half marathons

It's time to redefine what it means to have a girls' night out — with a run! Forget heading to the movies this Friday night and start training for a half or full marathon. More like a dance party, these races take place in fun locations, require tons of girl power, and are nothing short of bright costumes. Making fun the main priority, there's no doubt this type of competitive spirit will bring you closer to your gals while helping you stay fit too. Check out the 5K, half, and full marathon races we found throughout the country; the hardest part will be deciding if you'd rather be rewarded at the finish line with bling, bubbly, or both!

• ZOOMA Race Series: Consider the ZOOMA series your fit weekend getaway filled with “mocktail” parties, yoga sessions, and a 5K or half marathon run. Awaiting at the finish line will be wine, live music, massages, and tons of girl power!
• Cost: Prices vary by location, but expect the half marathon to be around $120 and 5K, $90.
• Prize: A ZOOMA swag bag and tons of free goodies like massages and wine.
• Training Groups? Yes, find them here.
• Locations: Annapolis, Chicago, Cape Cod, Florida, and Austin.
• Nike Women's Marathon: The largest women's marathon in the world, the Nike series takes place in both Washington DC and San Francisco. The event is filled with a sense of community, stylish gear, and raises awareness for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. You can choose to run the half marathon or full in San Francisco; the Washington DC race is a half marathon.
• Cost: Price hasn't been set, but the random draw for the San Francisco race opens June 3, 2013.
• Prize: Ready for this? Each finisher receives an exclusive necklace designed by Tiffany & Co!
• Training Groups? Yes, find them here.
• Locations: San Francisco and Washington DC.

More "mocktails" and marathons after the break!

Thinking about running a half marathon soon? A solid training plan is necessary — and so are some quality tunes to keep you motivated. This half-marathon playlist clocks in at just under two and a half hours, perfect for someone who runs a 10-minute mile. Subscribe to the playlist so you have it with you on your run, then keep reading to see the songs on the list.

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health here on FitSugar.

By Tina Haupert

So you've tackled a bunch of 5Ks and conquered a couple of 10Ks. What's next on your list of fitness goals? A half marathon perhaps? A half marathon is a great distance because it's long enough so you need to work for it, but not so long that training completely consumes your life. The half marathon is my favorite distance to run, so here are my top tips for training for your first!

Fuel up
During my long training runs, I always bring some sort of fuel with me. Running for such a long period of time requires a lot of energy, so I make sure to have a continuous supply of calories coming into my body so I don't end up hitting the "wall." As a general rule, I aim to consume 150 to 200 calories for every hour of running, so, for me, this means that I eat or drink something every six or so miles. My favorite sources of fuel are GU and Shot Bloks because they're convenient, but packets of honey, jelly beans, Swedish fish—pretty much anything that gives you quick energy—will work!

Health.com: Yes, You Can Run a 10K!

Try the run-walk method
One of the biggest misconceptions about training for your first half marathon is that you need to run continuously from start to finish. Instead of running full out and then getting tired and discouraged, try adding some scheduled walking breaks into your runs. For instance, during my long training runs, I would sometimes alternate nine minutes of running with one minute of walking to allow myself time to catch my breath and give my body a little rest. But, I didn't lazily walk during that minute. I kept up a good pace and tried to cover as much ground as possible. When it was time for me to start running again, I always felt more energized, which helped me keep up my pace, and knowing that I had a break coming soon helped keep me mentally strong when the run got really challenging.

Record your runs
When training for a half marathon, I always keep a record of my runs (on my blog and/or calendar) to track my progress and keep me motivated. I document information about my training runs, including the distance, time, type of workout, gear used, and how I felt during and after. If you're looking to lose weight, you can also note your progress on the scale in your records. Keeping tabs on my progress and seeing how far I've come during my training is really motivating and helps me on track to achieving my goal on race day.

Keep reading for three more helpful training tips.