Just found this thread and after reading several posts thought it would be great to join in! I'm currently training for my first half-marathon too...the Rock and Roll in San Antonio in November. I was excited to see others training for it also. I just started running back in March (very slowly getting back in shape) and just decided last week to set a goal of doing a marathon at age 40. Thought it might be smarter to train for the half first and posssibly go for the full in Austin early next year. I've got four kiddos and now that my youngest (twins) are 4, I'm finally feeling like I can get out and do something for ME!! I agree with everyone that proper shoes can make all the difference. I got my first pair in March and suffered some from minor aches and recently...painful shin splints. Felt like I couldn't run another day with them and got fitted for a second pair and was able to run the very next night pain free. Looking forward to the journey with all of you and hoping to reach my goal!!

The smoke from all the fires has been so bad here and running outside is just brutal. I still can't get the same 'no walking' distance on the asphalt that I can get in the gym. A 5K on the treadmill is nothing. I barely even get the lactic burn but put me on the street and I feel like I'm going to die. UUGGHH!!

• Double knot your shoelaces, particularly in a race.

• No cotton t-shirts - or cotton anything else - on your runs. Cotton chafes more and gets very heavy and clammy when wet.

• BodyGlide, NipGuards, band-aids or vaseline on those areas that chafe. Band-aids take some experimentation to find one that stays on. Vaseline works but tends to stain shirts. BodyGlide can be found at most running stores and a lot of sporting goods stores. NipGuards may be a little harder to find but can be gotten online.

• Milk makes a pretty good recovery drink too - skim, chocolate, carbs and protein.

• Try here for a half-marathon schedule: http://www.half2run.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

Len

Try doing run/walk. Walk a little to warm up. Then alternate running and walking for a specifed time. For instance, you could run for 1 minute, then walk for 1 minute. Repeat. Start with a mile or two, then increase as you find comfortable. Over time, increase your running time, leaving the walking at 1 minute, until you feel ready to run with no walk breaks.

Len

Just curious, how long have you been running? I saw that you are the "occasional" marathoner. You seem to know a lot of things about running. So, here's a question for you. I am currently training for a 1/2 this October and have been running 20-23 miles per week (my long runs are up to 9 miles on Sundays). Here's the problem. Three weeks ago I slightly sprained my ankle so I only ran bare minimum (and then paid the price later-ugg). Then last week, after doing serious speedwork (where my body was actually shaking a bit at the end), I got very sick the next day and am still feeling a little off (this "illness" used to happen to me in the very beginning when I would up my mileage) so I haven't put in more than 12 miles or so these last 3 weeks and I feel like I'm dragging when I'm running.

Okay, so this is what I need to know (finally, right?), did I lose my base by not running as much these past three weeks? Should I continue my training where I left off (I'm using the runners world training guide)? Not sure. I'm thinking about going back 3 weeks in the training guide and starting again from there.

Anyway, hope this all makes sense!