1st Half Marathon -- how do you keep your energy up?

I used Clif Shot Bloks and thought they were awesome. I took the first two at about ~45-50 min into any given run that was going to go more than an hour (~5 miles-ish) and then ate the rest spread out over the remainder of whatever the run was. Any run less than an hour I didn't bother, but my half marathon goal pace was 2:10 so many of my runs were long enough that I needed the fuel.

One thing I HIGHLY recommend is this: if you're going to start adding intake to your runs (whether it's a bar or a candy or the beans or in your drink), make sure you start doing it well before your race. Even though these things are supposed to help you run, your body still needs to get used to it, and shocking your system the day of the race could end badly. Give yourself a couple practice runs with it -- start feeding your next few long runs and see how your body responds. Don't wait until the day of the race to change things up.

There is another school of thought that believes using fuel for all your training runs at the same frequency that you intend to use them in a race doesn't properly train the body to use it's own fuel stores, but rather trains the body to expect fuel from external sources. Deprivation training allows your body to become more efficient with it's own fuel stores, thereby actually getting a boost from energy gels when they are used in a race environment. This is how I've always trained and it has worked quite well.

That being said, I do always perform practice runs with gels during training, just not at the same quantity and frequency that I use them in a race. This is only to make sure they wont' cause any gastric distress.

Whatever you use during the race make sure that you have used it prior during your training runs. Race time is not the time to be trying out new thing.

Just did my first half on Sunday!!! Best of luck to you! I took snacks with me and ate them at mile six and mile eleven...they definitely helped. One of my favorite things to est is gu energy gel- I like the chocolate and tri-berry flavors. Also, my sister takes generic fruit snacks with her when she runs and they essentially do the same thing as the gu.

I'm training for my first half the first weekend in June, and am at a similar point in training. Two weeks ago my training days looked like 3 mi/ 4mi/ 3mi and a 8 miler, and I felt pooped at 8 too. I was a little worried about bumping up mileage. But then last week my days were 4/5/4 and 10, and it felt great! If you are consistent with your training throughout the week your endurance will continue to build up until you taper. I was surprised at how much the last week has helped me, and actually my pace improved all week too. It's like it all finally "clicked" and I feel strong.

Trust in your training! Good luck!

I ran my first half marathon a month ago...it's an amazing feeling and accomplishment. You will have energy that day from all of the excitement. Remember it's more in your head than in your body....running takes patience and mind over matter, baby! You can do this, you've trained for 12 weeks (I followed Hal Higdon's schedule, I highly recommend it). I felt that there was nothing more I could have done to prepare me for that day.
Wear clothes you've ran in before and take the gu....you got this, nuttin' but a thing and major Bragging rights..just sayin'. I am wishing you luck even though you won't need it. : )

Some great tips here! thanks

I have not run mine yet (not until September) but I read that those little honey sticks are great (like you can get at coffee shops) if you are sensitive to artificial sweeteners, which I am. Does anyone else use these? Seems like they'd be hard to open.

You could try honey stingers. You should be able to find them in any shop that carries gels/nutrition.

Where do you buy the Honey singer chews and do you every get stomach cramps from these ?

A couple of people have posted about the psychological boost you need to give yourself. I whole-heartedly agree. I have completed three 50-mile Challenge walks. I found that if I can complete a 10 mile training walk easily, then I can complete the 50 mile walk. After about 10 miles, it's all in your head (and for me, mile 16 was always the "Mile of Delirium", once I was through that I'd catch a second and third wind). I would sing to myself, I would tell myself stories, I would pay attention to the scenery around me - anything to distract me from the physical pains. My focus was to finish, not to come in First Place (that requires a whole 'nuther level of training). The first time, I finished nearly dead last. The second, I was solidly in the middle of the pack. The third (after having had a major ankle reconstruction, and over a year of rehabing it) I finished in the top 20 (out of about 500). I was so proud of just finishing, but I kicked major butt that last time! You will be sore, you will get blistered, you will think you can't take one more step/stride. Get inside your head and find the YES I CAN button. Tell yourself you are strong and you WILL finish what you started. When you cross that finish line - even if you are the last one across - you will be overcome with such a strong feeling of accomplishment. You will be proud of yourself. You will probably tell yourself "there, that's done, I never have to do it again," then after a period of time you will thirst for that feeling of accomplishment again.

Go for it and Good Luck!