Half Marathon Training

ranae32
ranae32 Posts: 59 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Im training for a half marathon in June and one in July. I will be running 3 days a week and doing insanity 3 days a week. I was hoping to find some people who will help motivate me that may have some similar goals or who are runners or doing Insanity.

Have you ever ran a half marathon? Is there any tips i need to know when training? The farthest i have ever ran is 5 miles. All advice is welcome :)

Replies

  • arc918
    arc918 Posts: 2,037 Member
    You'll probably need to run 4 or 5 days a week, 3 isn't really enough.

    I suggest Hal Higdon's training programs.

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

    Have fun! Just be careful, as half marathons are a gateway drug...
  • wolfchild59
    wolfchild59 Posts: 2,608 Member
    I used a modified version of one of Hal Higdon's plans for my half marathons and improved both my strength and pace with them. I modified mine to fit my schedule a bit better as well the fact that the first one was in San Francisco and very hilly.

    Here is the training plan that I used:
    Sunday - Long run day (the first time I did a half I maxed out at 13 miles, the second one I adjusted so I maxed out at 14 miles)
    Monday - Strength training, heavy, upper and lower body
    Tuesday - 4-6 mile run (slow increase over the weeks)
    Wednesday - alternated interval speed training with hill training every other week. High intensity, usually no more than 30 minutes total
    Thursday - Strength training, same as Monday and a 3 mile run
    Friday - Rest day
    Saturday - 45-60 minutes of cross cardio (usually the ARC trainer, sometimes Stair Mill)

    I had also run a few race distances prior to my first half (5-K, 7-K, 10-K) and had been working on pacing improvements through all of them so the extra strength and cross days really helped me in that respect. So the P90X could act in the same way for you, but since you haven't run more than five miles before, it might be better to do some more running during the week just to get your overall mileage up as part of your training. Also, if the P90X is as difficult as it looks, you may find yourself too wiped out to run well on your run days, so be cautious of that as well.

    But half marathons are definitely fun, though, my gateway was the first 5-K I ever did and after two half marathons, I'm done with distance running and will still with shorter distance races. I found that I loved the half marathon races, but I hated the weeks of training. heh :)
  • sarahstrezo
    sarahstrezo Posts: 568 Member
    I'm going to be running my first half in September. TBH, the only real reason that I'm doing it is that my stepdad asked me to run it with him ;)
    Right now, I am lifting heavy 3 days a week and I really, really don't want to lose track with that. So, I plan on following a modified Hal Higdon's program. If I have to cut my lifting back to 2 days a week for a while, i will.
  • TurtleRunnerNC
    TurtleRunnerNC Posts: 751 Member
    I'm running my first half on April 28. I am using Hal Hogden's Novice 2 / 12 week program. I am in week 1. I did modify it by changing my weekday runs to Mon, Wed & Thurs with Sat still long. Didn't want to run 3 days in a row because I have a bad hip. I am doing Jillian Michaels DVD on Tue & Fri and I don't do anything on Sunday.
  • beckyboop712
    beckyboop712 Posts: 383 Member
    I've done a couple half-marathons, kind of making up my own training schedule as I go. I am running one in August and will probably be running 3-4 days a week with EA sports Active 2 on my non running days with one day off for yoga (which I highly recommend for the day after a long run). If you have run 5 miles, then building up to 13 miles won't be an issue. This time last year I hadn't run more than 3 miles in MONTHS but I still ran the half in August with no problem (slow but all running, no walking except to drink water).

    Feel free to add me. I may be chubby now but I know my way around running :-)
  • TurtleRunnerNC
    TurtleRunnerNC Posts: 751 Member
    Thanks for the yoga tip. Will add that in.
  • SteveTries
    SteveTries Posts: 723 Member
    Have run 2 and have 2 more in March/April. Love this distance. Add me for support and sharing.

    I agree with the above, 4-5 runs a week but not all the same. A long run, a fartlek, interval, hill session or 2 and some easy runs.

    All the plans I've seen are a variation of that. It's worth doing some research to understand the rationale behind each type and how it contributes.
  • katapple
    katapple Posts: 1,108 Member
    I have run 5 half marathons and one full. I never ran more than 3 days a week (one short and sweet, one speed training, and one slow long distance). Insanity is hardcore it will more than make up for not running more. Make sure you take rest days and do A LOT of stretching :) Good luck!
  • twinmom_112002
    twinmom_112002 Posts: 739 Member
    I ran my first on Sunday (see avatar). I ran it using HH and only running 3 days a week. I wish I had run more. My new training cycle starts on Monday with the another mother runner training plan that has 4 days a week of running. I am also going to be working on my nutrition. I just ordered race weight to read.

    My goal is the triple crown in San Diego (a series of 3 half marathons).

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