Half Marathon training tips?

[Bob S.]

I did a HM few months ago. It wasnt pretty. Badly prepared, overconfident, bad form. Combine that and its a recipe for disaster. I learned my lesson.
It took me 99 minutes and change and i was feeling horrible. Up to about 14k everything was smooth sailing, but then i took a small water break and stretch. After that i couldnt find my rythm, couldnt relax because of it. That made me cramp up so i had to get off several times to relax legmuscles. I DID finish it.
As a reminder, i wrote all the splits on a piece of paper and stuck it to the wall in front of my erg.
Soon. Very soon. I will do that torture again.
But this time i will be prepared. I am working on form and stamina and its going well.
A full marathon will be on the menu on day too.

I take a bow to anyone attempting and/or finishing a HM or even a FM. Its a great experience. A damn long one too =)

It should not be necessary tog get a drink during a 1/2 M. For the full M, yes. For the 1/2, getting well hydrated earlier in the day will carry you through the length of time that you would probably need for the 1/2 M. I did it in under 94' at age 81. Surely you should need a lot less than 90'. In that length of time, you can get by with the water that you store up early in the day. Just don't gulp a lot down a short time before you do the piece. Spread it out over a longer period. It helps a lot to work up to the 1/2 M by doing longer and longer pieces for 2 ir 3 weeks beforehand. That way, you get your body conditioned to going that long without additional water and also you develop more tolerance to aches and pains that come with it, especially the butt pain. The same goes for the FM, but even more so. And for the FM, most of us find it necessary to get some water down during the piece. For me, that was least 196 minutes, including a couple of water/stretch breaks. By the end, my butt was really screaming - that is the hardest part of completing a Full M.

[Shrogran]

I did a HM few months ago. It wasnt pretty. Badly prepared, overconfident, bad form. Combine that and its a recipe for disaster. I learned my lesson.
It took me 99 minutes and change and i was feeling horrible. Up to about 14k everything was smooth sailing, but then i took a small water break and stretch. After that i couldnt find my rythm, couldnt relax because of it. That made me cramp up so i had to get off several times to relax legmuscles. I DID finish it.
As a reminder, i wrote all the splits on a piece of paper and stuck it to the wall in front of my erg.
Soon. Very soon. I will do that torture again.
But this time i will be prepared. I am working on form and stamina and its going well.
A full marathon will be on the menu on day too.

I take a bow to anyone attempting and/or finishing a HM or even a FM. Its a great experience. A damn long one too =)

It should not be necessary tog get a drink during a 1/2 M. For the full M, yes. For the 1/2, getting well hydrated earlier in the day will carry you through the length of time that you would probably need for the 1/2 M. I did it in under 94' at age 81. Surely you should need a lot less than 90'. In that length of time, you can get by with the water that you store up early in the day. Just don't gulp a lot down a short time before you do the piece. Spread it out over a longer period. It helps a lot to work up to the 1/2 M by doing longer and longer pieces for 2 ir 3 weeks beforehand. That way, you get your body conditioned to going that long without additional water and also you develop more tolerance to aches and pains that come with it, especially the butt pain. The same goes for the FM, but even more so. And for the FM, most of us find it necessary to get some water down during the piece. For me, that was least 196 minutes, including a couple of water/stretch breaks. By the end, my butt was really screaming - that is the hardest part of completing a Full M.

With the knowledge i have now would not have taken a break at all. I did it as a precaution, but it totally ruined my rythm. It was the cramping and butt pain after that break that made me lose a looooot of time.
I am increasing my distances as we speak. Like i said, this time i will be prepared.
I must say the butt pain is a lot less lately than it used to be.

I am thinking to plan a HM in the last week of december. If i am not able to beat my crappy first attempt the erg will be my christmas diner. I will be shooting for 90 minutes.

Thanks for your advice, Bob. You are an encyclopedia.