My First Half Marathon: Takeaways & Tips From An Average Runner

Spiritual Emo
Jul 10
5 min read

A few months ago, I ran my first half-marathon (road race) with three months of training and a pre-existing love for running. However, let it be clear: I had never run 13 miles in my life before, and long-distance running wasn't a regular part of my schedule before training for the race.

My takeaways from my first half marathon:

I am capable of finishing what I start.

How did I run my first half marathon, you ask? Well, as it turns out, not all traditional approaches to life are outdated. I ended up going with the ancient technique of setting a goal, putting intentional effort and heart into meeting said goal, giving it my absolute best shot, not taking everything so seriously (AKA making sure I am having fun), and then (this is the best part) ACCOMPLISHING THE GOAL. I know, I know, pretty crazy stuff.
Preparation is essential, but I will still learn as I go.

Last summer I backpacked a part of the high sierra trail for the first time and in the weeks leading up to my trip I read as many blog posts I could find from other hikers who had done the trail. I would never willingly choose to embark on an adventure like that without careful planning. This was a very similar experience. I am not someone opposed to surprises in life. However, when it comes to something brand new, semi-intimidating, and something I want to excel at, I like to know what I'm getting myself into. I spent many nights scrolling Reddit threads, dissecting blogs, and stalking popular runners on Instagram. It became an out-of-hand obsession driven by excitement and nerves. But I am glad I did it. I've learned a great deal from other runners online, and I appreciate the large running community that shares its experiences in detail. I can genuinely say that I felt as prepared as I could be. However, that doesn’t mean I wasn’t in for some beautiful learning lessons on race day. That is the entire essence of doing something for the first time. You walk away with new knowledge and experiences that set you up for continuous growth and confidence to take on the next goal. My advice would be to prepare, learn from others, get inspired by others, but stay completely open to making mistakes. Just as I say in class as a yoga teacher, we are not looking for perfection or mastery; we are looking to strengthen our practice, learn something new about ourselves, and experience joy.
Being nervous means I am doing something right.

I think this one is pretty self-explanatory. When you have a knot in your stomach or butterflies making your head spin, you’re most likely on the brink of expansion. I have learned to not only tolerate nerves but to be pretty damn grateful for them. It’s become a superpower. “Feel the fear and do it anyway.” Nothing makes you feel like more of a badass than finding out what’s on the OTHER side of that wall you built in your mind.
It doesn’t matter how I do it as long as I do it.

Over 500 people completed the race that day. Every single person did it. All finishing at different times. Everyone had their own unique experience. If you're running for yourself, comparison to others is unnecessary. You're doing your own thing, and that's a level of comfort that comes in handy on race day.
COMMUNITY IS EVERYTHING.

I have always known that I would run a half marathon one day. I have always loved running. But it was always a “one-day” type of thing. Even more so, as often as I imagined myself meeting this goal, I never imagined myself meeting it alongside some amazing women who motivate me, inspire me, and bring so much love into my life daily. If not for these people, I would still be talking about running a half in the future tense. What makes it even better is that we all share the same passion: yoga. We all met through yoga. We take each other’s classes and practice side-by-side on our mats. We bonded over yoga long before the “Let’s run a half marathon” pitch entered the energetic sphere. Yoga means union. It’s connection. It is a way of living off the mat and practicing love, consistency, and accountability. Time and again, yoga has proven to be the foundation of my health and happiness. And it brings people into my life that amplify it all. The commitment to this race took shape in late November.

I officially started training on December 1. And for 2.5 months, I shared mini-milestones, reflections, fears, nerves, excitement, and tons of giggles with my run club. The group chat was poppin’, and it filled me with so much joy. Even though we all trained with personal runs on our own time, we shared the experience as a group. Constantly checking in. Constantly being silly - reminding one another not to take anything so seriously. Yes, that’s right, people, running doesn’t have to be serious! It can be pretty damn silly and fun. To say I am grateful for this experience, what it taught me, and the fact that I got to share it with people I love doesn’t even feel like enough words to translate the weight of happiness I carry. But it will have to do.

Some newbie half marathon tips:

Salt tabs! Electrolytes are everything with these long runs. You might not notice it in the moment or even on the day, but the days that follow will catch up to you if you're not on top of it. Keep salt tabs with you to take during the race.
Testing gels before the race: know what gels you like and which ones sit well in your stomach - don't try a brand-new gel on race day.
No new gear: only wear what you know for certain you are comfortable running in (this goes down to every last detail of what’s on your body)
Stay true to your pace at the beginning: don’t let the adrenaline push you too hard.
Give yourself plenty of time to go to the bathroom before start time! The bathroom lines were long, and I ended up having to pee the entire time.
Consistently run: you don’t have to run long distances EVERY run during training. If you can get in a quick one within your busy schedule, do it. It’s more about consistency than logging miles.
If you don’t stick to your training plan… You will live. Nothing horribly bad happens. Don’t let that be a reason to start backing down or doubting yourself.
It’s just running! It’s not that serious. If you’re not having fun, what’s the point?