Half Marathon training

 My half marathon is 7 weeks away.  I've read several plans and some have you only go as high as 10 miles some go right up to 12 miles or even going past the 13.1 to 14 miles as your highest mileage.  (I think for my first half I want the 13.1 to be on race day itself!

But there are also different lengths of tapering - some only 1 week some up to 3 weeks.

For the experienced runners out there - how high in mileage did you go and how long did you taper for?

Depending on the answers, I may decide to repeat this weeks 9 mile run because it was mostly a walk due to a couple factors -- I had a fill on Friday and was only on full liquids on that day after two days of clears and my socks.  I tried a sock that is supposed to wick away moisture over my normal plain cotton sock that I usually wear.  I always hear that you need to stay away from cotton but cotton seems to work for me - these socks had me feeling the shoe rubbing against my feet and didn't seem to be as much cushioning that the cotton provides me.  I also seemed to slide a bit in the shoe.

Thanks for the input!

Hello,

I'm currently training for my first 1/2.  It is on Oct 11th so it's a little sooner than yours.
My plan takes me right up to 12 miles which happens next week.
That will be my last run of that distance.  From there it looks like 6 & 8 mile runs will be the longest I do before the race, so it's 2 weeks of tapering for me.

I'll be sure to post how that works for me.  Hopefully someone with more distance experience can post for you sooner than that.

Scott

 I'd like to know about socks also.  I keep getting blisters on my left heel.  I'm wearing Brooks and they are still pretty new....about one month old.

Duane

Could be the shoes too.  I had a pair of Asics that did that to me and I tok them back and agot another pair,..no problem.

I use the cotton-like ankle socks (NIKE and Underarmor) that are sweat wicking cotton type socks with grey toes and heels cushions and have a stretchy enforcement around the enstep/arch.  I got the NIKEs at a local running store in Midlothian VA called Runner Bills.  But they are Nike so I assume other Nike distributors carry them too.  I got the Underarmors at a sports outlet store coming home from a work-related road trip in NC. 

Otherwise, I'd recommend some moleskin whle waiting for it to heal and later some of that blister protector stuff that rubs on your foot like a deoderant stick.  Note the rub-on stuff is for prevention, not healing what you've already got.

Good luck with that!

I'm doing a half marathon in 3 week. So far, the most I've done is 10 miles.

I am currently training by time. I'm up to 100 min. and I plan to do one two hour run before the race. I don't plan to taper as I'm treating this race as a training run for my Half-ironman 3 weeks after that. So I'm training right through it.

My long run looks like it will be 12 miles a week before my half.  Ideally, I would go up to 15 or 16 miles and do it two or three times  with a two week taper.

The fact of the matter is that if you went into maintenance mode right now, you would still finish.  If you want the half to be your long run to date, do a couple of 12 milers to build fitness and more importantly build confidence.  If you do a solid 12 miles two weeks before your half, you will really enjoy the half.

My longest training runs for a half are only 10 miles and the taper is 2 weeks (usually) at 8 and 6 miles.  I do fine with that.

Linn 

 For a half I wouldn't hesitate to go the full race distance (or further).  If you want the race to be your longest run to date I agree with Scott and suggest you try to get a couple of 12 mile runs in.
Socks:  I've become quite a sock snob lately :(  It's really unfortunate because the ones that I like the best of course aren't cheap (is any of this fitness stuff?).  My favorite socks are some ultra-thin Underarmour socks.  They're nice and cool and wick the moisture away.  When it gets colder out or I'm doing long distances I go for a thicker sock.  I've got some great Nike socks that have orange and grey in them.  I've recently picked up pairs at both a Nike outlet and Dick's (clearance of summer stuff).  I found the typical white socks lead to blisters for me, really wish I could do it but I just can't.  The other thing to think about, you do want your socks to be snug/tight.  On my first half-ironman I ran in my bike socks which were a little too big.  BAD, BAD things happened as a result!  I had the biggest blister I think I've ever had and it's just now healing up.
Good luck in your training, sounds like things are going well for you
--Dan

 Thanks everyone for the insights -- I've decided I will repeat doing 9 miles this week and I'll go up to 12 miles for my top mileage.  On my half - the last 1 mile is slightly downhill so that will be an easy finish from there!