Congratulations on your decision to train for a half marathon! You probably have some running experience if you are interested in taking on this challenge, but you will still need some good half marathon training tips to ensure you are prepared for race day.
It is easy to get frustrated or confused when trying to increase your miles or improve your speed, but these tips will help keep you sane.
1. Know your starting point and do not force yourself to start at a higher level.
One mistake beginners make is to find a training plan or set of half marathon training tips designed for more advanced runners, and force themselves to follow it. That is, they force themselves to follow it until they work themselves into an injury or get burnt out.
You have to know your starting point so you know what plan is suitable for you.
Customize a plan to your needs if you have to, but never force yourself to follow a plan clearly not well designed for your starting fitness level.
2. Make sure you are physically and mentally ready to train for a half marathon.
Training for a half marathon is not something you do just because it sounds good or you want to impress your friends. You have to make sure you are sincerely ready to attempt this goal.
If you cannot run at least three miles straight or you question your ability to stick to a long term training plan, then this may not be the ideal time for you to set this goal.
Don’t set yourself up for disappointment! It is better to admit that you need to train more or you aren’t mentally focused than to start something you cannot possibly finish with any level of success.
3. Set some goals for the finish line.
It is one thing to decide you want to run a half marathon, but another thing entirely to have bigger plans that keep you motivated during the long training months.
You might set a time that you would like to run this half marathon in, or you might set a goal to make it to the end only stopping to walk a certain number of times. Give yourself something to look forward to when you cross that finish line.
You can focus on these smaller goals when you hit rough spots during training. This is one of those mental half marathon training tips that will help you in the long run, so do not ignore it.
4. Sign up for your half marathon once you are truly committed to a training plan.
It is too easy to back out of a training plan when it gets rough if you have not put any money down and haven’t fully committed to a race. Once you are committed to a training plan, go ahead and sign up for that race. It is much more difficult to back out of the plan with money on the line.
Do you want to learn more about the different key phases of a half marathon training schedule? Make sure to read my 20 week half marathon training article.
Are you looking for a 3 months half marathon training schedule? I recommend to take a look at my 12 week half marathon training plan.
5. Don’t focus on speed if this is your first half marathon.
It is easy to get caught up with the speed or pace of your race, but that should not be your concern for your very first half marathon.
Your primary focus should be improving your running and cardiovascular fitness so you can make it to the end before the race is closed (if there is a limit and closing time for the end zone). You can always focus on beating this initial time, but get through the first race first.
6. Use your vehicle or a pedometer to measure out your running routes.
You don’t necessarily have to be exact when measuring the distance of your runs, but you should be in the general ballpark of the miles required for your training plan. You can measure distances with your vehicle or buy a pedometer to do this.
7. Get a good pair of running shoes fitted to your feet, and break them in through training.
This is one of the most commonly given half marathon training tips, and for a good reason. You never want to wear a brand new pair of running shoes on race day, but you do need a good pair of running shoes that are fitted to your feet.
Go to a shoe store where someone can properly fit you, and then use your training runs to break them in before the race. You need just as much support during training as you do during the race.
8. Look out for running partners or local running groups.
If you can get someone else to run with you at least some of the time, you can keep yourself motivated to run through the rough training patches. The problem is you won’t want to hold a more experienced runner back, or vice versa.
Find someone for your light or easy run days if you can’t find someone at your level for other training runs.
9. Move on from half marathon training tips to half marathon race day tips.
Half marathon training tips are a bit different from the tips someone would give you for actually running a half marathon on race day.
Once you have absorbed these training tips, move on and find some tips for running the race. These tips will help you feel prepared on the big day. Those tips will help you actually make it to the finish line on the big day.
10. Add some cross training to your training plan.
Your runs will take care of your cardiovascular fitness, but you should work to improve muscle conditioning and endurance through other exercises.
You can hit the pool for a swim a couple times a week or take a fun dance-inspired class like Zumba once a week.
The exercise bike or some time spent in the free weight section of the gym won’t hurt either.
If you are worried about your ability to follow all of these half marathon training tips, remember that you don’t have to be an expert on running to run a half marathon. You just have to know enough to develop a good plan, and committed enough to follow through on that plan.
If you can remember the basic safety guidelines all runners know, you should be able to train for a half marathon and survive with all brain cells in tact!
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