AthHalf Director Offers Tips, Advice for Half Marathon Runners

Participants preparing for the 2026 AthHalf Half Marathon faced the challenge of balancing their training goals with the intense Georgia heat and humidity.

The half marathon is scheduled for Oct. 11. Race organizers faced their own challenge as a storm front is headed to the region, but organizers said Thursday in an email that they were holding off on making decisions about canceling or delaying the races “until we are certain we can no longer guarantee runners’ safety on the course” due to extreme weather.

Race director Alan Pesti, a native Athenian and runner who has competed in more than 60 races, discussed in a September interview how the heat has affected runners and race preparations, along with his advice for participants heading into race weekend. 

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Q: From your experience as a runner, how has the heat affected the way you’ve been training? 

A: It’s been brutal. The key thing is to just slow down. I’ve been doing this long enough that I know it’s hard to tell your brain that, yes, I’m running a minute, two minutes slower than I usually do, but I know that three months from now, when it cools off, I do have that level of fitness. It will carry through. 

It’s really tough, especially for new runners, because they feel themselves dragging and they just want to keep pushing. But you have to have the experience to know it will pay off. Even though I’m running slower, as long as you’re running at the same relative effort, then it’ll pay off. You are getting physically more fit. You are getting more endurance. 

Q: What’s the biggest mistake you see runners make when they’re training in the heat and humidity? 

A: Too fast. Your training plan tells you that you need to run at your race pace, whether that’s an eight-minute mile, nine-minute mile. Well, you can’t do that when it’s 100 degrees out. You need to be running 10- to 11-minute miles. 

People think, “Oh, I’ll just drink more water. I’ll just take another electrolyte packet.” But you really just need to slow down and let your body adapt. 

Q: Has training through months of hot weather changed anything you have to consider as race director? 

A: Not particularly. We plan for that sort of median runner. We’ll have water stops every 2 miles. We’ll offer water and Powerade, so we’ll have electrolyte drinks there on the course. We provide GU energy gels at mile 8, so if runners forget their nutrition or can’t afford it, we provide it for them as part of their race fee. We’ll also have medical people on the course and an ambulance at the finish line.

Q: What should runners consider when it comes to nutrition and hydration before race day? 

A: Once you start running more than an hour and a half, two hours, nutrition starts to play into things, particularly fuel. 

It’s better to pre-electrolyte and then ride it out versus thinking you can catch up after the run. A lot of people think, “Oh, I’ll just finish the run and have a Gatorade.” Well, by then you’re depleted. 

You want to make sure you’re eating carbs the day before, the week before, and then, if you’ve trained with it, taking gels or chews. Just do what your stomach can handle and fuel properly throughout the race. 

Q: How has registration for this year’s AthHalf compared with previous years? 

A: We cap it at 3,000. That’s our capacity, just due to the course and some of the smaller roads. This year, we sold out on Aug. 1, which is sort of insane. Last year, we sold out Sept. 1, so a full month earlier than last year.  As of right now (late September), a total of 897 people joined the waitlist. Last year, it was a total of 400, so less than half. 

Q: After organizing this race and participating in so many yourself, what do you wish every runner understood before standing at the starting line? 

A: Show up a little early and enjoy the moment. I think especially new runners, they see how the race starts at 7:30 and think, “I’ll just get there at 7:30.” There’s going to be a line for porta-potties. There’s going to be a line for gear check. There’s going to be parking issues. 

The start line is where all the excitement and energy starts. That’s where you start this adventure, and it’s a special moment. Don’t get too caught up in wanting to run your 8-minute-per-mile pace or whatever it is. You trained hard. Enjoy it. You paid money. Have a good time.