What I wish I knew before running my first half marathon

When I told a family friend last year that I had signed up for a half marathon she was dumbfounded.
“I didn’t know you could run?” she declared with shock.
It stung a little but I can’t blame her for being surprised.
Because until recently I didn’t know I could run either. I could barely get through one breathtaking kilometer without completely wiping myself out and I couldn’t fathom how anyone finished a park run let alone a long distance race.
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That all changed when I caught the running bug two years ago – along with the rest of Australia it seems. I worked my way up from some laps around my neighbourhood to a couple 10km races and a sweltering City2Surf before packing myself and my green apple flavoured running gels into my car and driving to Canberra for my first-ever half marathon.
It was hard but the elation that I felt after crossing that finish line was like nothing I’d experienced in my life. So much so that it’s kept me coming back for more and I’m now training for my fourth half marathon.
Now I’m still no pro runner and my Strava app stats are nothing to gloat about but I have learnt a thing or two, so here’s everything I wish I knew before I started my running journey. 
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One of the biggest lessons I learnt when I started trying to improve my running was how important it is to run slowly.
When I first started running, I followed a program that required me to split my runs into intervals of walking and running.
For my first few runs, I would do 30 seconds of running, followed by 90 seconds of walking and repeat. As the program progressed I would do longer stints of running with shorter breaks in between and before I knew it I was running for 30 minutes straight. 
Running slowly is also the key to becoming fitter and faster. Studies have shown that runners who include slow running in their training are likely to have an aerobic base that’s five times greater than those who frequently run at a high-intensity. It’s also just so much more fun!
If I hadn’t followed a plan, I honestly don’t think I would have ever been able to run a half marathon. When I decided to run a half marathon, I completed a 5km plan and then a 10km one before moving on to a half marathon plan. 
There are so many programs out there that you can find online which will lay out every run you should do over a certain period of time to train for your goal distance. The program will usually involve three to four runs a week that gradually increase in distance until you reach the goal distance.
For me a bit of external motivation goes a long way. If I’ve planned to go for a run on an early Sunday morning – there’s a high chance I’ll snooze my alarm and stay in bed instead.
But if I know I have a friend waiting to go for a run with me, I have no choice but to get out of bed – it gives me the motivation that I simply don’t have first thing in the morning. It’s also so much more fun to run with a friend than plodding along on your own.
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Speaking of game changers, a running belt or a running vest is an absolute must if you want to run longer distances. These help you carry your phone, keys, running gels and anything else you may need on your long runs without weighing down your pockets or having to hold them in your sweaty hands.
I knew I was deep in my running obsession when my best friends chipped in to buy me a running vest for my birthday and I was over the moon.
Also, life hack – if you pack a microfibre towel in the back of your running vest you can plan your route to finish near a beach and jump straight in the water for a post-run cool down. It’s the best feeling. 
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As I started increasing the amount of running I did each week, I was surprised by how much my appetite increased. Of course it makes sense though as my body was burning so much more energy than I was used to, so I learnt to honour my hunger cues and eat more to restore the energy that I was burning.
I also learned how important it is to eat during long runs. If you’re running for more than 90 minutes, it’s generally advised to consume 30 to 60 grams of carbohydrates every hour, according to the Mayo Health Clinic.
The biggest lesson I’ve learnt since I started running is to have fun with it. I probably look a bit odd whenever I go for a run because I’m usually bopping along to the old school classics I have blasting in my headphones.
Two years ago I would have never believed it but running has become such an enjoyable part of my life – even when I’m in the thick of training for a half marathon. The physical and mental health benefits it has brought to my life are amazing and the little medal I get to take home after running a race is a fun cherry on top.
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