I think you would be able to do it, given your prior running experience and that Higdon's program starts where the C25K program ends.  Just take the increases gradually and remember that you're not trying to set any records.

Len

I sure hope you're able to do it. I don't think it's too soon. I'm doing my first 5K in August, and will continue training for a half marathon in November. As you, I feel if I have this goal set in mind, I will continue training.

Best of luck!

I think you can do it, 17 weeks is a long time to prep.  I just did my first half marathon yesterday.  I run 3 miles 4-5 times a week and I figured if I ran at a slow pace it shouldn't be that difficult.  I will say this, if you do it, prepare.  Eat the right things prior and take it seriously.  I didn't think it would be that bad, I had to walk after mile 7 and ran/walked until mile 12.  My body ached everywhere, and for 4 hours afterward I felt like dying, I was seriously ill, sick to my stomach and in a lot of pain not related to muscle aches...I did not carbo load.  So preping your body in the right way will make a difference.  I am doing my second half marathon in two weeks and I will prep correctly, so hopefully I don't feel completely awful afterwards, because that's not a feeling I want again.  I do know it was related to food because when I ate some sugar the way I felt increased about 50% for the better.

It's quite understandable to be scared, but you'll be able to do it if you train properly.  You have plenty of time and, as I stated in my previous post, you simply need to gradually build your miles and incorporate enough easy/recovery activities into your schedule.  If you are already running 5 days a week it sounds like you have a great starting point to build on.  You may want to look into something like the SmartCoach program that is linked on the Runner's World website.  It will provide you with a good idea of what your training schedule should look like.  I also training alone and I know what that's like: it can be hard to get going on some days and you need to have inner discipline, but at least you never have to worry about your partner/s showing up late, canceling, etc.  As for your age, that seems fairly average for participants in marathons and half-marathons.

Good luck and happy running!

Jay

ronica, hopefully you're getting in some runs longer than 3 miles (it isn't clear from your post).  Longer training runs will help greatly in getting you through the half-marathon feeling better.

cjames and mary, you have lots of time to train for a half in November.  With a good 5-day-a-week base, the main thing you need is to extend your long run.

As Jay said, check into something like SmartCoach at www.runnersworld.com to give you some guidelines on your training.  You don't have to follow their plan exactly but it can help you to be well prepared.

Len

Twins,

      You can definitely do this.  I am 42 years old and have been running for just about 1 year now.  My first run was the Corporate Challenge (3.5 miles) which I did not train for.  Ran the whole thing, felt great and have been running since. 

On May 25th I ran my first 1/2 marathon.  I was planning on entering with a relay team but that fell through and I decided to do the 1/2.  This also happened to be my first ever run of more than 5.5 miles, so I had no clue what to expect.  I started out nice and slowly and got stronger and stronger as the race went on.  My last mile was 1 minute faster than my first and I finished in 2:01:07.  I am now shooting for my 1st full marathon on October 26th at the Niagara Falls International.

You have quite some time to train for the 1/2 you are doing.  Just be confident and do the training and you will be fine!  Just remember that you are there to have fun!

Joe

Marykb,

      You are correct.  That probably is the exception, not the rule.  As I said, the only reason I did it was that my relay team fell through at the last minuteand I really wanted to be involved in the event.  I definitely do not recommend trying to do the 1/2 that way, it was more a way of showing that with the time the person has for training that they can definitely do it.  I apologize if I worded it poorly and made it sound like I recommend doing that.  As I said, do the training and have fun!  I am also training a lot more for my marathon in October and hope to do be able to finish it without feeling completely wiped out.

Joe