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Phong C. Phong C. Sendmail

Need a Half Marathon Training Program

asked 11 months ago | Report

What is a good resource on starting a half marathon training program? RW? Never done one before, don't even know where to start!

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  • Michael M. Michael M. Sendmail

    I'm running my first Half in October, and I started by reading Marathoning for Mortals (http://www.amazon.com/Marathoning-Mortals-John-Bingham/dp/1579547826/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250784535&sr=8-1). Another great resource is Hal Higdon's Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide (http://www.amazon.com/Marathon-Ultimate-Training-Hal-Higdon/dp/1594861994/ref=pd_sim_b_1), which focuses more on the full Marathon, but most of the advice translates to a Half as well. Higdon also has a good training plan for Novice's on his website at http://www.halhigdon.com/halfmarathon/novice.htm.

    The best advice I can give you is to go slow and don't rush into things. If you do, you are likely to get injured before you ever complete your training. If you've been running for awhile and have a decent base built up, then you have less to worry about here, but even so you need to very slowly increase your mileage to get used to running farther and farther.

    Good luck!

    answered 11 months ago |Report

  • Matthew R. Matthew R. Sendmail

    Personally, When I ran my first half marathon, I used the standard training program found in RW. And I hated it. I felt like it was too demanding, and too much of a hassle to keep up with. I finished with a time of 2:18:46. When I set out to train for my second marathon I didn't follow a premade training schedule. Instead when I began training (about 8-10 weeks before) I was at a 3 mile average run. Each weekend (and sometimes I would skip a weekend if my body was hurting) I would run a long run, increasing the distance of the long run until 2-3 weeks before the race. My long run was a full 13.1. During the week I would run maybe once or twice depending on how I felt, and they would be no longer than 5 milers.
    It may not be a great training program, but it worked for me because my second half marathon was a 1:49:35, almost 30 minutes faster. I followed the same routine when training for my fifth half marathon which gave me a PR of 1:45:17. (I ran 3 and 4 within a month after my 2nd so I didn't need to train any more for them).

    I hope this helps, or gives you an idea. My best piece of advice is listen to your body. Those RW training programs can be intense, and can take a toll if training for your first one, don't worry about missing a run here or there; but I do suggest you run a full 13.1 training run before the race, it will give you that extra confidence on race morning. Good luck!!

    answered 11 months ago |Report

  • Casher H. Casher H. Sendmail

    I am using a training program provided for free to registered runners for the Marine Corp marathon. It is a lot like Matthew's plan.

    Monday: off
    Tuesday: easy run 30min
    Wednesday: off
    Thursday: easy run 30 min
    Friday: walk 30 min
    Saturday: off
    Sunday: long run

    Basically the plan is all about the long run on Sunday. You start your first long run with the milage you are comfortable running. You add 10% every week until you reach 10 miles and then the long runs are every other sunday until about mile 18-20, which then the long runs come every two weeks. The one week in the middle from mile 10-18 is anywhere from 5-7 miles. From mile 18-14 the middle two sunday are 6 and then 7 miles. The longest run is about 24 miles 3-4 weeks before the race date with a gradual tapering off.
    I have to admit I was a little skeptical at first, I just felt that I could run a lot more offten and more miles during the week. I kept with the plan and this past Sunday I just completed my first 18 mile run! Of course the plan is I think for the first time marathoner who only goal is to finish. I think that it is based off Jeff Galloway's basic training programs.
    I hope that I have provided some useful information to you. If this sounds like something you would like to do, I could always email you a copy of my calendar, which has all the miles filled in.

    Casher

    answered 11 months ago |Report

  • Caleb M. Caleb M. Sendmail

    Phong, I really like Ryan Hall's Ultimate Half Marathon Training Plan, which is available on RW (you can probably just search for it there). It's a little bit more substantial than the standard RW plans. I used it for my first half, and came in almost 5 minutes below my goal time. Based on your training, I think you'd be suited well for this program. I think it's 10 weeks long, so depending on which half you are planning to do, you can spend some time beforehand getting comfortable with some of the workouts that the plan calls for.

    answered 11 months ago |Report

  • Kelli C. Kelli C. Sendmail

    http://www.marathonrookie.com/half-marathon-training.html

    My husband is running his first half marathon in October and is using this schedule. he seems to like this!

    answered 11 months ago |Report

  • Vicky S. Vicky S. Sendmail

    I use Hal Higdon's training program http://www.halhigdon.com/halfmarathon/novice.htm

    Google searches will bring up all kinds of training programs to follow, but I really like Hal's.

    answered 11 months ago |Report

  • Megan S. Megan S. Sendmail

    I asked the same question a few months ago on another running forum and was overwhelmed with suggestions of Hal Higdon's plan.

    answered 11 months ago |Report

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