half marathon training and nutrition

Question
Hi, I'm planning on running a half marathon in March of 2011. I'm 20 and have always considered myself quite healthy and although I've already started running to train I was wandering whether there is anything else I should be doing to train and are there any ways I can improve my stamina? At the moment I'm able to run for a mile or two before feeling the need to walk or stop completely.
Secondly, are there any particular foods I should be eating more of? I already eat my five a day but what else should I be making sure I eat?

Thanks very much

Answer
Well, I'm not the best person to ask about nutrition, but I do know about half-marathon training. But I will answer both questions to the best of my ability.

How do you run  your 1 or 2 mile runs?
If you need to walk or stop, you may be running it too hard.
There is no shame in jogging.
I would rather jog 13 miles than run 2 and walk 11.
That being said, you need to find paces.
Right now, I am assuming, you go out really hard.
That is Junior High mentality (no offense) (believe me, I still have a little bit of it when I race cross-country). But you need to get rid of it if you are going to run a half.
Next time you go run that, time it.
After you have timed it, the next day, add a minute to the pace and try to go a half mile/mile more with the new pace.
The point is, you need to find a pace you can jog at.
Once you have found that, all will be in Nirvava, and you will be able to run for miles and miles on end.
Oh, and a good test to see if you have found your golden jogging pace is to see if you can speak normally when you run.

One other thing, if you want to run faster, one of my good running friends said that you need to focus on your breathing. Sometimes that helps me, and sometimes it doesn't. If you do, make sure it is from the diaphragm and with a rhythm(my coach preached that to us) one breath in, two steps out, one breath in, two steps out. (IDK if that confuses you when you are running as much as me, but you can try it). However, it is good to breathe deep when you run, and I do follow that counsel.

Finally, eat more carbs if you want extra energy immediately, eat protein if you wnat to run fast the next day(and be strong). Don't eat fiber (unless you want an unpleasant surprise when you are running). And sugar is semi-in the carb area.