Half Marathon - Race Day experience, tips, etc.

Pre-race, turn up early. You'll be surprised how quickly you run out of time, searching for your bag-drop area, queuing for toilets etc and wham! Suddenly you realize that everyone has now headed for the start!

If they do sections, for example, 1h45 section, 2hr section, 2h15 section etc, be realistic with your expectations and go in the correct group.

Dont set off too fast! Very easy to get drawn into other peoples pace, don't do it.

My recent HM (2 weeks ago), each km was within just a few seconds of each other either side. EXCEPT! where i water stopped. Although i kept moving, the water stop actually added another 20 seconds. So only take on water if you really need to. (i wish they'd hand plastic cups instead of bottles, everyone takes a few sips and throws it anyway). Dont gulp, take a few sips. If u want to carry it with you for a bit, when you take the bottle, empty half of it on the floor as you run, rather than carrying a full bottle.

When you get rid of the bottle, have some thought for others around you, and respect for the streets your on. Hold it until you pass a bin (they're usually not far from the water station).

Have fun!

OP- Yay for a first half! You'll either love it or hate it and if you're anything like me, will be signing up for another as soon as you finish. I just completed my third half this past Sunday...avi is me at the starting line before everyone corralled.

Some tips:
1) Pee. Even if you don't think you have to, go to the bathroom. Utilize those port-o-pottys. You don't want to have to stop at one partway through your run. It'll kill your time, plus do you really want to potentially use a bathroom that thousands of other runners will pass and some use? Gross.

2) Gradually carb load. Don't eat a box of pasta the night before and call it a day. It'll sit heavy and you don't want to have that full feeling all morning during your run. Slightly increase your carb intake over the 3 days prior to your run. If you're going to do pasta the night before, avoid tomato sauce...nobody likes running with heartburn.

3) Don't sweat the technique! If you have a particular way you like to tie your shoes, wear your running band or prefer running in shorts v capris v long pants...stick to your routine. Don't think 13.1 is the day to try out Gu if you've never had it before.

4) STRETCH. Before AND after. Once you get your medal, take an epic selfie and smash a banana, be sure to stretch it out.

5) Check the weather. My run on Sunday ended up having rain for about 1/3 of it, and about 86% humidity the whole time. That factored in to how much water I needed. There were quite a few people who didn't take that into account and either dropped out, cramped up, or needed medical assistance. Nothing is more disheartening than training for months to only have it all go to waste by being ill-prepared for the weather.

6) Water! Everyone is different. You've been listening to your bodys water needs over the last few months of training and progressive long runs building up to this half. I have seen people run with a Camelbak and people run with nothing. Last year I had a water belt but ended up finding it too heavy and cumbersome, it slowed me down too much. This year I learned to run with a handheld water bottle (Nathans has some great ones) but I also utilized the water stops because of the humidity issues. If you can run and drink water at the same time, awesome. I personally epic fail at that, plus cups all over the place just equate to me slipping and falling, so I normally walk water stops when I use them.

7) Listen to your body. You're surrounded by thousands of other people and they all have the same thoughts as you...I'm going to finish this and this is the goal time I have in mind. There is a lot of cheering and people who will zoom past you so it's easy to get caught up in the hype. Just remember it's 13.1, not 1.1...keep to your pace. I made THAT mistake my first half marathon and that was a hard lesson to learn by mile 11.

8) I hope you've been running outside. Look at your course map and pay attention to elevation changes and potential road condition changes. Is it all street running or is part of it on gravel or dirt? Is there a huge hill towards the end that you'll have to conquer? Don't leave room for any surprises on race day.

9) Chafing is lame. Body Glide is your friend. Avoid blisters and invest in a stick, you'll be thankful when you don't have blisters forming on mile 7.

10) Eat something the morning of. My routine is a piece of Ezekial bread, Trader Joes natural peanut butter, and a banana. That holds me over until I have a Gu around mile 8-9. Those carbs you ate the night before won't keep you going all morning.

11) Have FUN! Take pictures before, after. Talk to other runners. It's a great community to be a part of and just keep in mind, whether you're first or last, you're a half marathoner. And that's pretty friggin awesome.

kristinegift wrote: »

Personally my biggest race day tip: Get in line for the port-o-potty, do your business and then HOP BACK IN LINE AGAIN. Cycle through twice, maybe even three times if you have a nervous bladder/GI tract like I do.

