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

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  • wewon
    wewon Posts: 838 Member
    I did my 1st Half in April. I maintained my energy throughout the run by going with a pace group, drinking a bit of Gatorade at every water station on the run, taking a GU pack at mile 8 or 9, and listening to my MP3 player. I also wore light clothing, a runner's cap, and some compression sleeves on my calves to avoid cramping, lactic acid buildup, and general fatigue. I hate wearing the compression sleeves, but after 10 miles of pounding the pavement I start to appreciate having them on to keep my legs strong. I ran with my pace group to finish at 1:50.

    Eat some pasta or something high in carbs for dinner the night before the race. I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a banana nut muffin in the morning for breakfast. About 15 minutes before the run I drank a Gatorade Prime 01.

    I've run 2 halfs so far and this is what I do as well (except for the MP3 player).

    Eating something like fruit an hour or so before the run is a good carb source.
  • sassafrasy
    sassafrasy Posts: 113
    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. : )
  • spartangirl79
    spartangirl79 Posts: 277 Member
    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.
  • sheri02r
    sheri02r Posts: 486 Member
    Some great tips here! thanks
  • blgerig
    blgerig Posts: 174 Member
    I'm doing my third half marathon a week from Saturday! I made sure to eat really well and stay hydrated a couple days before the race. I just ate pasta the night before, avoid anything that may upset your stomach. The morning of a long run I usually have a banana and a piece of toast with peanut butter about 60-90 minutes before I go. If I am running more than 10 miles, somewhere between halfway and two-thirds of the way through I will eat a few apple slices or some gummy fruit snacks. I've been fine without the performance gels but I am not a fast runner either (about 10 min/ miles).

    If you want to keep up with my running or watch my diet feel free to friend me!
  • IronmanPanda
    IronmanPanda Posts: 2,083 Member
    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.
  • jfcarlson713
    jfcarlson713 Posts: 108 Member
    I just did my first half on Sunday. I made sure I ate well the day before - tried to get a decent nights sleep. 2 hrs before race time I started drinking coffee - 4 cups before leaving for the race. Had a Clif bar & a banana. Other than that I didn't have anything other than water at the water stops. Only a couple of swallows. Finished my race in 10 minutes UNDER my goal! I still have perma grin!
  • JenMull44
    JenMull44 Posts: 226 Member
    Where do you buy the Honey singer chews and do you every get stomach cramps from these ?
  • mestop1
    mestop1 Posts: 54 Member
    Bump for later. Thanks :-)
  • carrieo888
    carrieo888 Posts: 233 Member
    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!
  • agthorn
    agthorn Posts: 1,844 Member
    I ran my first half on Sunday. I had a protein shake + green tea powder first thing when I woke up (about 4:45am) and a Clif bar in the car on the drive to the race (5:30am). Sipped on some Gatorade while waiting around at the race site. Used a packet of Gatorade prime right before the race (6:45am).

    I had a package of shot bloks with me on the run that I started using around mile 7. Took 2 gatorades and 1 water at the hydration stations, and half a banana at about mile 9. It worked great for me and I never felt sluggish or anything.
  • jackeroo83
    jackeroo83 Posts: 32 Member
    Thanks for the words of encouragement! I think after all this training I might have a sporting chance despite the nerves. :-)
    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. : )
  • ekball
    ekball Posts: 12 Member
    My first 1/2 I used Gu and took one around mile 5, and again at mile 10ish. For my second 1/2 I switched things up a bit, started using Gu chomps and took them more frequently than the Gu gels (more frequently, but in smaller amounts). I think I took my first chomp around mile 5, then had one chomp every 2-3 miles after. I think I had 4 in all - so one pack of chomps (1/2 of what I had with the Gu gels). I felt SO much better during my second 1/2 - for many reasons - but one of which is because I never let myself get too tired before I had another chomp. A little burst of carbs spread out over the miles kept me feeling energized throughout the race, with no peaks or valleys.
  • Sweet_Pandora
    Sweet_Pandora Posts: 459 Member
    You need to experiment, just not on race day!

    ^ This

    Karen
  • danag1967
    danag1967 Posts: 14 Member
    You can get the Honey Stinger chews at a Trek store or Fleet Feet or any specialty running shoe store. They are very gentle on my system.
  • jackeroo83
    jackeroo83 Posts: 32 Member
    Results! 2:22:36! :-) I ended up doing a Gu gel and then Chomps during the race - seemed to work like a charm, but I have a number of other things to try based on this string. Thanks everyone for the tips and support!!
  • brookeg20
    brookeg20 Posts: 54
    Bump. I just started training for my first half, and I was wondering the same thing.
  • rebecca_d35
    rebecca_d35 Posts: 131
    Results! 2:22:36! :-) I ended up doing a Gu gel and then Chomps during the race - seemed to work like a charm, but I have a number of other things to try based on this string. Thanks everyone for the tips and support!!

    That is awesome! Congrats. I am just starting to contemplate a half marathon (after finishing my first 10k last week) and this is all very encouraging.
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
    I never heard of all this stuff until I came here. I just run. I drink and eat when I'm done. I wonder if we're being too over the top with all this? I haven't run one yet, so.... But, i have run 12 miles a couple times now, and I just don't see it as that big of deal. I'm not talking about the accomplishment of doing it, but the water, and gels, and food, and supplements. Just sounds like overkill. Just eat and drink when you're done. What happened to that? I see my neighbor go on 5 mile walks with a water belt and food and all that and I thin, WTF. When did all this happen? If you eat allot fuel your body properly, shouldn't you be fine? Or am I missing something?

    I run this week. It will be my first. I'll have one slice of peanut butter toast, as always before my long runs, and that's it. I'll have chocolate milk waiting for me at the end. :-). But, during seems like a distraction. Do you stop and eat? How do you do it?
  • jackeroo83
    jackeroo83 Posts: 32 Member
    Neverstray I get your point -- but the race on Sunday was super hot, so I opted for the gels to keep the electrolytes up while drinking water, and ate a banana and toast beforehand. I think the more conditioned you become the less you need, but everyone seems to be different. I have a friend who can run 10+ miles on a small breakfast.

    During the race I just had this little pack of Gu Chomps gummies with me, and would have one or two every mile after I got halfway. I'd just stow them in a little zip pocket I had.
  • brandyk77
    brandyk77 Posts: 605 Member
    Neverstray I get your point -- but the race on Sunday was super hot, so I opted for the gels to keep the electrolytes up while drinking water, and ate a banana and toast beforehand. I think the more conditioned you become the less you need, but everyone seems to be different.

    the hotter it is and the longer you are out there, the more the whole salt replacement thing is a factor.

    Yes the more you run and the more you train w/o supplements, the better your body is at operating without.

    My last HM, I took water at 2 stops and only a sip and that is it. It was also 44 and overcast so there you go. I don't normally take anything in training unless I am over 16 miles and training to eat something. I have done 20 with just a wee bit of gatorade.
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
    I was grumpy when I wrote that, but I still wonder about it. So, thanks. I run on Sunday. But, I start at 6:15am, so I expect to be done by 8am, so it shouldnt be hot or anything at all. If I pass out, I might have wished I had a gel. LOL.

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