Running a half marathon is my greatest physical accomplishment to date. Honestly, just thinking about all the training and effort that went into preparing for that run can still make me feel a little emotional. I went from being a non-runner to running a 10 km race and a half marathon in the same year. And doing that took a lot of work!
Before I started running I had already had a weight loss of about 60 lb. I had done that weight loss mostly through nutrition and some exercise here and there. I talk more about my weight loss in this post if you’re curious.
But I knew that if I wanted to take my health and weight loss even further that I needed to add consistent exercise. So to make sure I didn’t quit exercising, I signed up for a 10 km and a half marathon. I know, I’m crazy.
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For a full year, I made running my obsession. Everything I did was because of running. I focused in on my nutrition for the first time in my life because eating crap made my runs crap. And I quickly learned that drinking alcohol on weekends made for terrible long runs on Sundays.
I learned so much running and training for my half, and now I’m sharing that with you. Check it out below!
Things I Did To Survive A Half Marathon:
Followed A Training Program
For me, one of the most important things I did was follow a training program. The program that I followed was Hal Higdon’s Half Marathon Training.
The Hal Higdon program was simple and straightforward and didn’t overcomplicate anything. The best part was that it always made the half marathon feel doable. It never made me feel like I had bitten off more than I could chew. And of course, it worked. It helped me get from 5 km to half marathon distance. This program increases the mileage each week and will keep you on track to becoming a finisher.
Used Running Mantras
Running is hard. Not only is it hard on the body but it’s also mentally tough. Along with running, mental training is part of preparing for a half marathon. One of the ways that I prepared mentally was to use running mantras.
A mantra is a repeated phrase or utterance that is used to help focus or calm the mind. It is believed by many spiritual practitioners to have psychological power. Here are some of my favorite running mantras for you to try:
- My legs are stronger than my brain.
- Think strong, be strong.
- I own this run. I choose the outcome.
- This too shall pass.
- I don’t stop when I’m tired, I stop when I’m done.
- As it gets harder, I get stronger.
- Strong as steel, light as a feather.
Do remember that mantras aren’t intended to help you ignore pain or injury. Use mantras to help you push through mental weakness but always listen to your body.
When I was running my half I had different mantras for different parts of the race. Plan your mantras ahead of time and use them when you know the race will be tough.
Dressed For The Weather
My half marathon was an October race in Canada. So basically this meant that I needed to train and plan for all types of weather. Depending on where you live and the time of year, you may need to plan for different weather as well.
While training, try to run in the rain and cold more than once. I made the mistake of not running in the cold enough and then was faced with really cold temperatures on race day. I dressed properly for the weather which helped but I wasn’t used to running in those clothes. And on race day you want everything to be exactly as you trained, clothing and all.
Practiced Eating While Running
Learning to run while you eat is really important when it comes to half-marathon training. It can take a while to get used too, so it’s important to start early.
Not every food will work great for you. So it’s important to try different types of fuel to discover what works best for you. I tried lots of different foods but in the end, I settled on sweet potato and apple baby food pouches. Yep, that’s right, baby food. It provided the sugar and carbs that I needed to refuel and was “liquid” so it went down easily.
Other things that I tried were Stinger Energy Gels, Gu Energy Gel, and Jelly Belly Sport Beans.
Carried My Own Hydration
I know lots of runners prefer to rely on the water stations rather than carry water with them. But honestly, I’d rather have water on me when I need it. Carrying my own hydration meant I got to breeze through the congested water stations. And I because I was using my own small bottles, I didn’t have to worry about spilling water all over myself. Which for me was important given the cold temperatures.
When you carry your own hydration, you control your hydration. And when you’re running your first half marathon, you want to feel as in control as possible.
Kept An Easy Pace
It is so easy to get caught up in the hype come race day. Plus, it’s too easy to compare yourself to other runners. This can mess with your pace if you’re not careful. If you start out too fast then you will burn out long before the end of the race which would mean not finishing. Wear an activity tracker and pay close attention to your pace throughout your race. This will help you stay on your race pace and prevent you from burning out. Some popular activity trackers are Apple Watch, Fitbit Charge 2, and Garmin 245. Personally, I’m a huge fan of the Garmin!
Didn’t Focus On Other Runners
As I mentioned in the previous point, part of surviving your first half marathon is to avoid paying attention to other runners. If you start to pay attention to the people running around you, then you’re going to be distracted in a negative way.
You might think watching other runners may be inspiring but let me tell you it is not. All I could think of was how much faster other people were than me (and how much sooner they would be finished!). I only allowed myself to be distracted for a couple of kilometres before I realized that allowing myself to be so distracted could ruin my race. I needed to rely on my mental training to get back on track.
Power Songs
I’m sure there are plenty of runners who don’t like to run with music but I am not one of those people. In my opinion, I feel like you can never underestimate the power of an upbeat, empowering song.
Much like your mantras, have a couple of songs in your playlist that are intended to help you mentally push through the tough spots. Choose songs that have meaning to you and that will help you when you need it most. Want some song inspiration? Check out my half marathon playlist on Spotify.
Are you planning on running a half marathon this year? Share with me in the comments!
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I also personally recommend taking an anti-diarrheal pill an hour or so before the race and be careful what you eat in days leading up to a race 🙂
yes! that’s a great recommendation. lol I wasn’t as careful as I should have been about the type of food I ate before my race and paid for it. thanks for adding a great tip to the list!