I spent 12 weeks training for my first half-marathon. Here are 4 ways I set myself up for success, and 3 mistakes I made along the way.

I signed up for my race with a few friends, some of whom were forced to drop out before the big day due to travel or work commitments.

During my training, however, I was able to meet up with a couple of them a few times for runs, which made running longer distances less tedious. 

But I didn't fully appreciate what it was like to run with a bigger group until the day of the half-marathon. The energy of the crowd and seeing other people push themselves through each mile encouraged me to run faster than I'd ever had before, which in turn made me regret not looking into running groups or clubs during my own training. 

If I ever sign up for a long-distance race again, finding a community of people to train with would be the first thing I'd look into. 

I own two styles of headphones: chunky over-ear Beats and wired Apple headphones. Before the race, I'd toyed with the idea of borrowing a pair of wireless earbuds from a friend or family member but decided against it because I didn't want to change the equipment I'd used throughout my training on the big day. 

Neither of the options I had were ideal, but in the end, I opted for the Beats since the wires of the Apple headphones bothered me at times during my training runs.

While I managed OK with the Beats, I'd invest in a pair of wireless earbuds for any future long-distance running. I found myself getting distracted by how hot my ears were at mile 6, and an unpleasant smell lingered on the material of the headphones after the race, likely from all the sweat. 

One of my biggest regrets was deciding to do strength training four days before the race. If I'd done my research, I would've seen how many running magazines, like Runners Connect and Runtastic, advise skipping strength training or exercises that might be unfamiliar the week of a half-marathon to conserve energy and avoid injuries. 

During the 12 weeks I spent preparing, I found it difficult to balance my half-marathon training plan with other forms of exercise. So when I saw that my plan tapered down significantly in the last two weeks, I naively thought I could use that as an opportunity to hit the gym. 

The day after my gym visit, I knew I'd made a mistake. I woke up incredibly sore and stiff, which meant that I had to push the last run I had on my training plan until two days before my race. 

Through repeated stretching over a few days, I finally felt the tightness in my muscles ease the day before my race, so luckily it didn't really affect my performance, but the stress that trip to the gym caused was not worth it. 

Before starting my 12-week training plan, the farthest distance I'd ever run was 5 miles, and I had rarely experienced blisters. 

But as soon as my training started requiring that I go on longer runs each week, which ranged from 4.9 to 11.2 miles, I noticed that the frequency and severity of the blisters I got increased significantly. After complaining to my mom, who ran the New York marathon in 2006, she told me to look into running socks that are specifically designed to cushion feet, wick away sweat, and, most importantly in my case, prevent blisters. 

I ended up buying three pairs of Balega Hidden Comfort Running Socks, which cost around $14 each on Amazon, and quickly realized that not all socks are made the same. My blister issue went away within the first week I started wearing them. 

And even better, after my race, I was amazed to see that I only had one tiny blister after completing 13 miles. 

Early into my training, I knew that my four-year-old, tattered pair of Nike running shoes weren't going to cut it for a 13-mile race.

So not only did I decide to invest in a new pair of shoes, but I went a step further by visiting a professional running shop recommended by a friend. At the store, staff used gait analysis systems to examine how I landed on my feet and if I had any misalignments while I ran on a treadmill. From there, they provided specific advice on what shoes I should use for the race.  

They also gave me a few useful running tips. They told me to be careful with my left ankle because I tend to roll it and to try taking shorter strides to avoid "heel striking," which can cause knee and hip injuries. 

In the end, I left with a pair of Asics shoes that, I'll be honest, weren't the coolest-looking sneakers I'd ever seen, but they were sturdy, comfortable, and helped me reach the finish line without injury. 

Although I wasn't aiming for a specific time for my first half-marathon, I was hoping I'd be able to complete it as close to the two-hour mark as I could. And one of the ways I was able to achieve that goal was by wearing a running vest, which cost around $40. 

The vest was lightweight but came with several pockets where I was able to store my phone, water, and energy gels, a thick, gooey substance that runners consume for extra energy.

Storing water in my vest was especially handy because it meant I didn't have to waste any time stopping at drink stations, which were sometimes quite busy.

A big worry I'd had before my half-marathon was experiencing a sudden digestive system issue, which is pretty common in long-distance races. As Insider previously reported, studies have found that 30% to 65% of runners will have an abdominal complaint.

In 2018, for example, an avid runner named Tamara Torlakson ended up pooping her pants about halfway through a marathon to maintain her pace. "It just came out and I felt a lot better," Torlakson, then 31, recalled of her experience. "I didn't want one poop to mess it all up."

While I knew I wouldn't be alone if it happened, I set myself up for success by waking up early before my race and eating a carb-heavy breakfast that I was familiar with. I opted for a bagel topped with peanut butter and jam, which gave me all the energy I needed without causing any unexpected tummy trouble throughout the run.