Half Marathon training

There are a number of plans out there; Hal Higdon, Runners World etc that I'd suggest you explore and pick one.

Assuming that you're just going for completion, rather than time you can probably do it in 12-16 weeks, although you don't have much margin for dealing with niggles in that time.

I would definitely pick out a beginner plan and go with it. The first one I ever used was in the RUnner World book: The Big Book of Marathon and Half MArathon training. You may like to check it out because it has lots of good info in it about training, different kinds of runs, nutrition, race day tips, etc in addition to training plans.

I definitely think you can work from 5k to 13 in 16 weeks or so, esp if your goal is completion. But you can always adjust your goals if you get halfway and its just nto working for you. If you have to sign up for the race now, you could purchase the race protection or choose one that allows you change distance.

Hey! My first half is on Nov 2 and I am also at the 5K level right now. That gives me 16 weeks til the race. I'm going to follow Hal Higdon's Novice 1 half marathon training program here: http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51131/Half-Marathon-Novice-1-Training-Program

Since it's 12 weeks long, I'm going to work on getting a good 5K base for the first couple weeks and get going on the program. I'll have two extra weeks in there to repeat weeks that I have trouble with or if I get sick or injured or something. With that said, if you have a good 5K base right now, you can definitely do the mid-Oct half!

My first 10K was late May and I learned that it's both extremely important but impossible to follow a training program! I had my 10K training planned out perfectly every day, but guess what...stuff happens. You get sick. You have family emergencies. You hurt your freaking achilles. Whenever I couldn't do a workout exactly as planned I got really frustrated and upset with myself. My poor boyfriend got to see lots of tears. But I learned that having some flexibility week after week (but making sure to stay somewhat consistent) works. Unfortunately I had some stomach issues the morning of my race (my biggest fear honestly, and it came true!) but I did my best and enjoyed it anyway, even though my time wasn't even close to my practice 10K a couple weeks before.

So yeah, pick a training plan and get going, and don't worry if you have bumps in the road where you have to switch workout days or even skip one every now and then. You'll be fine.

Depending on how confident you are in your running, you could also follow a plan by Jeff Galloway that involves run/walk intervals. Personally, I use walk intervals in my running and am faster for it than if I ran continuously (with fewer/no injuries to boot). In my last half, I did a 9 minute run, 1 minute walk interval, though Jeff recommends shorter run segments for someone at my pace (completed in 2:33)

http://www.jeffgalloway.com/

I did the hal higdon novice 1 which is about 12 weeks. I actually had 14 weeks and added a couple of long runs in.

I was hanging out at the 10k level for a while before going for my first half, and even that was a little miserable. Do you want to know how far forever is? 8 miles. I couldn't get past that mark for weeks.

How many miles per week are you currently running?

I think just being at a 5k level, you might be able to complete a half more comfortably if you spend some time at runs 5-6-7 miles long. Build yourself a nice base. Would you object to looking at a spring half instead of a fall?

I use Endomondo's training program. It tests me along the way to ensure it's challenging me enough, and it's no-fuss. I turn on the app, I go running. I'm training for a half. (Their training programs are generally 20-24 weeks)

I love it.

I think you've got time to prepare for this.

So far I have run my HMs on intervals. There is some data (controversial) to suggest that most of us will have better overall times if we include recovery intervals in our longer distance runs. This has certainly been the case for me.

In the past I was usually doing 9:1 run/walk, so a 1 minute recover walk for every 9 min running.
Recently I have started playing around with 14:1 and liking it so far.

Always for running, the key issue is to avoid injuries so:
1) have good shoes professionally fitted (some like to rotate different shoes; I've recently started doing this)
2) spend adequate time on warm up, cool down, and stretching
3) don't neglect core work as this increases your body's stability for a better running form and less shock-y stride
4) consider getting a running coach to look at your technique and suggest changes that will help you perform better and more injury-free (this has been HUGE for me)
5) build volume slowly
6) build in recovery periods to your weekly/monthly running schedule so your body has a chance to heal
7) spend about 80-90% of your running time at an easy, low-intensity pace.

At the end of a training run, you should feel good and feel like you could turn right around and do the same run again if you had to. If you're feeling beat and battered at the end of your training runs, you are on track for an injury.

I trained with a local running store who sets up training groups for my first half. It started in January and the half marathon was the first weekend in May so, basically 4 months.

I'm at this point now myself...I've always been in pretty good shape and have done intense workouts but running has been my Everest lol. Just couldn't get there for some reason. I started running in late April and it was honestly the first time I could run 2 miles straight without taking walk breaks. Now I have done up to almost 5 miles but since it's gotten hotter (I'm in Texas...painful summer runs), I haven't done more than 4 miles and my speed has really taken a hit. I've looked at Hal's training plan and it seems doable but I'm also mixing up running with other workout programs so my running is normally 2-3 days a week max so I would most likely stretch it out. I also recently read a book that a coworker recommended "Marathoning for Mortals" and that was really great. I'm considering a half in December but haven't committed yet...

How long do you think would be needed to train for a half marathon if you're currently only at the 5k level, and what is the best way to go about training?

I'm wanting to complete a half marathon, and there's one in the city in mid October but I don't know if I'd be able to get to that level by then. Am I better to just go for a 10km for my next milestone and take more time to work up to a Half marathon?

Should be enought time if you start now.
The local HM is the last weekend of September and the training started last monday on the 7th. The level we start at is 3 miles which is the 5k.

12 weeks, my plan has long runs that increase to 10 miles the week before the half marathon, running 4 times a week.
Do you know what the time limit is for the half marathon, the vegas half marathon has a time limit of 4hrs, which means it's just over 17.5 minute miles, which is enough time to walk most of it, check out the time allowed and calculate what you minimum speed would have to be and how comfortable you would be with that speed:)

Good luck, I'm sure you'll be fine, you just have to commit to the training.

I use Endomondo's training program. It tests me along the way to ensure it's challenging me enough, and it's no-fuss

Likewise. It has some frustrations but it's working well for me. I'm doing the HM in 16 weeks with 4 sessions per week. I've used it for 10K improvement before as well.

I'm using the Sub-2:30 plan via Runkeeper. It's four runs per week for 16 weeks. It starts with 3 mi. runs, so I'd say if you're comfortable running that a few times per week then you will be fine. I really like that you run 13 mi. twice and 14 mi. once during the training - I like the idea of knowing I can do the full distance BEFORE I pin that race bib on.