Things You'll Need:
- Good running shoes
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Step 1
Make the decision to run in a half-marathon. Committing to a future race will help you stick to a running program. Find a race within traveling distance of where you live and sign up.
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Step 2
Pick out good running shoes. Ensure that they have good arch support and are made specifically for running. A store that specializes in running shoes can be particularly helpful at this juncture.
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Step 3
Join a running club. This will help you commit to a regular schedule of running if you have trouble getting motivated by yourself.
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Step 4
Start small. Don't expect to go out and run 13 miles in one day. Don't feel bad if you have to start with even just 1/4 of a mile. Everyone has to start somewhere. You will be amazed at how quickly your body can adapt to running and increase endurance.
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Step 5
Run daily. Give yourself one day off each week for your body to recover, but other than that, try to put in a run daily. Even a short run will help build your cardiovascular health and increase your endurance.
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Step 6
Set milestones for yourself. You might start with a one-mile marker as your first goal. Once you have met that goal, increase to your next goal -- perhaps five miles, then 10 miles and so on -- until you have met your eventual goal of running a half marathon of 13.1 miles.
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Step 7
Improve your time. Once you are able to run 13.1 miles, start doing this "long run" once a week, working to improve your time as you go on. This will help make you more competitive when it comes to race time.
