What should my half marathon training plan look like?

Now that you’ve chosen your half marathon, it’s time to settle on your training plan. A solid half marathon training plan should have these four things: cross-training days, a long run that’s at least 10 miles, a rest day immediately following your long run, and a taper.

What is the best way to train for a marathon?

The most important part of your training is a weekly long run at an easy “conversational” pace that gradually increases in distance, week over week, to build your strength and endurance. If you gradually build to being comfortable on long runs of 10 or 11 miles, you’ll have what it takes to go 13.1 on race day.

What is the novice 1 half marathon program?

The Novice 1 program is designed for beginning runners who want to prepare for their first 13.1-mile race. If you have run several half or full marathons before, you might want to take a look at the Novice 2 half marathon program, which is designed for more experienced runner.

What is the best day of the week to train for half-marathon?

The long run, usually on Saturday or Sunday, is arguably the most important part of any half-marathon training plan. (Coogan suggests Saturday, so you can rest on Sunday, but that depends on the type of work you do and your schedule.)

How do you train for a half marathon without getting tired?

A lot of training plans leave the cross-training decision up to you, but Coogan suggests swimming, cycling, or using the elliptical or Stairmaster. And there’s no need to worry about not hitting that 13.1 before the half marathon: “If you can run 10 miles, you can run 13 on race day,” Coogan says.

Is a half marathon right for You?

The half marathon can be the perfect distance: 13.1 miles is long enough to make you feel super accomplished but short enough to wrap your brain (and schedule) around. “Just about anyone can do a half marathon with the proper training,” says Mark Coogan, team New Balance coach and former Olympic marathoner.

How far in advance should you plan a half marathon?

Plan your race —or virtual race —at least two months from now. “If you can run a 5K now, then you can run a half marathon in eight weeks,” Coogan says. “But the ideal plan is three to four months long, which gives you a buffer if you get sick, injured, or slammed at work.”