The last two weeks have been huge for the running world, and I’ve learned that pretty much everyone and their roommate at Harvard becomes a runner for the Cambridge Half.

I’ll admit it: I was once a sheep too. I ran the Cambridge Half for the first time last year, and it was incredibly fun. So this July, somewhere in the middle of my summer internship, I decided to be #different. I made the monumental decision to transcend my status as a running LARPer by signing up for BOTH the Cambridge and Boston Half Marathons. The catch? They were on back-to-back weekends: Cambridge on Nov. 1 and Boston on Nov. 8.

(Sorry this article is a little late. I’ve only just recovered enough to stop limping across the Yard and falling asleep by 9 p.m.)

Now, I’m no stranger to long distances. I really, really enjoy walking them. Running them is somewhat of a different story. I usually run casually — when the weather’s nice, or at 10 p.m. when I desperately need to go outside and touch grass.

My training was, generously, inconsistent. My longest run was eight miles, and race day in Cambridge was only the second time I’d ever tried an energy gel. Shoutout to the hotel near the finish line that graciously let me use its bathroom to throw up.

Still, I think that officially makes me an expert. So do as I say, not as I do: here are 13.1 lessons for anyone thinking about running a half.

1. Get good running shoes.

Ideally, not the same pair you wear on your daily trek to class. You also don’t have to break the bank. Hit up a local running store like Heartbreak Hill, try on a few pairs, and get whatever feels best on your feet. Good shoes can help keep you (hopefully) injury-free. There’s nothing worse than a nasty blister throwing off your training plan, a surprise case of mid-foot plantar fasciitis/tendonitis, or a blister mid-race. Trust me on this one.

2. Know the Course

Speaking from experience, the Cambridge course is pretty flat. You’ll be just fine running up and down the Charles, no hill training required. Boston, on the other hand, has hills. Hilla hills. The first few miles are deceptively downhill, and the last few are basically all uphill, which is rough when you’re trying to ration whatever energy you have left. The last few miles of Boston felt like trekking from Vanserg to Mather in the dark at 5 p.m. Every course is different, so check out the map and the elevation gains and losses before race day.

3. Don’t try new things on race day

Race day isn't the day to find out how your body feels about a lime hydrogel. I say this as someone who, in my delusional ignorance and optimism, tried new shoes AND new gels on race day twice. It’s a recipe for disaster, or at least for your stomach in the 24 hours after. Practice with carbs and gels on your training runs, and break in your race shoes ahead of time.

4. Bring earbuds

Music is a HUGE motivator. Nothing beats listening to Pitbull while running. Making the playlist is like half the battle.

5. A Watch Will Help

I ran my first half with a Fitbit. You don’t need anything fancy, but a watch helps you track distance and pace. I do have a Garmin now, which I absolutely love and depend on for crucial information like what day it is. But any smartwatch will do just fine.

6. Follow a legitimate training plan

Again: do as I say, not as I do. I put in solid mileage over the summer + ran a half, then completely fell off once the semester started. Use an app like Runna, or have your choice of LLM build you a plan. Ideally, that means one long run a week plus one or two shorter runs to maintain your VO2 max and overall fitness. Strength training is also a good idea if you can find the time!

7. Sleep!

Maybe it’s the college student in me, but I used to scoff at the idea of a full night’s sleep. Then this year, my body suddenly refused to stay up past 10:30 p.m., and I found myself sleeping eight hours for the first time in eight years. Turns out sleep does amazing things for recovery and energy. Who knew? PSA if you try to text me after 10 p.m., there’s a 70% chance I will not respond because I am fast asleep.

8. Rise and Shine

Get to the start line a full hour before you think you need to. The bathroom lines will be HUGE — longer than it’ll take you to actually run the race. And the porta-potties only get worse as the morning goes on… iykwim.

9. Be delusional

Believing in yourself will get you to the finish line faster than any carbon-plated shoes. If you can run five miles, 13.1 is basically nothing. It’s just 5 x 3 – 1.9 if you really think about it. Mile 10 is where you realize being delusional was doing a lot of the heavy lifting.

10. Tell people that you are running a half

One of the most important parts of running a half is telling people you’re running a half. It’s pretty impressive to the average person. Bonus points if you can work it into your Harvard intro, or bring it up as a fun fact at an interview. Just make sure you don’t accidentally bring it up to a marathoner.

11. Get merch post-race

Especially if it’s your first half, you should absolutely buy the sweatshirt or jacket. You only run your first half once! The medal is nice decor for your room, but the quarter-zip is how people actually know. Plus, it’s so much more fun to wear it to class and ask everyone what they did over the weekend. You? Oh, you were unfortunately super busy. Running a half.

12. Brace for Running Reels

Running a half is a gateway drug. Be prepared for your entire Instagram feed to be taken over by running reels and influencers. They might even convince you that your next race should be a marathon, a Hyrox, or an Ironman (help).

13. Strava Max

This is your chance to karma farm for all eight of your Strava followers. Find your section crushes, follow them, and humble brag accordingly. Forget sliding into someone’s Instagram DMs — Strava kudos are the new way to send a sign. Nothing says “I’m interested” like giving kudos to a 3-mile jog at 7 a.m.

0.1 Enjoy the race!

So much of what makes a race special is the spectators and the crowd’s energy. Hit the power-up signs (they actually work), pop the bubbles, and wave at your friends and family. Take it all in!