Half training question...

reggie2run

I've been running for 6+ years. This year I have done 8km/10km/16km races, a 10 mile race (July) and a Half Marathon (Sept).

Regularly I run 3+ times a week for a distance of between 5-8 miles each time. I used Hal Higdon's Novice training program for my first Half and will use his training schedule (probably Novice 2) for my Hypo Half on January 20th/13.

It's now 13 weeks till my Hypo Half so I will soon start Hal's 12 week training schedule. I'm wondering with all the running that I have done and continue to do, do I start at week 1, day 1 of the training schedule or do I start somewhere in the middle, and if so where? Any advice and guidance will be greatly appreciated.

nickhuffman74

I've been running for 6+ years. This year I have done 8km/10km/16km races, a 10 mile race and a Half Marathon.

Regularly I run 3+ times a week for a distance of between 5-8 miles each time. I used Hal Higdon's Novice training program for my first Half and will use his training schedule (probably Novice 2) for my Hypo Half on January 20th/13.

It's now 13 weeks till my Hypo Half so I will soon start Hal's 12 week training schedule. I'm wondering with all the running that I have done and continue to do, do I start at week 1, day 1 of the training schedule or do I start somewhere in the middle, and if so where? Any advice and guidance will be greatly appreciated.

Why not start on day one?

arc918

step one: training programs are guidelines, not gospel - so adjust as needed

if you are already further (farther?) than the long runs on the schedule, do not drop down - you can keep ramping up and just catch up with the schedule a few weeks down the road

good luck and have fun!

Also note, lots of those schedule are aimed at people who are running less than you - it is ok to run more days/miles

wolfchild59

He has training schedules various fitness levels. It sounds like with all of your running experience you could do one of the more advanced ones and start working on a PR or something like that. Those tend to start with higher mileage and also include more intense pacing work along the way.

But most training programs are designed for people that don't know what they should be doing to to train properly and are looking for guidance and a way to go about it. So, in that respect, since you clearly already know how to race train, it will probably be starting a lower level than you may be used to already running. But Hal Higdon makes it very clear that his plans are just to give a general idea and that, as long as you stick to whatever variations you make to it, to feel free to adjust it to your fitness levels and preferences.

BrianSharpe

I was asking myself the exact same question (except I've got a marathon coming up in May) and the solution I came up with is to use Hal's Intermediate marathon plan (18 weeks) and double up the weeks, starts me off close to where I've been for my long runs but adds volume as it's based on running 5 days per week.

reggie2run

I was asking myself the exact same question (except I've got a marathon coming up in May) and the solution I came up with is to use Hal's Intermediate marathon plan (18 weeks) and double up the weeks, starts me off close to where I've been for my long runs but adds volume as it's based on running 5 days per week.

Great plan Brian. I'll have another Half coming up in May 2013....so maybe I can use another Hal schedule and adjust accordingly.

And thanks everyone for your advice. It's greatly appreciated.