How to Train for a Half-Marathon and Love it

You have signed up a for a half marathon – now you have to tackle the fun part: training! Training for a half marathon is very demanding, both of you and your body. By taking the right steps, you will have an enjoyable training experience and a successful race!

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Remind yourself that running is both physical and psychological. While preparing your body for your run is important, staying mentally positive will help you push yourself harder, farther, and longer. If your mind is telling you that you cannot do it, your body might just listen.

2. Have a running schedule and stick to it. You can either create your own or search for one online. These schedules serve as great tools to chart progress (and ‘misses’) along the way.

3. Make your runs interesting. With a rigorous training schedule, running can often get tedious and boring. Keep it exciting by finding a running buddy (who runs the same pace), by joining a gym (to give you the option of a treadmill and track), by joining a running clinic through a local running club/store, and by driving outside of your neighborhood to explore the trails your city has to offer.

4. Treat your body well. For achieving the most out of your runs, eat a light and nutritious snack before and after your run. You are burning many of your body’s valuable nutrients when you run, so you need to ensure you are fueling it properly and replenishing these nutrients after your work out. Also, take the time to stretch your muscles before and after your work out. Running puts a lot of strain on your muscles, and stretching can prevent potential muscle aches and pains. Your body deserves the best treatment!

[soniaciroc]

on 10/29/2009 Great article. I especially like step 2. Once I started running on a schedule I was able to do my first half marathon. Thanks for the article.