Most people hate running, but running has brought more good into my life than bad. I have run two half marathons, both while in college. I want to share my experiences and a couple things I have learned that make it manageable to train for a race in the midst of the crazy college experience!
Some background on my races before I give my tips: I ran Surf City Half Marathon in Huntington Beach in February 2018 and 2019. My time for my first half marathon ever was 2:44, which I cut down to 2:22 for my second half marathon (roughly an 11 minute pace). Keep in mind, you do not have to be fast to run a half marathon!
Medal from Surf City Half 2018
Medal from Surf City Half 2019
Training for a half marathon (or any race) is the hardest part, especially in college when you’re busy as a full time student, working part-time, and trying to have a social life. My best advice is to find a solid plan to stick to, but forgive yourself when life gets in the way of a training run! My first half marathon I did not have a training plan; therefore, I was very inconsistent in my training. My inconsistency and lack of preparedness ultimately resulted in a small injury after my race. The second half marathon was a more confident experience because I stuck to Hal Higdon’s 12 Week Half Marathon Training Program. This training plan has plenty of runs but is also customizable, an ideal feature for a busy college student. I did not do every run on this training plan; in fact, I skipped an entire week of running when I was sick over winter break! As long as you try to stick to the plan and modify if needed, then the plan will work for you. An example is how I made this program work for me – I changed an 8 mile long run to 6 miles because I only had time for 1 of the 3 runs during the week and did not feel prepared for 8 miles. This entire program had me prepared and confident when race day came!
I highly recommend anyone interested in running give the half marathon a shot, but it does take a lot of motivation and mental toughness. College can be overwhelming as it is, so taking on a half marathon can be another stress, but if you simplify your training and find friends to support you it can be fun instead of stressful. I recommend taking some of your runs by the beach – it’s easily my favorite place to run and clear my head!
Race day essentials (and fun stuff!):
I love the brand Honey Stinger for fuel during and before runs. The waffles are great for snacks before a long run, but I have recently become obsessed with the honey gels for fuel during a long run (like a half marathon). My new favorite flavor is Acai Pomegranate, which I got to try during my latest half marathon!
I live for the free samples they give out at race expos, because what college student doesn’t love free stuff? I always have fun trying new products and gear catered to runners, which is how I found the brand Youth Theory. They have collagen vitamins, turmeric vitamins (so great for anti-inflammatory and recovery), and collagen powder. I bought a giant bottle of collagen vitamins by Youth Theory at Costco once I tried them at my 2018 race, and they’ve made the biggest difference in my skin, as well as the Turmeric ones, which I use when recovering.
My top advice for training for a half marathon:
Find your why!
Before I even signed up for races, I loved running as my own personal time away from the ‘real’ world. It helps me to manage my stress and anxiety as well as get a good workout so I feel confident. I began signing up for races because I love the way running makes me feel, and I want to be part of the growing running community that is crazy encouraging!
Prepare properly.
Training plans fall under this category, so choose a plan and do your best to stick with it. Do not quit because you miss one run! Before your race, I would also advise you have worn-in running shoes, knowledge of what food fuels you best, and always drink lots of water! Since I am also a Certified Personal Trainer, I know the importance of stretching and foam rolling, which I implemented into my training before and after runs to help with recovery and injury prevention.
Have fun.
I have always enjoyed running, but races make it even more fun! On race day, everyone around you is excited and nervous no matter what their goal is. The races are a reward for the hard work put in, so everyone is encouraging and happy! Plus, you get super fun medals to show off (like mine above)!
My tips are simple, but I cannot emphasize the importance of a training plan enough. Consistently following a training plan had me more than prepared for my race, resulting in an 18 minute personal record, no injuries, and easy recovery for my body (minimal soreness), in contrast to my first half marathon, where I finished the race with a strained tendon, was put on crutches, and was sore for more than a week. Overall, the half marathon has been a fun and challenging distance for me, and you will see me running many more in the upcoming years!