half marathon

You've been running for a while and have a few 10Ks under your belt — you're now ready to tackle a half marathon. Running 13.1 miles is a lot different than 6.2; here are some tips to get you there.

• Commit: If you've been saying for a while that you want to run a half marathon, now's the time to register for an actual race. Sign up with a friend, do one for a cause, or make it a destination race to keep you invested.
• Have a plan: Since this is your first time, it's best to follow a half marathon training schedule. Choose one that gives you plenty of time to train before race day, and make sure the training plan you choose works with your personal schedule. Here's a beginner's 12-week half marathon training schedule.
• Follow the 10 percent rule: When it comes to training, never increase your weekly mileage by more than 10 percent from the previous week. This means you want to gradually work up to that 10-mile run you have in your training schedule, rather than jumping right into it.

Keep reading for more tips on running your first half marathon.

FitSugar reader Dhitri has an embarrassing tale about her first half marathon. She shared her story in our RunningSugar community group. Help her out by sharing your own funny or embarrassing race tales below!

So you know I ran my first half and had the greatest time ever.

There were a few blunders, of course (what's a race without 'em?). Firstly, I arrived only half an hour before the start. Leaving the house without breastfeeding my little miss didn't feel right (and I had to lose that excess fluid from that part of my body anyway!) and it took longer than anticipated. Then of course I completely forgot about the road closures! We were stuck in traffic and I had to hop out of the cab and run to the event location to save me a few minutes. Also, in all my excitement, I forgot to put on any Vaseline or Bodyglide and even forgot to apply sunscreen. My skin was dry and full of marks from me scratching all night (I do that when nervous). My legs never looked this ugly!

But here comes a big confession: I peed in my pants during the run. Okay, firstly I have to criticize the otherwise flawlessly organized race. There were simply not enough portaloos! The line before the start was just EPIC.

Initially I didn't feel like I needed to go, but then remembered that I downed a lot of water when I woke up at 5AM (2 hours before start) and even though I went a few times at home, I felt like I needed to visit the conveniences in case I needed to wee because of the cold (it was a chilly morning at 10 degrees C) or nerves. I braved the line until a couple minutes before start (and was still nowhere near my turn). Big mistake! I should have braved the bushes instead.

Read on for the rest of Dhitri's story!

FitSugar reader PureGrace just finished her first half marathon and needs advice on how to train for the next one. She asked this question in our RunningSugar community group. Share your advice in the comments section below.

I had been training for over nine months for my first half marathon, and I completed the Disney World Half Marathon this past weekend. I'm trying to figure out another half marathon to run, but once I decide, what comes next?

Do I start my training from scratch again? (I started with Couch to 5K.) Or do I keep up the final week training schedule from my half marathon training?

I'm also thinking about joining Team in Training, or taking a running course to get some professional advice. Any suggestions?

— Katie, aka "Nowhere to Run To"

Have a burning running or health-related question? Then join our RunningSugar Community group or FitSugar Q and A group and ask the community for help.

Source: Flickr User lululemon athletica

Jennifer Love Hewitt was all smiles this weekend with new beau Alex Beh and Olympic medalist Deena Kastor at the Dodge Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon. Jennifer and Alex were paced by mom-to-be Deena — talk about lucky! The trio finished together with a time of 3:09. Other celebs at the event included James Marsden, Jerry O'Connell, and Willie Garson.

Former US Olympic marathoner Linda Somers Smith won the women's race with a time of 1:14:45, and Jacques Sallberg took home the men's title with a time of 1:06:25.

To see more photos from the Los Angeles Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, just read more

Our very own YumSugar recaps her first experience running a half marathon in the RunningSugar group in the FitSugar Community.

I've never considered myself a runner. Fourteen months ago, if you told me I'd run any sort of race, I'd have laughed at you. But three weekends ago, I proudly finished my first ever half marathon.

Aside from running a 5K or two when I was fifteen, I'd never really run and was convinced I wasn't cut out to be a runner. I hated running: Everything about it felt wrong. But last year, I finally tired of hearing all my best friends talk about running marathons — so I put on my tennies and went for a jog. After a few weeks of hell, one day I decided running wasn't so bad, and somewhat inexplicably I haven't stopped since. When I joined a local running group, the San Francisco Road Runners, in 2010, I decided to build up the base mileage needed for a 13.1-mile race.

Read all about her results.

The stars were definitely representing at this Sunday's second annual Rock 'n' Roll Chicago Half Marathon. Kelly Bensimon, Jake Pavelka, and Giuliana Rancic kept Al Roker, Kelli Zink, and former stars of The Bachelor, Molly and Jason Mesnick company on the course. Meanwhile, host Maria Menounos cheered from the sidelines. Patrick Rizzo, 26, outdistanced himself from the the pack to win with a time of 1:06:19, and the women's winner Tera Moody, 29, finished at 1:13:36. The race, which benefits the American Cancer Society, runs through downtown Chicago.

To see more photos of Kelly, Maria, and Jake at the Rock 'n' Roll Chicago Half Marathon, just read more

With the highly anticipated Eat Pray Love opening just weeks away, Julia Roberts is everywhere. And this is not a bad thing, BTW. BuzzSugar was lucky enough to catch up with the actress recently, and amongst other things, Julia talked about all the pasta and pizza she had to eat during filming. She told Buzz that she must have gained something like 11 pounds while filming in Italy, but "loved every pound." Julia is also on the cover of this week's Entertainment Weekly, where she talks more about food, but also about exercising and training for a half-marathon. Julia ran in the Santa to the Sea half-marathon last December with a time of 2:29:47.

Here are the EW interview highlights:

• On gaining weight while filming: "Pizza was what I ate all day. By the time we left Rome, I was seven to 10 pounds heavier. I could've used a bigger pair of jeans when I went off to India!"
• On training for a half-marathon while in India: "I trained a lot while I was doing the movie and it was so hot there. I think it was to my advantage that I had trained under such dire circumstances."
• On exercising: "I must admit, I don't love exercise, but I do love how I feel afterward: accomplishment, clarity, energy, strength, joy. These are all things I give myself through working out, and I can feel it in everything I do."

Here's a post that FitSugar reader Angelica contributed to our Get Fit For 2010 group.

I haven't decided whether I can commit to it for real just yet, but in the mean time, I'm running regularly and enjoying Summer on Bay Area trails. Okay, mostly walking. And then speeding up for a second and walking again. It's like interval training for snails, but it's a start. I mean, it's hard not to be inspired when it's this gorgeous out.

Share your fitness goals, advice, and encouragement in the Get Fit For 2010 community group. Be it losing weight, running a marathon, or eating a balanced diet — we're here to help and listen. And your posts might end up right here on FitSugar!