Half Marathon in a Year?

If you are motivated to do the training that is easily possible. You can get in good running condition in a year by just consistently putting in the miles. You can get in excellent running shape in a year if you seek out your physical limits without crossing the line into injury.

I want to run the race next year too! I still have a lot of excess weight to lose and training to do also. I am terrified! Can I add you as a friend? We can help each other train!

Absolutely you can do it! You've gotten some great advice already. I was also going to suggest adding in some shorter races between your 5k and your half. Breaking down a big goal like a half into smaller bits might make it seem less scary and will keep you motivated throughout the year. Your 5k is gonna be great, and you can use that fun energy to sign up for your next race - another 5k or maybe a 10k.

Another thought - start out your training plan slooooowwwly. Start out so slow it seems ridiculous. Beginning runners often want to do too much, too fast, which is very understandable! But the endurance and the miles will come, you just have to start out slowly and be patient. A lot of people start out by walking, then move to a walk/run combo, then some move to all running.

Best of luck and have a great race!

I started running Aug 2010 using C25K because walking wasn't enough of a cardio boost anymore (unless I walked for 2 hours at a time).

Since that time i have come to really enjoy running. If you would have told me 20+ years ago that I would say those words and really mean it, I would have called you a liar.

The runner's high is for real!
I completed my first 5K in Oct 2010 and have done an additional 5 (the last one being in Dec 2011).

In Oct 2011 I committed to my first 1/2 Marathon.
I got a group together for motivation (most of whom were already runners), designed a fun shirt and....

On Sunday, February 26, 2012 after 3:49:31, I completed the Cowtown Half Marathon (Fort Worth, TX) - my very first and certainly NOT my last!

Get a good pair of shoes and the right clothes (a plain cotton t-shirt doesn't breathe well enough once you begin to sweat)
Commit to the training schedule, including strength and conditioning.
Begin with 5Ks and make sure you do a couple of 10Ks as well. Stick with your pace and don't be ashamed to use the run/walk intervals or just walk the whole thing (at least a pace of 4mph)

The feeling of accomplishment is like none other!
All that to say...YOU CAN DO IT!!!

registering is critical...it's a commitment!

Good luck to everyone preparing for their first. It's amazing.
FYI - a beer afterwards tastes so good! quick carb replenishing :drinker:

I'll let you know on April 1st . I've always disliked running but committed to a 10k on 3/31. The program I'm following is Hal Higdon (he has novice programs for all race types). The best part is that it's not all running and it's taught me to work on strengthening my body so I have the stamina to run. In 6 weeks I went from running less than a minute to doing 5 miles w/out stopping (5.2mph and sometimes I go up to 6, 7, 8 for short periods). Good luck and have fun!

You can do it.

I started running (C25K) in February of 2011. I had never been a runner before and I can honestly say I hated it but my goal was to become something I wasn't. By December of the same year I completed my first 1/2 Ironman.
If I can do that, you can this. Start slow to build your base and help avoid injury and then just keep at it. You're going to hit that mental "wall" at some point during C25K but you've got to push yourself through it.

I remember when I first ran for 30 minutes non stop. It was amazing. I felt so free, like I could accomplish anything. After that I slowly kept pushing myself to go longer and every time I conquered a new distance that feeling kept returning and I fell in love with running.

Remember to keep it slow, the reason most beginning runners fail is because they try to go too far or too fast. Also make sure to get fitted for some proper running shoes and buy yourself a foam roller.

Good luck!

In a word...YES!!

I started running in June and could barely make it a mile. In October, I did my first half marathon and had a blast doing it. I continued my training from there and am scheduled to run my first full marathon this Sunday! I used to despise the thought of running, and now I can't get enough. My advice is to find a group that you can run with an make it a social thing! It will be more motivating and more fun!

Good Luck!

Absolutely you can do it, I'm running a half marathon in April and I just started running in January! If you can find some running groups in your area they can definitely help you keep your focus. Like others have said, sign up for some shorter races in the meantime, do the couch to 5k plan and find a half marathon plan that works for you, there are a ton of them out there (Hal Higdon is a good one). Best of luck to you, the Disney half marathon next year sounds extremely exciting!

Putting in two entries - one for the walking part and one for the running part was what I did until I got an HRM.

It works pretty well, and is reasonably close.