So for anyone else thinking of tackling a half marathon soon, I've got a few things I learned during my experience I would like to share and hopefully you won't make the same mistakes I did OR keep these things in mind for your own race.
1) Make sure you have adequate training time, especially if you haven't been consistently running for at least 6 months. There are training schedules available online and find one and stick to it! I KNOW I would of benefitted from at least 3-4 more weeks of training.
2) If you can, run with a friend, a training group (like from Luke's Locker or Run On!), or with a specific pace group at the race. You hear people say all the time, how distance running is mental and it certainly is. Just refer to my last blog and read about my own personal mental breakdown!
3) Hydrate well in the days before your run and make sure you consume some sort of calories during your run in the form of energy chews, gels, gu, jelly beans, etc. Many of those items are available at sporting goods stores (Academy) and health food stores. I took in some chews around mile 5 and I probably would of benefited from something else again at mile 8-9.
4) DO NOT try anything new out on the day of your run. You haven't tested a product yet, then don't test it on your run! You have no idea what it'll do to your stomach and porta potties are only about every 1.5 miles along a course (depending on the race, some not even that often!) so think about this wisely! ;) This is part of why I did not consume anything else during my run. The gel I had in my pocket was one I had never tried before that I bought at the expo and was hestitant to eat it.
5) Bodyglide. Bodyglide. Bodyglide! What is body glide?? It is your HERO! Seriously though, running that long and putting your body through the same repetitive motions for hours, you are due to chaffe. Bodyglide is a deodorant stick looking product that you apply on your body between your thighs, under your arms, nippes (yes, can't forget those!) etc -- basically anywhere that your clothing items will rub repetitively. While I was waiting for my friend Sonia to come across the finish line, I saw countless male runners with two bloody spots on their shirts where their nipples rubbed raw and bled. I can't imagine how awful that is to run like that. Women and men alike, can benefit from bodyglide or a thin application of vaseline.
6) Wear appropriate clothing for your race. Dri-fit, dri-wick clothing are great to keep you cool and dry as you run and it helps with the chaffing problem. If your body is bangin' then go shirtless (guys) or in just shorts and sports bra for you ladies (weather permitting). Now, if your body isn't bangin' (you know if it is or not) then stick to clothes, we don't wanna see all that. lmao....
7) Be prepared for a shock to your body after your run. I lost my appetite for almost 4 days. Nothing tasted good and I was never hungry. I think the specific shock may be different for different people, but that's what happened to me. And there is nothing more I hate, then eating just for the sake of eating -- I ENJOY food waaaayyyy too much!
8) I took some ibuprofen a few hours after my run and I think it really helped me with my soreness. 2 days later, soreness was almost non-existent, I was restless and I missed the gym. My race was on a Sunday morning and by Weds morning I was back at the gym.
9) All in all, just listen to your body. If your thirsty, drink. Hungry, eat. Need to rest, then slow to a walk. After seeing so many people needing medical assistance after their run (for reasons unknown) I was thankful that I made it out in one piece with no particular problems.
I've been bit by the running bug seriously now! Already looking forward to next year and planning some more races since I've got this first one under my belt. Happy running!
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