10 K to Half Marathon?

SKME2013

Apologies for double posting, as I posted the same question into the Long Distance Runners Group:

Hi everybody,

I am 49, female and I have just successfully completed to 10K races. I finished the C25K and then the C210K program and am now contemplating training for a half marathon.

My understanding that Hal Higdon's novice 2 half marathon plan may be a good way to start?

The question I have: at which week would I start best? Do I start at th beginning eventhough I am running three times a week over 10K or do I start at e.g. week 7 where the long run approximately is what I am running right now?

Your advice is very much appreciated!
Thanks in advance
Stef.

brianpperkins

Most people can simply plug into a training program at a similar running volume. There is no need to go back to the beginning if you're well beyond that point. Remember that these training plans are built to peak for race day so plan accordingly in your preparations. The beginner plans are made to get you to the finish line, the intermediate plans to get you there with a better finishing time ... investigate both and see what best matches your goals.

Capt_Apollo

start 1-2 weeks behind what your current volume is, just to allow yourself a little wiggle room. you don't want to increase volume and intensity too drastically.

BrianSharpe

Pretty much what Brian said for the Novice level.

If you decide you want to improve speed/times and move to the intermediate you probably want to roll back to the beginning of the training plan at an appropriate number of weeks from your race date (same if you move to his advanced plans). There's a training principal called periodization which becomes more important as you start doing longer distances and/or becoming more competitive (in a nutshell you go trough cycles of increasing and decreasing training volumes designed to have you peak at the appropriate time for your A race).

SKME2013

Thanks for all your input! Very much appreciated.
Stef.