I remember saying I would never run more than a 5k. That was about two years ago. Now I find myself putting together a half marathon training plan. I would blame it on my wife, seeing as how she is the real runner of the family, but that is not right. I simply now have the itch to see just how well I could do and want to prove that I can do it.
My Half Marathon Training Plan
As I have mentioned, my wife is the experienced runner and she has come up with the plan. It is simple and that is why I like it. Most plans I have found online while reading seems overly complicated to me. If you make it too complex, there is a greater chance that I won’t follow through. So, if you are interested, here is my week by week set of goals leading up to the race.
- Week 1
- Long – 6 Miles
- Short – 4 Miles, 3 Miles
- Week 2
- Long – 5 Miles
- Short – 3 Miles, 4 Miles
- Week 3
- Long – 7 Miles
- Short – 3 Miles, 4 Miles
- Week 4
- Long – 8 Miles
- Short – 3 Miles, 4 Miles
- Week 5
- Long – 9 Miles
- Short – 3 Miles, 5 Miles
- Week 6
- Long – 6 Miles
- Short – 5 Miles, 4 Miles
- Week 7
- Long – 10 Miles
- Short – 4 Miles, 4 Miles
- Week 8
- Long – 11 Miles
- Short – 3 Miles, 5 Miles
- Week 9
- Long – 8 Miles
- Short – 6 Miles, 4 Miles
- Week 10
- Long – 10 Miles
- Short – 4 Miles, 4 Miles
- Week 11
- Long – 6 to 8 Miles
- Short – 3 Miles, 3 Miles
- Week 12
- 13.1 Mile Half Marathon Day
As you can see above, there are typically 3 runs a week. I might sneak in another run or two during the week but nothing more than 4 miles. The better option is to add in some road biking to take some pressure off running so much. At some point, it does all come down to how much time you have to put in and how much you want to train. Remember that each Half Marathon training plan may be different – it is not a one size fits all.
The more complex plans I looked at usually had something going on every day of the week and I personally don’t find that likely. I find being honest with myself helps here. Put together a plan by yourself, with a trusted friend or with a running coach. Make the decision to go all in on training but also do it in a way that makes sense to you.
If you do use a coach, remember you are still the one in charge. Make sure the coach understands your goals and what work you are willing to put in. One other suggestion is to make sure the coach is going to give you the full plan rather than a week at a time. This way, you can make sure you can fit in those long runs and adjust plans if needed.
We will see how my training goes with the plan above but hope to report some positive results. Good luck if you choose to embark down a similar path for running a half or full marathon!
