Why run a half marathon

A post shared by Whistler Half Marathon whistlerhalf. Training for a half-marathon not only requires less total training time most half-marathon training plans are about 10 weeks as opposed to 16 for the marathon , but the day-to-day time commitment is also lower.

Depending on your goals, you can successfully complete a half-marathon in as little as 30K to 40K per week. Marathon training requires significantly higher mileage, so for this reason the half-marathon fits much better into your already-busy schedule.

The half marathon is long enough to be a good endurance challenge, he says, but short enough that it has significantly less training demands than a marathon. Ben Rosario, the head coach of Northern Arizona Elite, points out that those reduced training demands means less risk of injury. And, of course, the half marathon can be an effective and useful stepping stone to the marathon distance. Rosario agrees that runners would do well to run one, or ideally several, half marathons before going the full McDowell says that she frequently recommends using a half marathon as a way to get used to the race atmosphere before a marathon.

You get to experience all the emotions and logistics in advance, allowing you to be more relaxed and comfortable on marathon race day. But, stepping up to the half marathon distance from the 5K or 10K distance will result in a veritable quantum leap in running fitness due to increases in mileage and the likely addition of one or more days of running.

If you're going to be logging more miles, that may very well mean you're running more days per week than you have previously. These extra days of running will make it easy to rationalize upgrading your running wardrobe. Given the range of half marathons out there, there are ample opportunities to parlay a half marathon into a running-infused vacation. Do you want to see what New Orleans has to offer?

Want to explore a more tropical location like Miami? Runners are explorers at the end of the day. As soon as we conquer one running goal, it's almost inevitable that we'll look toward the next one. Then, it may very well be on to the marathon.

As mentioned earlier, the perks and amenities at races today are staggering. Aside from the gaudy 'bling' one typically receives, there is almost always some kind of post-race party or celebration. Destination Races sells out all practically all of its wine country-themed events to some degree because of the post-race wine tastings following the race.

The anti-oxidants can speed recovery and augment the runner's high. Live music often accompanies the imbibing of said anti-oxidants. If you like to party, the half marathon may be your distance. A mile generally burns about calories. But, upping your mileage will not only take your running fitness to the next level, it will also boost your caloric burn.

If you are stepping up from the 5K or 10K distance, logging a few extra miles each week will undoubtedly necessitate the purchasing of an additional pair or shoes or two. So, if you've been eyeing the hot new pair of Nikes at your local running specialty store, sign up for a half and pull the trigger as you'll likely need them soon. The marathon has the appeal of scaling Mount Everest, but just as in preparing to scale Mount Everest, preparing to run If you're brand new to the sport, you're likely looking at six to nine months of consistent marathon training including long runs of 3 hours or more.

The half marathon may lack the "sexiness" of the full marathon, but most new runners with three months of training can conquer a half marathon. Did you know my thighs which are growing larger — and heavier — muscles by the second have sped up my half marathon PR by more than 10 minutes?

I have no interest in what the scale has to say about that. I get my best thinking done on a run. If something is bothering me, I can usually sort it out in my mind while I listen to the comforting background music of my shoes crunching on the gravel. Somehow, you have to get home.

All of this is hard at first. But once you get into your half marathon training, your body starts to understand the work it has to do. Then the magic happens. That stamina moves into your non-running life. Need to stand just a little longer even though you back hurts? Need to sit through a boring meeting for 40 more minutes? Marathoners are better off staying home rather than risking having to confront a single stair.

Sometimes a friendly new face can turn your day around. Runners are an active and supportive bunch on social media. Through tweeting on the hashtag runchat I met a bunch of fabulous runners who came into town for Washington D. Running friends — well, they get it. Caleb was just 15 pounds when I met him, but his adorable smile filled up my whole heart immediately.

I met Caleb through a wonderful program called Who I Run 4. The organization matches runners with children who have special needs. The point? To provide some always needed two-way inspiration.