How do I train for a marathon?

• How do I train for a (half-)marathon? I know there have been questions on this before, but those tend to be really specific and start at a place of knowledge, which I have none of. Background: For the sake of not having to totally invent the wheel, let's assume I'm already jogging casually for 3-5 miles 3 times a week. So talk to me like I'm a five-year-old: what do I do between now and race day to get in half-marathon shape? I'm intentionally skimping on the details because I'd like general advice, links to good training guides, etc. "What I know now that I wish I knew when I started training" kind of stuff.

• Answer:

  I just ran my first half-marathon TODAY. (Details on my blog http://www.web-goddess.org/archive.php/postID/7490.) I am not an elite athlete by any stretch of the imagination. (In fact, I'm still about twenty pounds above my goal weight.) I actually started training about six months ago. I spent the first month or two building up my level of fitness (as I wasn't in the habit of running 3x a week), then I started using the Hal Higdon plan everybody else mentioned. I had a lot of extra time, so I stretched it out by repeating weeks. About four months in, my aches really started to increase and I knew an injury was possible. (This is what derailed all my previous attempts to become a runner.) I found a recommendation for a sports masseuse on one of the local running messageboards and started seeing him. He did wonders for my form, and I was able to continue training without the discouragement of hurting myself. I also read a couple of running books, and I started listening to running podcasts as well. This stuff really inspired me to keep going. Other than that, I didn't do anything fancy. I didn't really change what I eat, though I discovered that my long weekend runs were a lot easier if I remembered to hydrate on Friday and Saturday. I didn't really do a lot of stretching -- and before you yell at me, that was specifically recommended in Galloway's book. (He's found that most beginning athletes are more likely to do themselves an injury stretching than they are to get any benefit from it.) I took up swimming as a non-impact way of getting in some exercise on my non-running days. I stuck to my 3x a week schedule pretty religiously, only missing a couple runs due to sickness. Before you get started in earnest, go to a specialty running shop - not your local Foot Locker - and get some decent shoes. Keep a journal or a calendar or whatever and actually write down how far you go. I've got the Nike+iPod pedometer system (which I love), but you can also use other methods (or add it up on a Google map). Make sure you never increase your weekly mileage by more than 10%. (I wasn't super anal about tracking that, but it's a good rule to keep in mind.) I've also read some great stuff about working with a heart rate monitor, and I've been keeping my eyes open to get one on sale. I tried to vary my route a fair bit, taking in some gentle hills (since I knew the half-marathon course would be hilly). I didn't do much speed work, but then I wasn't really aiming to be fast. The biggest thing that helped me get to my goal was ACCOUNTABILITY. I talked about it on my blog and to my friends, and I kept people updated with how I was going with my training. Thus when I was scared sh*tless two days ago wondering what I'd gotten myself into, I couldn't back out. Everybody was cheering for me to do it. I know I can't always rely on my own willpower, so it's good to have other people pushing me on. (I do the MetaFilter challenges too, which have been a big help.) Good luck!