Other tip: have fun and try not to psych yourself out

Best advise ever!

I also suggest body glide (I use this to fight chaffing). Some others like Vaseline but I like body glide.

Enjoy the race it is a really great experience. Oh and smile there are cameras everywhere.

oilphins wrote: »

This is the last post I will put in here. This is for Davpul and glevinso. The EXACT definition of FARTLEK is as follows coming right from the website and I quote EXACTLY: "Fartlek is described as a simple form of LONG distance running". Fartlek training is "simple defined periods of fast running intermixed with periods of slow running". "For some people, this could be a mixture of jogging and sprinting but for BEGINNERS it could be walking with jogging sections added in when possible". End quote. UNDERSTAND now glevinso and Davpul? Hope this was clear enough English for you in case I maybe wrote it in another language.

What website. You fail to provide the link.

Regardless, your description of a fartlek as a race strategy is still entirely incorrect. I can't stress this enough that a fartlek workout is first and foremost a SPEED workout. One that is described as you quoted above. It is NOT, let me repeat NOT a race strategy for any distance. Just because Gallowalking is similar in description (run some, walk some) does NOT make it "fartlek" in nature. Simply put, you are wrong.

Ok glevinso I'm done with this childish posting back and forth. Im not even checking back to see if you've responded because its so pointless and a waste of time. You win and your right. Now please don't lose anymore sleep over it. ( lol) Sorry Kirk about all this ridiculous banter. Just make sure you do what's comfortable for you and don't be nervous. Just pretend its a regular run. But I will tell you one thing about marathons, when you have people clapping and cheering you on, it sure helps with your motivation and could help you, especially near the end of the race. Good luck bud.

oilphins wrote: »

Ok glevinso I'm done with this childish posting back and forth. Im not even checking back to see if you've responded because its so pointless and a waste of time. You win and your right. Now please don't lose anymore sleep over it. ( lol) Sorry Kirk about all this ridiculous banter. Just make sure you do what's comfortable for you and don't be nervous. Just pretend its a regular run. But I will tell you one thing about marathons, when you have people clapping and cheering you on, it sure helps with your motivation and could help you, especially near the end of the race. Good luck bud.

I thought you said the post before this was your last? And lol. You are so checking back. *waves to you*

And TIL that posting things back and forth about a subject isn't a discussion, but childish. :indifferent:

ETA: He got the definition of Fartlek from dictionary.com. Fartlek is basically a type of HIIT but from my understanding, it's more a conditioning exercise that may be used to help with long distance running, but not something to do as a long distance running program.

Galloway is an actual program with intervals for long distance running.

oilphins wrote: »

This is the last post I will put in here. This is for Davpul and glevinso. The EXACT definition of FARTLEK is as follows coming right from the website and I quote EXACTLY: "Fartlek is described as a simple form of LONG distance running". Fartlek training is "simple defined periods of fast running intermixed with periods of slow running". "For some people, this could be a mixture of jogging and sprinting but for BEGINNERS it could be walking with jogging sections added in when possible". End quote. UNDERSTAND now glevinso and Davpul? Hope this was clear enough English for you in case I maybe wrote it in another language.

oilphins wrote: »

This is the last post I will put in here. This is for Davpul and glevinso. The EXACT definition of FARTLEK is as follows coming right from the website and I quote EXACTLY: "Fartlek is described as a simple form of LONG distance running". Fartlek training is "simple defined periods of fast running intermixed with periods of slow running". "For some people, this could be a mixture of jogging and sprinting but for BEGINNERS it could be walking with jogging sections added in when possible". End quote. UNDERSTAND now glevinso and Davpul? Hope this was clear enough English for you in case I maybe wrote it in another language.

That definition is incorrect. Where did you get it? It should be reported and corrected to whatever website yo found it on. Somehow I very much doubt that it came from a running site. It sounds like the definition was made up by someone who does not run.

https://www.google.com/search?q=farkletk&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8#q=fartlek+run

Anyway, I just ran my first half a few weeks ago and it was fun. Just don't make any changes from your normal running routine and know your limits.