It’s a common theme and question for runners but when do you go from being a person who runs to a runner? While I view everyone who runs (in any capacity, somewhat consistently) as a runner, I didn’t feel like one until I trained for and completed my first half marathon. Here are my top 5 half-marathon training tips! 

1. Sign Up For A Race and Tell People That You Are Training For It!

Sounds simple enough but it is harder to bail when you already put the money on your credit card and everyone you hang out with knows that you are training for a half. This adds some pressure but was often the difference between me doing an 11-mile long run or just saying, “ugh, F$%^ it!”

 

 

2. Go to Marathon Sports and Get a Good Pair of Sneakers

This post is not sponsored (Shoutout: I wish it was 🙂 ) but seriously get yourself fitted for running shoes at a place that sells more than one brand of shoes. You need shoes that fit you and can curve to your feet appropriately for running the long distances that you will be running. The people at Marathon Sports have helped me for years and they are great! They let you run in the shoes outside a bit, look at the way you walk, run, and your gait.

You have to walk in there with the mindset that you will get running shoes and resign yourself to the fact that they may not be cute. They tell you the shoes that will work for you.  You try them on, and then you run in the ones that feel the best, regardless of color or style. It’s just how it works but I can tell you from friends who have injured themselves by running in shoes they got at discount stores or because they went to the factory store and they were on sale, that it’s not worth it. Get the shoes that are best for you and you will be able to and want to run more.  

3. Cross Train

You need to do more than run to be in shape for a half marathon. For my first half marathon, I did spin classes and yoga in addition to increasing my walking (mostly due to a Fitbit competition at work). I am training for my second half marathon and have started to participate in the November Project workouts on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays as well as more strength training exercises so that my muscles are ready to charge to that finish line. 

4. Run with Friends; Join a Run Club

If watching Kelly Roberts on YouTube has taught me anything, it is that running should be fun and running with friends is much better than running alone. Running with friends is a great way to hold yourself accountable and to have someone to talk to and pass the time with. It is also someone who understands the challenges of running. It’s a built in support system. 

In October 2016, I joined the Melrose Running Club (Melrose, MA) and instantly found a supportive group of runners that I could count on to run with me and encourage me every week. Late in 2017, I signed up for my first half marathon and the Running Club was there with their Sunday long runs. These long runs were structured to help those training for a half or full marathon.  They supplied mapped runs and water stops.  We take part in post-run breakfasts at Brueggers Bagels in order to join the community to half and full marathon runners. My friend Liz, who has run a bunch of half marathons, agreed to run with me during the Sunday Long Runs and it was a godsend! She was a great source of support, inspiration, and advice. She is still my running buddy for the long runs now that I am training for my second half!

5. Don’t Switch Up Anything (Food, Clothing, ANYTHING)

I knew this and still ate a huge fruit salad with a ton of blackberries the night before my half. I had acid reflux and was burping the whole entire race. Don’t be me! Eat safe foods and don’t switch anything up the day before!

Furthermore, train in your “day of” outfit, try fueling during your training on snacks that you can pack in your Flip Belt or other running belt you are using, train with the fluid you can have the day of. 

BONUS – GET ALLL THE SNACKS FOR AFTER 🙂