FitSugar

A Reader Asks: I Ran a Half Marathon, Now What?

Fit Community — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 03:05:29 PST

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

Celebs Rock 'n' Roll in Los Angeles Half Marathon

Michele Foley — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 13:15:50 PDT

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.

View 10 Photos ›

A Reader Shows Us What She's Wearing

OnSugar Blog — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 10:00:28 PDT

OnSugar blogger Ready to Run recently shared with us what her favorite race day outfit is. Check out why below!

When running, whether practicing or racing, you want to make sure that you're wearing moisture wicking material so that you aren't soaked in sweat with clothing that is sticking to you the entire time you're working out. Here are my top picks for race day: the Nike Dri-FIT Pacer Women's Running Tank Top is perfect for running on a hot day. I can barely tell that I'm sweating while I'm running; but best of all, it doesn't have a built-in bra! I hate sports tops with built-in bras, because they very rarely give you enough support. For shorts, I really enjoy my Run: Speed Shorts from Lululemon. You can barely feel them when you're running, and don't ride up. Also, they have three pockets so you have somewhere to put small items that you may need to carry on you while running. And for socks, my favorites are my WrightSock CoolMesh II Double-Layer Lightweight Ankle Socks, which help prevent blistering. These are a polyester/nylon blend and are also moisture wicking; they are the only socks that I can wear without having stinky feet after a run!

To find out more about an item pictured above, or to buy it for yourself, just click on the image. Then head over to Ready to Run to read the rest of the post. And why not start your own OnSugar blog and show us what you're wearing? Your posts could be featured here on FitSugar.

Observations From a First-Time Half Marathoner

Fit Community — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:35:17 PDT

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.

Kelly Bensimon and Giuliana Rancic Rock It in Half Marathon

FitSugar — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:10:32 PDT

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.

View 10 Photos ›

Julia Roberts on Eating Her Way Through Eat Pray Love

FitSugar — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:15:56 PDT

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."

A Reader's Thoughts About Training For a Half Marathon

Fit Community — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 15:00:08 PDT

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!

Get Fit Challenge: My Half Marathon Weekend!

Fit Community — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 05:50:30 PDT

Here's FitSugar reader gidgie's standout moment from the Get Fit For 2010 challenge and giveaway.

Disney Sports offered me an incredible opportunity - to run in Disney's Princess Half Marathon and spend the weekend exploring everything Disney World has to offer. After successfully finishing the run and checking out the attractions, I can safely say, this is definitely the way to run a half marathon. Disney treated me like a princess and made my half marathon weekend feel like a vacation!

The Get Fit For 2010 giveaway is almost over, so make sure you catch up on all your challenges! By participating, you'll also be entered into the drawing for our weekly giveaway of a $100 Nike gift card as well as our awesome grand prize.

Are You Running in a Race This Year?

FitSugar — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:47:55 PST

Marathon season is officially under way, woo-hoo! I have to admit I love hearing that so many of you are in training or have completed a race. It motivates me to lace up and hit the pavement even more. Heck, even some of my own friends have finished running in their first long-distance races this year. Kudos!

Since so many of you wrote that running in longer races was one of your fitness goals in our Get Fit For 2010 community group and contest, I'm wondering how many of you signed up to compete. I'm hoping that you're all taking the leap and that your training is going well. I especially hope that you're staying injury-free. If this is your first race and your nerves are starting to set in, don't worry - you will be able to tackle your first marathon with ease, I know it. If you're still looking for a race, head on over to Active.com; they have a complete listing of all kinds of events.

Tell me . . .

A FitSugar Reader Asks: I Did It! Now What?

Fit Community — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 03:00:48 PST

FitSugar reader AZDaisy needs your help. She just accomplishd her fitness running goal of finishing a half marathon and wants to know where to go from here. Can you offer her any advice?

Hey ladies! So I did it . . . I finished my first half marathon! It was a beautiful course, gorgeous weather, awesome people, and I finished in just under 2:20! (I was hoping for 2:15, but I guess for my first one it's not so bad, right?)

My question is: now what? I've already signed up for the San Francisco Half Marathon in July, but I know I want to take a little break from running - just a couple of weeks. Since I won't actually start training for the San Francisco Half Marathon until April-ish, I'm not sure what distances I should be running. Should I keep my long runs to about 10 miles or scale it back to around six miles until I'm ready to train again?

How about you regular half-marathoners, how do you train in between trainings?

Are you in the same boat as AZDaisy and thinking about your health goals for the new year or need advice about your goals from fellow readers? Join our Get Fit For 2010 community group and write a blog post about it. By participating, you'll be entered into the drawing for our weekly giveaway of a $100 Nike gift card as well as an awesome grand prize.