First Half Marathon Tips | How To Run Your First Half Marathon

Training for your first half marathon? These tips should help you through every step of the journey from training to the finish line. The Running Channel presenter Anna takes you through everything from nutrition, hydration, long runs and how to find your pace.

↓↓ Got any questions? Or any tips we've missed? Tell us in the comments below ↓↓

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[deskelly]

Even if you are last, you still beat the millions on the sofa

[andrewreinwand]

Really love the idea of dedicating each mile to a certain person in your life and focusing on them for that mile. Definitely going to remember that for my next long run!

[northernninjarunner]

I did a Trail 10k last month wasn’t having a good day. Forgot my 📱 so no music, just a didn’t have it in and nearly 4K got overtaken by an over weight man and a pensioner. That finished me. I started walking and kept going. After 5k the tail Enders slowly ran past me and the tail walker caught me up. Demoralised I kept walking, I went past the car park and was going to go home and thought no I will keep going. Finished the race last devastated never been this far back.
Following week at Park Run I met a lady I saw at the 10k. She said I was amazing and had inspired her to do the 10k this month. I said I finished last and walked, she said you kept going and you inspired me to do it and finish.

Doesn’t matter where you finish, just that you turn up and run.

[fixxmyhead]

This is just a casual run for me now but it wasn't always like that. Just keep running and your endurance will build up.

[neilhulme]

big thank you from me to you guys for your inspiration., I've just completed a solo half marathon today. 1 hour 53 mins, not bad for 55 year old. i set myself a goal at the beginning of year to complete a half marathon. unfortunately in March i tested positive for covid, this set me back for a couple of months, trying to recover and getting the energy and fitness back has been a bit of a up hill battle, but ive done it and i feel so proud of myself.

[ingracenotepianostudio]

This video inspired me to run my first half marathon! I just completed it this past weekend with a time of 1:56:21. So proud!!! I love this channel!

[lamby]

Don’t matter about time just take it easy and finish race safe and sound 💪🏻🏃‍♂️

[mikepearson]

Ran my first half marathon today and absolutely loved every second of it. Did it in 2:16 which is something for me to work on going forward. Now I'm home feet up and reliving the whole thing. After a rubbish year of breaking up with my girlfriend and having my 2 year old son live 150 miles away now this feels like a minor boost that I can do anything if I put my mind to it. Love all your videos such a good inspiration and help with good tips and advice and can't wait to do more half marathons and join a running club in the new year!!

[northernninjarunner]

7.00am Park Run alarm goes off
7.01am The Running Channel YouTube notification
Saturday morning sorted 👍

[kimkearns]

I ran my First half in Berlin last year and my training was appalling. However, the crowd were amazing and there was support on every inch of the route. I ran with my mum who kept me going and I didn't stop, we finished in 2 hours 20. I was so proud and emotional crossing the finish hand in hand with my mum through the Brandenburg Gate! My advice for your first half is to find one with big support! The crowd truly keeps you going and Vaseline.

[olly_evans]

Did my first one out of the blue, I was gunna do a 10k but just felt great and kept going. Finished 2:19 stoked 😊😊

[livieaustin]

I just ran my first half marathon as a 13 y.o. with my coach in April. We trained up to 10 miles in the park. At mile 9 during the race, that's when I hit the "wall" mentally, and if my coach hadn't been there right beside me, I would've given up. It also helped that my parents tried to meet me at as many mile markers as they could. I started training right after my cross country season ended, so I was in pretty good shape to begin with. I did at least 4 miles every day, and also did lots of tempo runs and hill repeats. All of my training really helped me in my race! My goal was to get sub 2 hours, and I got 1:59:59!
Love the channel! Keep up the great work! These tips are really useful!

[phil]

Thanks so much to the running channel team, i ran my first halfmarathon ever today!!! 2:30:22 im soo happy and proud, your videos have helped me from couch to halfmarathon!!!

[suneelvanapalli]

It’s been an year since I started running, my regular run was always 5K, and an occasional 10K, for this year’s melbourne marathon I challenged myself by enrolling for my first half marathon, It’s been 5 weeks since I started training, videos from your channel have been of immense help, Thank you all!

[shanira]

I'm running my first half tonight!

[andrewankele]

I’m 32yrs old trying to get in the best shape of my life for my trophy wife!! I signed up for Platte River half April 5, 2020 and the Colorado Marathon May 3rd, 2020! The furthest I’ve ran is 7 miles up and down green mountain gaining 1098 in elevation, felt good! I don’t know what I got myself into but I plan on building endurance and running 4 days a week I hope I accomplish these Goals fingers crossed!!

[HeHasNoName]

Half marathons are my favourite distance. Im an ex fatty whos still a bit of a chubber, and who didnt even start running til i was like 35, so speed really isnt my thing, but the longer the distance (or harder the run) the more the field comes back to me. Due to this, my masochist brain entered me into a half in november thats entirely up a mountain with like, 1200 meters elevation gain.
Im kinda crapping myself and i love it lol oh, its got cutoff times too, just to feed my inner worrier.


anyway, just go enter one, theyre great!

[anthonyhall]

Been running since first lock down my biggest distance 7 mile, tomorrow I’m going to attempt half marathon that’s my goal 👍

[kennethmbendera]

I run half marathon every weekend...my Personal Best time is 1hr 47 minutes

[logginsirl]

I started doing 5k and 10k races, I did my first 1/2 marathon distance in training last week in 1:45, can’t thank you guys enough for all your helpful videos. It really has improved my running and making race day easier! I’m looking forward to running my first 1/2 marathon before the end of the year! And maybe a full in 2020