Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Half Marathon Training Plan

The following entry outlines two "suggested" half marathon training programs.  The first is for new runners who have been doing some walking and conditioning.  The second is for more experienced runners who are interested in setting a time goal.  Both programs are based on 16 weeks of training so it is very early to start following either; that said, once the warmer weather shows up it won't hurt to have your head around a routine.


Half Marathon To Finish—for runners and walkers (scroll down for the "Time Goal Schedule")
How to Train for a Half Marathon by Jeff Galloway

This program is designed for those who have been doing some running or walking for a few weeks.


Note: This is the minimum that I’ve found necessary to finish with strength. If you are already running/walking more than this amount and are able to recover between workouts, you may continue to do what you are doing—but be careful.
5. Run-walk-run ratio should correspond to the pace used (Runners).

8 min/mi—run 4 min/walk 35 seconds
9 min/mi— 4 min run-1 min walk
10 min/mi—-3:1
11 min/mi—2:30-1
12 min/mi—-2:1
13 min/mi—-1:1
14 min/mi—30 sec run/30 sec walk
15 min/mi—30 sec/45 sec
16 min/mi—30 sec/60 sec

6. Walkers use the walk-shuffle ratio that works for you to avoid huffing and puffing

7. It is fine to do cross training on Monday, Wednesday and Friday if you wish. There will be little benefit to your running/walking in doing this, but you’l increase your fatburning potential. Don’t do exercises like stair machines that use the calf muscle on cross training days.

8. Be sure to take a vacation from strenuous exercise on the day before your weekend runs/walks.

9. An optional pace run TT is noted on the Tuesday run. To get used to a pace you want to run in the race itself, time yourself for a mile, and take the walk breaks as you will do them in the race.

10. Have fun!





Half Marathon Training Schedule for Runners and Walkers
WeekMondayTuesday TTWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday
1off30 min runoff25 min runeasy walkoff3 miles
2off30 min runoff30 min runeasy walkoff4 miles
3off30 min runoff30 min runeasy walkoff5 miles
4off30 min runoff30 min runeasy walkoff2.5 miles
5off30 min runoff30 min runeasy walkoff6.5 miles
6off30 min runoff30 min runeasy walkoff3 miles with MM
7off30 min runoff30 min runeasy walkoff8 miles
8off30 min runoff30 min runeasy walkoff3 miles with MM
9off30 min runoff30 min runeasy walkoff9.5 miles
10off30 min runoff30 min runeasy walkoff4 miles
11off30 min runoff30 min runeasy walkoff11 miles
12off30 min runoff30 min runeasy walkoff4 miles with MM
13off30 min runoff30 min runeasy walkoff12.5 miles
14off30 min runoff30 min runeasy walkoff4 miles with MM
15off30 min runoff30 min runeasy walkoff14 miles
16off30 min runoff30 min runeasy walkoff5 miles
17off30 min runoff30 min runeasy walkoffHalf Marathon Race
18off30 min runoff30 min runeasy walkoff5 miles
19off30 min runoff30 min runeasy walkoff6-8 miles



Half Marathon - Time Goal for runners

Note: This is the minimum that I’ve found necessary to prepare for the goal. If you are already running more than this amount and are able to recover between workouts, you may continue to do what you are doing—but be careful.

1. I don’t recommend that first-time half marathoners try for a time goal. Run the first one to finish, running mostly at a comfortable training pace.

2. To begin this program, you should have done a long run within the past 2 weeks of at least 5 miles. If your long one is not this long, gradually increase the weekend run to this distance before starting this program.

3. Pace the long one so that you aren't’ huffing and puffing—even at the end.

4. When the temperature rises above 60° F: Slow down by 30 seconds a mile for every 5 degrees above 60° F on long runs and the race itself.

5. Run-walk-run ratio should correspond to the pace used.

8 min/mi—run 4 min/walk 35 seconds)
9 min/mi— 4 min run-1 min walk
10 min/mi—-3-1
11 min/mi—2:30-1
12 min/mi—-2- 1
13 min/mi—-1-1
14 min/mi—30 sec run/30 sec walk
15 min/mi—30 sec/45 sec
16 min/mi—30 sec/60 sec


6. It is fine to do cross training on Monday, Wednesday and Friday if you wish. There will be little benefit to your running in doing this, but you’ll increase your fat-burning potential. Don’ do exercises like stair machines that use the calf muscle on non-running days.

7. Be sure to take a vacation from strenuous exercise on the day before your weekend runs.

8. At the beginning of the program, after you have run 2 MMs, you can choose a goal that is as fast as 30 seconds per mile faster than predicted by the process indicated in # 3—r any goal that is slower than this. (Read the “leap of faith goal” segment of the “Choosing The Right Pace” chapter.)

9. To prepare for your goal, 800-meter speedwork is included on non-long-run weekends. To compute your pace for the 800-meter (2 laps around a track), take half the time of your goal pace per mile, as you decided according to #10 above, and subtract 15 seconds.

10. Warm up for each 800-meter repeat workout by walking for 5 minutes, then jogging very slowly for 5-10 minutes. Then do 4-8 acceleration-gliders (see the segment about this in “Drills” chapter of Galloway Training book). Reverse this process as your warm down, leaving out the acceleration gliders.

11. Walk 2:30 to 3 min between each 800-meter repeat.

12. At the end of the first lap, walk for 10-30 seconds—but don’t stop your stopwatch. The time for each 800 should be from the start until you finish the second lap.

13. If you have recovered from the weekend workout on Tuesday, run a mile at race pace (noted as “p” on the Tue line). After an easy warmup, run 4 of the cadence drills (CD) and 4 acceleration-gliders (Acg). These are described in the Drill section of my Galloway Training book. Then run a mile segment at goal pace, taking the walk breaks as you plan to do them in the race. Jog for the rest of your run.

14. On long runs and the race itself, slow down when the temperature rises above 60° F: by 30 seconds a mile for every 5 degrees above 60° F or more.

15. It is fine to do cross training on Monday, Wednesday and Friday if you wish. There will be little benefit to your running in doing this, but you’ll increase your fatburning potential. Don’t do exercises like stair machines that use the calf muscle on non-running days.

16. Be sure to take a vacation from strenuous exercise on the day before your weekend runs.

17. Have fun!

Half Marathon Training Schedule for Time Goal Runners
WeekMondayTuesday (CD/Acg/p)WednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday
1off 30 min runoff30 min runeasy walkoff5 miles
2off35 min run/MMoff35 min runeasy walkoff6 miles
3off35 min runoff35 min runeasy walkoff7.5 miles
4off45 min run/MMoff40 min runeasy walkoff4 x 800
5off45 min run off40 min runeasy walkoff9 miles
6off45 min run/MMoff45 min runeasy walkoff6 x 800
7off45 min runoff45 min runeasy walkoff11 miles
8off45 min run/MMoff45 min runeasy walkoff8 x 800
9off45 min run off45 min runeasy walkoff13 miles
10off45 min run off45 min runeasy walkoff10 x 800
11off45 min runoff45 min runeasy walkoff15 miles
12off45 min runoff45 min runeasy walkoff12 x 800
13off45 min runoff45 min runeasy walkoff17 miles
14off45 min run off45 min runeasy walkoffEasy 5 miles/MM
15off45 min runoff45 min runeasy walkoff Goal Half Race
16off45 min runoff45 min runeasy walkoff4 miles
17off45 min runoff45 min run easy walkoff6-12 miles

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