. Skip the first water stop. Have a cup of coffee in the morning to move things along before the portapotty line. Get in the portapotty line anyways. Sunscreen. Brimmed hat. No new gear.

A pull on sundress and dry underwear in your gear bag will make you so happy, as will some baby wipes. Seriously, pull on the sundress, pull everything off underneath it, slip on new underwear = new woman and no need to revisit the portapotty to change.

If there is beer at the finish have someone watch your split time and have one waiting for you so you can just enjoy the glow of accomplishment without standing in line for that damn beer

Great advice! I am definitely going to use the sundress idea, I thought about having a change of clothes waiting in the car, but if my family can have a sundress in tow for me at the end, just to avoid portapotties as much as possible, I'm doing it.

Beer?! After all the calories I just burned running?! SERIOUSLY?!

I kid. I didn't even think about that when I was determining which HM I wanted to do, but I am thinking free beer will influence my decision on any future races.

So I'm not a total slore for doing the sundress thing at the beach? Awesome!

What is everyone's opinion on headphones during a race? (Assuming that they are allowed by the race, of course). I have been switching back and forth during my longer runs with listening to music or not listening at all, but I am not sure what the norm is for a longer race. Do a lot of people use headphones? Put one ear piece in, music on quieter to be able to hear those around you? No music, so you're able to hear crowds, etc.?

Thank you all again for the advice!

Always do, but not going to for 5K races anymore. I wear Yurbuds because they magically allow me to hear music and hear people around me. The most important thing is that you are able to hear if someone is trying to warn you of something.

Don't be like the middle finger lady - if she wasn't listening to her jam, she would have heard the other lady coming up from behind.

What is everyone's opinion on headphones during a race? (Assuming that they are allowed by the race, of course). I have been switching back and forth during my longer runs with listening to music or not listening at all, but I am not sure what the norm is for a longer race. Do a lot of people use headphones? Put one ear piece in, music on quieter to be able to hear those around you? No music, so you're able to hear crowds, etc.?

Thank you all again for the advice!

I always do. And I second having earphones that allow you to hear ambient noises, such as the Yurbuds. I also keep my music low enough so I can hear it but still hear the ambient noises.

What is everyone's opinion on headphones during a race? (Assuming that they are allowed by the race, of course). I have been switching back and forth during my longer runs with listening to music or not listening at all, but I am not sure what the norm is for a longer race. Do a lot of people use headphones? Put one ear piece in, music on quieter to be able to hear those around you? No music, so you're able to hear crowds, etc.?

Thank you all again for the advice!

In all my local races, earphones are banned. The opinions of the race directors trump the opinions of the racers.

I'll echo the "don't go out too fast" and "get there early." But I think the one about having a good time is the most important. This is a first and you only get one of those Enjoy it!!!! And smile when you cross the finish line!

I ran my first half in July (training for another one in October).

I feel I made one big mistake. Like many long races which start in the canyons here in Utah, a lot of the course was downhill. Once in the valley, other than a few gradual gentle hills, there was a stretch about one block long where there was a steep incline (at about mile 10 or so) which was the only sharp uphill on the entire course. I tried to power up the hill and once I made the turn at the top onto a flatter stretch my energy dropped considerably for the last few miles. Should have slowed down going up as I ended up losing a lot more time over the last few miles then I saved racing up that relatively short hill.

Lay everything out the night before... get plenty of sleep! I got 3 hours the morning of my first, those nerves. Definitely don't go out too fast, after tapering and the adrenaline of race day you might think you can crush your goal time by 30 minutes but you'll start to think around mile 9 that that wasn't such a good idea! If it's hot, which it shouldn't be, but watch your electrolyte levels if you have those issues.

Best of luck to you!

Just to put things in perspective for you, I walked/ran a half marathon last October. Ran a half in April. And I've got a full in November. So just enjoy this race and you'll be surprised where you are at this point next year.