Hello half marathon ....... 'good bye toenails'

Some of you have commented that you're preparing to run your first Half marathon in the coming month (either Rutgers Half or NJM Half). First of all -- good for you and congrats on your accomplishment.
During your training you probably experienced some discomfort and tough runs, once you hit the longer distances. As every marathoner and long-distance runner will tell you, is that these are critical to your training. What some people won't tell you is that you can expect to lose a few toenails in the process...

Since this will be a new distance for you, here's a couple of pointers to remember while you're getting ready!

DON'T GO OUT TOO FAST

Its easy to get caught up in the excitement and high-fives with spectators, but for a half marathon, you need to conserve some energy and try to restrain your excitement to not go out too fast.

EATING ON THE RUN?

Being out on the road for 13 miles or potentially 2 hours (or more) you'll not only need to take in the proper fluids, but to ensure you replenish and energize. I'm not suggesting you need to eat full meals but make sure you have energy gels. Some races will even supply you bagels, bananas or oranges at the latter stages of the race. We don't need to get as crazy as Dean Karnazes who orders a pizza for road side delivery during his ultra-marathon distances of 50-60 miles (his favorite? Hawaiian pie, which he folds in half and eats)

KISS YOUR TOENAILS GOOD BYE!

Really? The pounding that your feet take during a run can be devastating to your toes. Water over your head, soaking your shoes, sweating socks -- all lead to blisters and chafing of your feet. To protect your toes, be sure to apply Vaseline or Aquaphor to your feet (or any other place that might chafe) before the race.

WHAT DO I DO THIS WEEK (the week before the race)

It is common to feel lethargic, new aches & pains or restlessness the week before your race. There's no more LONG runs to do the week of your race, you need to be sure you rest, hydrate and take it easy. Go for a short run to loosen up your legs later in the week. You don't want to over-do your workouts. Be sure your legs stay fresh and rested.

BE PREPARED

Gather your drinks, gear, gels, chews NOW. You don't want to be stress-shopping day before the race. And bring extra clothes, baggies for gels and anything gear you might need. Charge your iPod. On race day if the weather is different than expected, you'll want to be sure you're prepared.

HAVE A PLAN FOR THE FINISH

You probably have done this for your 5Ks, 10Ks, - but after running 13, you'll definitely want to know where your support team can be found. Map out a place close to the finish/start to meet. I usually shoot for the nearest pub as a landmark!

ENJOY IT!

You've worked hard to train and get this point - so enjoy the day and scenery of the event! No matter what your time, be proud of yourself for getting here!