If you had asked me four years ago if I could ever see myself running a half marathon, I would tell you “no way.” It wasn’t until the summer before my freshman year of college that I decided to start running… and I haven’t stopped since. After running my first half marathon in May, there were a lot of things I learned from it. Here are a few tips for your first half marathon!
PHOTO: Kelly Rogowski
Wear the right shoes.
One thing I especially regret from my race is not wearing and training in the right shoes. My favorite Nikes just did not seem to cut it. They were already a year or so old and were not supporting my feet and ankles well enough, causing some very annoying pain while training and especially during my marathon. Before you start your training, spend some time doing research and get a reliable pair of shoes. Your body will thank you. No expensive clothes needed; just a supportive pair of shoes and a little motivation.
Be consistent with training.
Consistency is key when training for anything, but especially when training for a half marathon. I was already a consistent runner before I started training for my race, but I still needed to focus on my training once the race date approached. No matter how far you run, being consistent will significantly help you to improve cardio and get your body used to running. I honestly believe anyone can run a half marathon if they focus on their training and are consistent enough.
PHOTO: Kelly Rogowski
Having a training partner helps.
I trained for my half marathon with a good friend of mine, and that was one of the best decisions I made. Having an accountable person is a great way to keep consistency. It also made the dreaded longer runs less boring when I had someone there to talk with. If you are considering doing a half marathon, ask around to see if anyone wants to join you so that you can be accountability buddies.
Don’t stress.
I know that 13 miles can sound daunting at first, but it is an incredible feeling after you accomplish it. As long as you try to stay as consistent as possible, you will be just fine. I find running to be so therapeutic. Though the training process seemed rough, it was all worth it in the end to cross that finish line with a smile on my face and an accomplished feeling in my heart.
Have you ever run a half marathon before? Comment below with your tips for new runners!
