Completing a half marathon is a great way to build fitness and have fun at the same time. It also is a good stepping stone to completing a full marathon. But you need to have a correct half marathon training schedule in place. The type of training is different to that of a full marathon which is why you really need to develop a sound half marathon training program that is going to provide you with the right training so that you will be prepared when it comes to race day.
But it is very important to take your half marathon training schedule seriously. You need to hold the highest priority for your training and not let things get in the way. The ideal half marathon training schedule is a schedule that you can easily complete each week, that doesn’t interfere with other things in your life and gets you in the right physical condition to run a half marathon. So that means you have to organise yourself to make sure your half marathon training schedule fits in with your daily routine.
The best way to do this is to organise what you do on a daily basis. You need to work out the times of the day when you are most busy and the times when you aren’t. Once you do that you will be able to work out the perfect time for your half marathon training schedule to fit in. But once you find a time you must commit to it. You can’t afford to skip sessions or put it off because you will get behind in your training. Don’t let things get in the way of your half marathon training schedule and don’t compromise your time. If something conflicts with your half marathon training schedule you must give top priority to your training and find another time for whatever is causing the conflict. If you organise your lifestyle fitting in your training is a breeze.
Your half marathon training schedule will be different than a normal marathon training schedule because you are not running the same distance. So you wont have to run as much mileage during your training. The same principles still apply for a half marathon training schedule though. You will need to slowly increase the amount of mileage you do each week. It is important to start off small when you are just beginning because it can be easy to get too excited and run too far too soon and end up injuring yourself. So a correct half marathon training schedule will have you slowly building up the miles until you are in the right physical shape to complete a half marathon.
Your half marathon training schedule will consist of training sessions five days a week with two rest days. These rest days are going to be on a Monday and Friday while the rest of the days will be when you complete your marathon training. A half marathon training schedule like this will have you doing your short to medium runs on week days and your long run on the Saturday.
On Sundays you will do some form of cross training. Cross training is a very important part in any half marathon training schedule because it helps to prevent over use injury and helps with recovery. Some good cross training exercises are walking, swimming or riding a bike. It is a good idea to have a half marathon training schedule that has the cross training session the day after your long run because it gives the body a break from running and helps to quicken recovery.
If you plan your half marathon training schedule carefully and stick to it you will increase your fitness and overall well being and be in perfect mental and physical shape to complete your first half marathon.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Astronaut running a marathon
By: evan7711 | 01-04-2007
Astronaut Sunita Williams is going to run the Boston Marathon ... in space! Can a person really run 26.2 miles on a treadmill in zero gravity? Wouldn't there be medical consequences?
Is there a way to simulate high-altitude conditions while training at sea-level?
By: adler1 | 02-11-2006
Is there a way to simulate high-altitude conditions while training at sea-level?I am training to run the Pike's Peak Ascent in Colorado Springs, CO., but I live on the East Coast. The Pike's Peak event is 13 miles long and covers approx. 7800 vertical feet. I'm a serious runner and have run marathons, half-marathons, 10 milers, etc. so I know how to train for the distance, but don't know how to simulate the lower oxygen levels found at high altitudes.
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Track and Field Articles
Top 5 Athletes of All Time
By: Laura Davis | 18/07/2008
If you were asked who you thought was the best athletes of all time; football, athletics, gymnasts, boxers, golfers the list goes on and on, who would you choose?
A Day in the Life of Jessica Ennis – British Heptathlete
By: Louise Hudson | 15/07/2008
Sportsister.com chats to British heptathlete Jessica Ennis about her usual training plan.
A Glimpse of the US Trials on the Way to Beijing 2008 - Track and Field
By: Cindy Ferguson | 14/07/2008
US Athetics getting ready for Beijing 2008.
Tips for Running
By: Laura Davis | 09/07/2008
Running is an excellent way to get fit, lose weight and make new friends; however improper preparation or practise can lead to injury and strain. Many people compete in marathons and long distance runs, to ensure that when taking your hobby to the next level follow these tips.
Day at the Races
By: Dr Elizabeth Menon | 08/07/2008
It was a glorious afternoon that day in South Yorkshire. I drove across the racecourse roundabout and realized why it took me an hour for the journey instead of the usual ten minutes! The race was on and the horses crossing the road caused the traffic jam. The clock tower stood whispering in the gentle breeze and the atmosphere was electric; there were people everywhere, shouting, screaming and talking in a language that was alien to me; it was my first day at the races!
Tips for Better Hurdling
By: prasannamoorthy | 08/07/2008
The chief aim of better hurdling is the achievement of maximal pace and continuation, along with minimizing deceleration when running over barriers.
Taking Advantage of Free Online Casino Games
By: jacobmathew | 07/07/2008
free online casino games can benefit you a lot if you take advantage of them. They can be useful for both starters and those who have began but have never won.
Sportsister Meets Kelly Holmes
By: Louise Hudson | 03/07/2008
Kelly Holmes is one of the country’s best known and well liked sportswomen, thanks in part to her double gold win at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Sportsister.com chats to her about the upcoming Beijing games, getting more girls involved in sport and those gold medals.
More from Tristan Bull
Training for a Half Marathon
By: Tristan Bull | 03/01/2008 | Track and Field
Many people want to complete a marathon but some prefer to complete a half marathon first, some even want to do it as part of their marathon training.
The Importance of Having a Marathon Training Schedule
By: Tristan Bull | 03/01/2008 | Track and Field
If you have made the decision to run a marathon it is vitally important that you have a marathon training schedule you can stick to.
The Complete Half Marathon Training Guide for Beginners
By: Tristan Bull | 03/01/2008 | Track and Field
Ok so lets start from the top. Why do you need a half marathon training guide in the first place? Obviously you have decided to run a half marathon but is that all you are going to do?
The Benefits of Marathon Training for Beginners
By: Tristan Bull | 03/01/2008 | Track and Field
Many people decide they want to run a marathon. It is a type of achievement that people look back on fondly. Running a marathon is often a new year’s resolution for many people or when they sit down and write out what they want to achieve in their life often running a marathon is on their list. So these people need to know how to run a marathon even when they have no idea about what is involved.
Setting Up a Half Marathon Training Program
By: Tristan Bull | 03/01/2008 | Track and Field
A half marathon training program is something that you want to setup when you have made the decision to run a half marathon. It is a great way to get fit and it is good preparation for a full marathon.
Marathon Training Tips for your First Marathon
By: Tristan Bull | 03/01/2008 | Track and Field
So you are going to run your first marathon and you would like some marathon training tips to help you out a bit. There are many things you need to do in preparation for a marathon and many things that you can do that will set you back in your marathon training.
Marathon Training Programs
By: Tristan Bull | 03/01/2008 | Weight Loss
A lot of people believe that to run a marathon you need to some kind of super athlete. But with the right marathon training programs you can successful train for and complete your first marathon.
How to Find the Best Marathon Training Schedules to Complete your First Marathon
By: Tristan Bull | 03/01/2008 | Track and Field
When you first decide to complete a marathon you need to find what marathon training schedules work best for you. You need to find something that is going to fit your needs and is going to be easy for you to implement.