So I signed up for the half-marathon today. It is not until late March, but if I sign upnow, I know I will do it. I can only run 3 miles right now (thanks to c25k) but I have 7 months to work on it. I know in November there is a training team going to start up. I also applied for a training team that trains with a local fitness personality and trainer that teams up with a local television station which keeps tabs on progress and promotes the event. Considering I am a complete newbie, I probably won't get picked for the team, but it would be a great opportunity if I did.

So now I am concentrating on adding a little distance every week so I will be ready come March. I am so excited to do this. I am not going to worry about speed at all. On the application it asked what my projected finish time would be, and I had no clue how to answer. To the people who have ran half-marathons, what was your time for the first time? I know it will vary greatly, but I am just curious.

Hey - good on you for signing up! 1/2 marathon is a great goal for running! I did my first last year and when I had signed up (3 months before the event) my max distance was only 5 miles so I am sure you will be fine! My time for the 1/2 marathon was 2hrs 25 mins.... I am a slow runner (call me shuffler). Now I am training for a Marathon in December!

Good for you for training for the marathon nattynatnat. That is awesome. I hope to run it in 2011.

Another thing I am worried about. The finish line is the 50 yard line of a football stadium, whether you are a marathoner or half marathoner. I really don't think I will finish before the fastest marathoners. Is there a cut off time for people running the half marathon?

I ran mine in Singapore - I know they started to open the roads after about six hours or so, which was plenty of time. I am pretty sure there is no way most novices would beat the marathon runners ( they usually start a full hour earlier anyway). So I don't think it should be a problem for you unless you walk the entire way.....

Congrats on signing up and deciding to run! I am midway through the c25k now, and Im glad to see that it works. I found a training program for a half marathon by the makers of the c25k. Here is the link:http://http://www.coolrunning.com/en.../2_4/134.shtml

Hope it helps! Good luck!

Opps! It put an extra "http://" in there. Here you go. http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_4/134.shtml

i am signed up for my first half marathon October 11! i'm excited and scared, as i haven't been sticking to my training program as closely as i should have.

my primary goal is to finish, with my secondary goal to finish under 2:30. i am a slow runner (10-11 minute mile), so this would be enough for me! good luck!

Congrats Utgirl09! Sounds like you've given yourself plenty of time to train. I'm finding out that it's so much fun to hit those new longer distances.

I've got a 5k coming up at the beginning of October, but then I've gotta buckle down and train for a Thanksgiving 10k (as yet unsigned up for, but I've been telling friends and family that I'm going to do it, so durnit, I'm doing it!).

Signing up for one of those has been a dream of mine that i'm working towards! good luck! i cant wait to run one myself.

i did a full marathon in 04...i trained with the aids marathon training program...we did walk, run and it took me over seven hours...i also did 1 half marathon on my own and also did walk run...if you can run the whole half marathon that is an awesome accomplishment...dont even think about how fast...good luck

I am working on C25K (right now I'm on week 3) and I wasn't even thinking about doing a half marathon, etc. but you have inspired me to think big. Thanks and good luck!

Thanks for all the support. I know it is months away, but for me it is a huge goal, so I am really excited. What actually got me started running was that I found a list that I made as a freshman in high school that had 10 life goals on it. One of the goals was run a marathon. I decided that what better time than now. I know it is a half marathon I am working toward this year, but hope it is a good jumping off point to do a full marathon. I am not worried about time at all, just looking forward to finish!