1/2 Marathon Training --Newbie

So I started using this website and app, it's a really nice program for me to keep track of everything.
I've gained 9 pounds since I've gotten married and I'm wanting to drop it all, get in shape and run a 1/2 Marathon.

Any kind of nutrition or fitness tips and techniques from anyone would be mighty helpful!

I personally like using a sports gel like shotz when I run. I take one every 30 minutes with some water during half marathon and longer distances. My biggest tip nutrition wise would be eat some carbohydrate based breakfast at latest 1-1.5 hours before the even like banana and museli so your body has time to digest it,

Hydrate well and either use a sports gel or some other form of carbohydrate every 30 minutes. In your long training sessions a month or two out from whenever you plan to race then practice your fuelling to see whether your sotmach can handle things like sports gels

This is a great training schedule to follow:http://www.halhigdon.com/halfmarathon/novice.htm. Best of luck!!!

he got me through mine!

I'm currently training for a half marathon too! I found these training plans (see links below), but then got some advice from my kickboxing instructor (who runs half marathons too), who personalized a plan for me. My plan is similar to these. Most important is the one day of rest after your long run. I do a spin class (1xweek) and kickboxing class (1xweek) to incorporate cross training into the schedule. Best of luck training!

http://www.runnersworld.com/charts/hallchart.html
http://www.halfmarathons.net/training_tips_schedule_beginner_runners.html
http://www.marathonrookie.com/half-marathon-training.html
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_4/134.shtml

This is a great training schedule to follow:http://www.halhigdon.com/halfmarathon/novice.htm. Best of luck!!!

That is the schedule I use and it is very good. Very doable.

I myself am training for a 1/2 marathon and am up to for the second year in a row. I up my calorie intake the day before a long run to 2000 calories of good food . . . . low carbs, lots of veggies, and lean protein. I have found that if I eat heavy the day before a long run, I feel sluggish and have a hard run. I also hydrate the day before with 1 -2 32 ounce bottles of gatorade. The morning before my long run, I eat oatmeal (2pks) and a banana and wash it down with about three cups of water. I eat this at least one hour before I run, otherwise I feel too full. I also use a 50oz camelbak filled with cooled gatorade and I have a ziploc of honey stingers that I eat during the run. I have read conflicting literature on whether or not to time your water intake or to listen to your body. I interval run, soo I usually take a few sips each walk interval. The stingers are perfect for me b/c the melt in your mouth more-or-less and they aren't real heavy, which I found to be a problem with GU. Don't fret if when you first start training you gain weight, its most likely muscle that your seeing. You will lean out if you are watching your diet and training regularly, you don't have a choice. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

I like the half training program at : www.marathonrookie.com
It's also got some good pointers too on nutrition. Another good running source is Active.com.

Good luck on your training. Try not to be intimidated by the number when your runs get longer. I'm training for my 3rd half, but it's been over a year and we added another child (hence the break). Looking forward to mine in October. Have you picked a race yet? If not, do that and work backwards with your training. I liked using ShotBlocks to fuel during my runs. Don't do anything new on race day(food-wise) or wear new clothes you've never run in before. Have fun and enjoy it....