I'll try to answer your questions Irvina but I'm not sure I have all that much wisdom 🙈
I use my Fitbit versa to track my pace, it tells me if I look at my watch what my current pace, distance & time is and every km what my pace for that km was.
I'm not really following a specific training programme, I work shifts so struggle to do the same runs on same days each week so while one week I might run 4 days if I'm on nights or my husband is I may only fit in one or two runs. I try to do at least one long run each week which I built up from 5-10km and then from 10-16km.
Generally they say 2 weeks between last long run and race day I think. I've been looking at runners world website which I'm also subscribed to their magazine and also the website of the half marathon I am running which has a little training section with a few different training plans and other tips.
I'm aiming for less than 2 hours 30 minutes which I'm currently on course to do but it's my first one so I'm not going to push myself too hard to get it and risk an injury!
Normally I run at 6am so I don't eat before but make sure I've had a decent meal the night before. If I'm running more than 1 hour I take an isotonic drink with me and I always run with water no matter what. If I'm doing my 10 Miles I take jelly beans for roughly the 10km mark. I cannot tolerate the gels so jelly beans seemed to work well for me, I've been using the jelly belly sports ones. I've no idea if they're better than the regular jelly beans or not though!
In the past couple of weeks I've really been concentrating on my technique because I read an article about how a lot of ex gymnasts (which I am) run very very upright (which I do) if I lean forwards slightly as I do when running into the wind I find my calf's ache less and I think it's what helped me knock a minute off my 10 Miles! I may just be talking crap though! With regards to food I haven't really tried many different things, I definitely need to eat before a longer run and I definitely need to run with water and/or some kind of isotonic drink.
I have found Runner's world and woman's running to be really helpful websites & magazines. Lots of really good articles and training schedules to try and lots of good advice. I also had a gait analysis at my local running shop and feel this was invaluable. To begin with my feet really didn't like the trainers I'd bought, after 5km the balls of my feet really tingled but I realised after reading an article that I'd been doing them up too tight! I also feel my running belt is my best tool as it allows me to carry the water I need without having to hold it in my hand. It also means I can have my phone and a little microfibre towel which in the summer was lovely to help cool down!
I hope some of that has helped, sorry it's such a long reply!! 