Two weeks until my first HALF... Questions

Okay, so my first half, the Tacoma Narrows Half Marathon, in on 8/7/10.  I lost a week of cross training due to life and kids getting in the way, so just did my daily walking, which I don't count.
Anyway, did a LONG run today. 10 miles. Last Long Run was on 4th of July. ANYWAY, my time sucked big time...slowest pace in quite a while...and I think the heat may have contributed (Got a late start and it was in the mid 70's).

So questions:

what should the next two weeks look like? I plan to rest two days before the HALF, just hydrate like heck, and maybe two days before do some upper body weights and just walking.  But between now and then...
I ususally do my long runs on Saturday's. So with that in mind, is it okay to do a 10 or 12 mile run one week before my half?
Or...
Should I just do my regular cross training (eliptical/bike), and toss in a couple of 5k's?

I'M SO CONFUSED. Okay, maybe not confused, but I want to be as prepared as possible, and my time this morning blew my head apart.  LUCKILY the HALF starts at 7:30 a.m. SHARP. So I will be done before the heat sets in...

What do you all recommend??


(okay, I'm breathing now...phew...nervous just thinking about it)


Kathy

Kathy,
I do not have any answers for you but wanted to say congratulations on all your training! I am not ready for the half. I have only been doing 7 miles once a week for the last few weeks and 3-4 miles the other two days. I am signing up for the You Go Girl in September. I need to get up to speed( pun intended).
Good luck; you will do great! The heat has really slowed me down too, and I am already slow. An 11 minute mile makesme extremely happy! I am heading out early tomorrow fo my long run; I am going to avoid the heat!

Thanks Mary.

I am considering the You Go Girl! as well. I was set on doing the AFLAC Iron Girl 10K around Greenlake, with my daughter, then found out about the other one in Tacoma. So I am undecided. I REALLY WANT AN AFLAC STUFFED DUCK!   LOL

Ok. Take a deeeep breath. You're going to be FINE.

If you did a 10 miler today (even if it was ugly) you'll be able to finish a 1/2 marathon. I'm sure the heat didn't help (it doesn't with me) so I wouldn't worry too much.

Have you been working from a training program? If you are, then just follow the program as you normally would.
If you've not been following the program then I'd suggest anywhere from a 6-8 mile run next weekend and then some running during the week. The 2 day rest before your race and hydration will set you up nicely for race day.

Remember, on race day you'll be excited and motivated by all the other runners around you. You'll find that running the 13.1 miles is much easier than a training run by yourself.

Best of luck on your race. I'm a HUGE fan of 1/2's. Have fun!

I just did a half marathon (I walked it), but I was training with a team and our coach sent us the following article you might find useful.


http://www.trifuel.com/training/run/tapering-for-1-2-and-full-marathons

Good luck and have fun. When you cross that finish line, you'll be amazed at how proud you feel!

Thanks all!

I have  not followed a specific plan, but have incorporated and melding a few different plans/theories to meet my schedule and to keep my motiviation up, while showing improvement.

So over the next 13 days, I'm going to add in some midweek easy 5k's in place of the eliptical. (I usually only run on the weekends outside then hit the eliptical hard and heavy during the week.)
I think I will toss in another half mile swim as well.

I am definately doing an easy two or three mile run two days before around the same start time (7:30), then resting the day before, focusing on hydration. 

With my slowest pace, I still should be able to finish 2:30....but you are right...just getting through the anxiety and across the finish line will be wonderful!

I'll tell you what my run coach told me when I was in a similar situation -- do NOT go out and try to cram in some long runs. It's too late for that and will likely only tire you out and could injure you.

So I didn't -- just stuck with my normal 1 hour run for my long run -- and I did fine.

What I have noticed is that if I can run half the distance at one time (6 miles in this case) and my total weekly mileage is the distance or greater, that I am able to do the distance on race day and even perform well.

I do a lot more HIIT than is traditional and a lot less LSD and it works for me.