A few weeks ago, Ashlee and I signed up for a half marathon here in Houston. This will be my 3rd half-marathon and Ashlee’s 5th, with all 3 of mine being ones that we’ve run together. If you’re looking to run your first half marathon, this post is for you. We’ll cover how to train for a half marathon for beginners.
Neither Ashlee or myself are running experts. However, I’ve trained in both of the weather extremes. In DC, we trained in the sometimes ridiculously cold winter months of January and February. And now here in Houston, we’re at the opposite end of the spectrum with the heat and humidity in August and September.
How to Train for a Half Marathon for Beginners
When you’re preparing for a half marathon, here are some helpful tips that have made the training process and race much easier.
Find the Right Gear
It has taken me 3 half marathons to find the gear that works for me. After finally tracking down a pair of shorts that work, I’ve got a kit that I can recommend.
My kit looks like this: Nike Men’s Air Zoom Pegasus 34 shoes (newer models available), Nike Everyday Plus Cushion are my go-to socks, Under Armour HeatGear Armour Mid compression shorts, Bonobos Unlined Core Shorts, and an Apple Watch.
Queue Up A Playlist/Podcast
Some runners like to run without music. For me, that’s a deal breaker. I like to have tunes or a podcast going at all times. I’ve found that I can focus on the music or podcast, which helps me forget about the distance that I’m running.
On the music front, St. Lucia, Dave Matthews, and Iration is what I’ve been listening to lately. For podcasts, Travel Is Free, Saverocity Observation Deck, Award Travel 101, and Miles to Go have kept me occupied.
Stick to a Schedule
With my current job, I’m on the road a lot. As anyone who is in and out of town knows, it’s easy to skip a workout. You’re tired after flying or driving around the country, and the last thing you want to do is exercise.
For me, I’ve found that the Hal Higdon training guide keeps me on track. For similar reasons as to why I find value in having my trainer, Mike Vacanti, send me weekly personalized workout guides, it’s harder for me to fall off track if I have something in writing to follow. Ashlee and I are using the Novice 2 Half Marathon Training guide by Hal Higdon. We’ve used the Hal Higdon training schedules for every half marathon race we’ve run.
Prioritize the Long Runs
The Hal Higdon guides put your long runs on the weekend. For us, that meant we needed to decide if we’d rather run on Saturday or Sunday.
With this race being in the fall, Saturday morning makes the most sense for us for a couple of reasons. One, running in the morning is ideal with the hot temperatures and high humidity in Houston. Two, getting the long run in on Saturday morning frees up the rest of the day and Sunday to indulge in football watching. You don’t want to miss the long runs – this is where you build mental stamina. The most challenging part of a half marathon for me is the mile 6-10 stretch. Weekend runs are what help me power through this part of the race.
Reward the Long Distance Runs
Our current training schedule had us run 4.0 miles for our first long run. Since then, we’ve added 1.0 mile to that number every week. As the long runs get longer in distance, it’s helpful (and fun) to add a little incentive to the run.
For us, we use coffee and breakfast. There’s no shortage of coffee shops in the Heights (our neighborhood) in Houston. When we’re laying out our route, we plan our route to end at a coffee shop to give us something to look forward to during the run.
Conclusion on How to Train for a Half Marathon for Beginners
Running isn’t an activity that I regularly incorporate into my workout routine. I much prefer to workout in a gym, go on a walk, ride a bike, or walk 18 holes. With that said, I enjoy running when there’s something to train for like a half marathon.
