Training Advice Needed

SweatpantsRebellion

Runners - tell me what I should do. I'm currently working on Hal Higdon's 5k Novice Training Program. It steps up each run slowly (1/4 mile at a time). I personally feel like I could step it up a bit faster, as in skip a week this week and step up by 1/2 mile. So instead of going from 2 mile to 2.25 mile runs this week, I'll go to 2.5 miles. Reason being I'd like to complete this a bit quicker than the allotted 8 weeks so that I can move onto the half marathon training program (Hal Higdon's Novice) which is 12 weeks. I'll have 16 weeks after my 5k to train for my marathon, but I'd like to have 18 weeks if possible. I'm thinking if I could increase a bit faster in the 5k program I'm doing I'll give myself more time for the half marathon program. Up to this point I've felt great - no lingering soreness, runs have felt easy to complete even as I've increased distances. I've actually ran over 2.5 miles before starting his 5k program, so I decreased a bit when I began, which I think has helped build a stronger endurance base. So I'm on week 4 and thinking of skipping to week 5. If that goes well, I may do another skip (so that I'm increasing by 1/2 mile again instead of 1/4 mile), which would give me the 18 weeks I'd like to have for the half marathon program (which is only 12 weeks, but I'd like to have the extra 18 weeks). Here's links to the programs I'm doing so you can see what I'm talking about. I don't want to set myself up for failure by skipping too far ahead, but I feel like I could handle a bit bigger increase at this point and I'd prefer to skip now and have more room for repeat weeks and/or step back weeks during the half marathon training. What do you guys think?

http://www.halhigdon.com/training/50933/5K-Novice-Training-Program
http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51131/Half-Marathon-Novice-1-Training-Program

MissingMinnesota

IMO I think you would be fine moving up at 1/2 mile increases as when you get into half marathon training you will probably (depending on your training) be going up a 1-2 miles per week.

SweatpantsRebellion

Thanks. I did end up doing the extra half mile. It was a rougher run, but not because of the distance. I was tired 1/2 mile into it...lol. It was hotter than I'm used to and the double jogger was just kicking my butt! I'm pretty sure I'll be just fine with my skipped week! Thank you for the advice!

♥xenawarriorprincess♥

Thanks. I did end up doing the extra half mile. It was a rougher run, but not because of the distance. I was tired 1/2 mile into it...lol. It was hotter than I'm used to and the double jogger was just kicking my butt! I'm pretty sure I'll be just fine with my skipped week! Thank you for the advice!

Heat does make a big difference when running...glad that you got the run in but bummer it was so hot...I feel your pain...I love the Novice 1/2 marathon training schedule from Hal Higdon