1st half marathon (Read 850 times)

1. Have fun ! 2. Start out at a slow, comfortable pace ... you can pick it up later if you're feeling good. 3. Don't try anything new on race day (food, drink, clothes, shoes, etc.) 4. ... have fun

I really only have one regret from my first half mary, that was getting caught up running in a group that I knew was a little faster paced than I needed to be with. I had no doubts that I had trained well for the endurance of the race. Pushing myself into a minute faster pace than I planned for the first six miles really made me suffer for the last four or five miles. Have a game plan and stick to it, enjoy your day!

Show up a little early. And what the others have said. When you arrive 9 minutes before the start - the gun may go off while you are in the porta-potty.

Bruiser, First, make sure you run this week. Obviously keep intensity down but don't over taper on your low miles. I'd personally try to get in 6-7 mile on Monday or Tuesday at slow pace and then some 3 milers, slower than your normal pace the rest of week. You should finish just fine. Use first mile as an extension of your warm up. Don't start too fast!!!! Nice to have around 300 calories of carbs about 2.5-3hrs before race to top off carb stores. 16 oz of fluid is good. Don't over hydrate. This could mean some food or if you are like me, Gatorade and gels equally 300 calories. Don't need to overdue fluids and carbs during race unless warm. Sip on Carb drinks along the way should be fine. Drink a little water after consuming the carbs if available. You will do fine!!

Start in the middle to back of the pack if it's a big crowd. Don't get sucked into the big sprint to start. Look around during the race and enjoy the moment. DB

Some good points here. I'll add only two things: i) don't fixate on a time goal. Aim to run comfortably the whole race. You'll enjoy this more than if you go out too fast and fade in the second part of the race, ii) if you can, try to drive the route the day before if it is unfamiliar. It's helpful to know what's up ahead and, more importantly, what's already behind you.

Have fun, have fun, have fun!! Check out the pre-race expo, if they have one. Lots of stuff you don't need, but fun to cruise through. Watch what you eat the night before. Don't try anything new, use only the tried and true. Dress for the race, not the weather. Come back and give us a report!