Hi Stephanie!

I'm also training for my first half marathon taking place in May. I just got back into running 3 weeks ago after almost a year off. I know that 10 more weeks of training isn't much but it's already been enough of a motivation to get my butt in gear which I sorely needed. I figure if I have to walk most of it then so be it but I'm already able to run about 15 min without stopping so I'm pretty happy about that.

My training plan has been different than in the past when I would train for a 5k. I normally would start over with C25K but I was able to run longer this time than I was in the past so I went into it just trying to run as long as I could and then do a kind of run/walk interval thing. I also found 3 treadmill workouts on this site and I've tried a couple of them and so far they are kicking my butt. One of them has the incline at 6% for most of it. I'm planning on getting more into a specific training routine that I found but for now this is working.

This is great that there is someone else in my boat! It would be great if we could be there to cheer each other on, even if it's "virtually"!

Megan

Glad I clicked on this ....I committed to my first 1/2 marathon race this year for my 50th birthday present to myself.  There are two differnt one I'm consdiering, although I will only commit to one - the Chicago Women's 1/2 Marathon on June 23rd and then the 17th Annual Chicago 1/2 Marathon on Sept. 8th. I'm worried about the possible humidity and heat that can come in June in Chicago. Problem in Chicago is that early September can be just the same as June or it can be cold!!

I'm doing the Soldier Field 10 miler in May so that's going to be my long race push at the end of my training program. I'm using Active Advantage 1/2 Marathon Training Program....anyone use their programs before??

I actually have two half-marathons scheduled, one in March (St. Patrick's Day) and the second in June (the 9th I think).  The March race is in Wilmington, DE and is hilly,so not especially easy.  The June race is a pretty easy course in Philly, with one noticable hill, at mile 12.5.  But it probably will be on the warm side. So I'll have to take it easy.

For the first timers, remember to know what you can do and to run your own race.  I registered for my first half almost on a whim - some friends convinced me I could do it.  Though I ran regularly, my longest run at the time was a 10K.  I did some walking, not deliberately, but I finished.  And I've run another 30 or 40 since then.  It's a great distance.

Len

hey len.....thanks for the tips!  this will be my first 1/2 marathon.  i'm planning on running through the training program twice.  the first time through will end in april just in time for a 10 mile race in chicago.  then im going to restart the training program in june and do it through the summer and end with the 1/2 marathon on sept. 8th.  i run 4 miles each day with a long run once per weekend.  im starting to build from 6, then 7, then 8 and so on....im hoping training will go as planned and i should be good. 

I'm training for my first half in N.C. at the end of March.  I live in Boston and was worried about the snow getting in the way so I started early.  Since the beginnign of December I've been doing a 5 mile run on Tuesday, another 5 miles on Friday and a 10 -12 on Sunday.  I can only find the time to run 3 days a week due to work schedule.  I run pretty fast and have been able to keep some of the 10 mile runs under 80 minutes.  Hoping to finish the half in between 1:45:00 and 1:50:00.  I'm not sure if that's too ambitious a time and if I should be more conservative during the race trying to run a slower pace, ore just do what comes naturally.  Also, when I run the 10 -12 mile runs, I don't drink water during the run.  Should I try running the half without a water stop if that's what I'm used to doing?  Any advice from those who are more experienced would be greatly appreciated.