I did it.
I never though I could, but I trained hard and completed my first half marathon (read all about it in my last post). I would never claim to be an expert, but I figured I would share a few pearls of wisdom for those thinking of accepting the challenge:
1. Set small, achievable goals: 13.1 miles was never the target until it was. Every milestone was a victory in itself and I feel strongly that this played a huge role in the end result.
2. Use the right tools: Get the right shoes! Go on, be “that guy/girl”, the one who runs around the sports store and reads every possible review. It will serve you well. Be sure to wear a tried and true outfit on race day, one that passes the riding-up and chafing tests. Also, check-out the RunKeeper app; it played an instrumental role in getting me to the finish line by allowing me to track progress and map my milestones, keeping me positive and motivated.
3. Fuel up right: The whole “carbo-loading” practice is apparently a load of you-know-what. According to Competitor.com: “(…) it’s effect is minimal even in longer races when adequate carbohydrate is consumed during the race.” What that basically means it that eating healthy and staying hydrated is perfectly adequate. Between you and me, I still destroyed an ungodly amount of pasta the week before the race, mostly because I love it.
4. Do what it takes to stay motivated: For me, that meant an annoying string of running selfies and instagrams. Somehow, the king of all narcissistic acts was what kept me going; a smiling, sweaty face or pretty landscape for each completed run.
5. Form a support system: my husband took every step with me. We mostly trained together and though he could have blown my doors in, he was there for every mile of the race. I don’t know that I could have run the last couple miles without his encouragement. My advice: buddy up and keep it fun.
If you’ve tackled a half-marathon, share your tips in the comments below.
Winter is coming,