My First Half Marathon: I Survived!
Monday, August 3, 2009 at 7:00AM 
Surprisingly, running 13.1 miles will NOT kill you!
Yesterday, I ran my first Half Marathon - the Rock and Roll Chicago Half, actually. And I made it to the finish line... My time was atrocious: 2hr 55min, but I finished! Miles 10-11 were super rough for me, but I only took two significant walking breaks. The whole experience was surprisingly emotional: I cried at the beginning and the end. Has anything like that every happened to you? Maybe it was the culmination of all my work I'd put into training for that moment. Regardless, it was exciting! Wrigley T met me at the finish line, which was good, because besides from the emotional support... I couldn't even carry my bag. I was exhausted! A day later, my legs are still burning... I think momma needs a massage. :)
Now, as a beginning runner, I have SO MUCH to learn, but here are a few tips that have really helped me:
- Training on a run/walk plan. I have been working towards building up to running in increments of 10 minutes, followed by a 1 minute walk. My athlete sister Tweets says that by the time I get to a 10/1 level, I should be able to transition to just straight out running, if I want to. Right now, I am a solid 6min run/ 1min walk kind of girl.
- Training run/walk is something many peeps do, but I didn't like the idea of carrying a stopwatch to keep track of my minutes. I also don't own a running watch. SO, I got around that sitch by setting up iPod playlists for my runs. I picked out a one minute song as my "walk" song, something that I wouldn't be annoyed to hear many times over. Then I made a playlist layering my designated walk song in with my normal workout tunes. SO, my playlist would run like this: 6 minutes of high-energy songs, my 1-minute walk song, 6 minutes of high-energy songs, my 1-minute walk song, etc. etc. Every time I hear my walk song, I know to.... walk! "Guilty" by Billie Holiday is my current walk pick - the key is to pick a song with few instruments and an easy melody.
- For staying fueled on my longer runs, I have been undergoing some trial and error. Tweets has been helping me out with this, too. I have found that a Powerbar right before my run helps - then each time I hear my walk song, I eat one Gu Chomp to keep me going. I have NOT tried the classic Gu icky stuff, but I just know I'd hate it. I have food texture issues, people. The Chomps are like candy. Post-run, I eat a banana right away, and then something a little more complex a little later, like chicken. Bawk bawk!
Next up for me - the Dallas White Rock full marathon in December! Sweet Jesus, have mercy.
So that's my Half Marathon story - are you a beginning runner? What resources have helped you out the most?
Advice, Running, race report
Reader Comments (9)
HOOORAY!! Sooo very proud of you! :)
That is super awesome! Who cares about your time - the fact that you finished is enough to cheer about!
I just started serious training for my first half last week (race date Oct. 4th). I ran 6 miles last Saturday and it was the longest I have gone outside of a race environment (I've run 2 10ks). I find that the first 2 miles always suck the worst and then it starts to get better... I'm hoping to run a full next spring but we will see how the half goes first :)
Congrats! That is super exciting! I started straight running and now after numerous 10 milers, 2 halfs and a full, I am finding that walk/run may be a better option for me. I totally flat lined after my marathon last October and getting back into the groove has been tough. I think walk run is a great option. And the Gus aren't as bad as you think! Racing is totally addictive - even if you're only in it for yourself and not to win (which I ALWAYS am!). Woo hoo!
Congrats, that is awesome!!
Congrats!! I'm a beginner runner too. I'd never really run at all before last year, and then I trained (not as well as I should have) for and ran a ten miler last October. I'm signed up to run the same race again this year, and then the Rock n Roll Half in December in Vegas. My best resource has definitely been my husband, who has been running for much longer than me and reads lots of running articles and whatnot. Congrats again!!
Congratulations! I definitely felt very emotional at the beginning of my first half-marathon. Your time was great--you should be proud of your accomplishment!
Congratulations a thousand times!!!!! I was tearing up watching the live feed from Chicago!! This is such a great accomplishment!!! Polkabear and I are still running.......slowly, but surely! Maybe someday we'll be able to keep up with you!!! TTweets sent me the info on the White Rock Marathon.......Maybe Polkabear and I will try the 5K if I can persuade her!!!!
Much love to you!!!
Congrats on finishing your first half marathon! It should be emotional. You trained and all of your hard work paid off. You should be very proud. As I start running again, I'm working on my motivation. It's so easy to say, "I will take today off". I need to set a schedule that I stick to. Listening to music while I run has been helpful. Good luck with your training for the full marathon! You will be great!
Congrats girl! Very proud of you!!! The first half marathon is such an emotional experience... just wait until your first full ;) I was crying as soon as I saw the finish line.
I have some other suggestions for fueling if you want. My very sensitive stomach doesn't allow me to consume many GUs anymore but I have found several different items that work great pre, mid and post run.