Half Marathon Training - Dec 10-16

Litchfield Hills · Dec 10, 2007

Back in the CR days, there was a HM trainiing thread that I (sometimes) participated in, thought I would start one here. As a start, here are some things about my experience, current training, and goal race: Background: I have been running consistenly for abou 14 months, but on and off for years. I have completed 4 HMs - July '02 (still my PR), April '05, April '07, and June '07. Current trainiing: I am a variation of Daniels marathon training plan. I have modified to keep some of the long runs a little longer than 25% of weekly milage. I am running 30-35 mpw now in a base building phase, with my long run up to 11 miles. My weekly milage will peak around 40, with LRs of 15. I am dealing with some back issues from the summer, also when I was running in the upper 30's. Goal Race: Danbury HM, April 6th 2008. This is the same event I ran in '05 which was the worst running experience of my life, so there is some revenge factor.

Jill · Dec 10, 2007

I'm training for my first HM and starting early so that I can build a decent base plus get several training days of 13+ miles. Background: Ran off and on for a few years but never seriously or consistently. Started running in April '07 more seriously. Training Plan: I am running the <a href="http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pW6FH46wLR7A6CX_hlPjQbQ&gid=0" target="_blank">HM Training Plan</a> for Intermediate Competitors from the Running Planet website. I extended this 12 wk program into a 23 wk program. 
Goal Race: Lehigh Valley Half Marathon, April 27, 2008.

theia · Dec 10, 2007

I'm coming off a big PR at the Philly Half last month and now have the distance running bug. Background - I've been running regularly since March 2005. Training Plan - I get a free training plan from my IronHubby Coach. Because of my teaching schedule, we concentrate on quality workouts vs. quantity. I run 3-4 times per week for a maximum of about 25 miles. Goal Race - My real goal race for the spring is Broad Street, but since this is the HM Training thread my HM goal race is the Caesar Rodney Half Marathon on March 9.

sauconRunner · Dec 10, 2007

I'm training for my 2nd Half. My first was last April and I started running in July '06. Current trainiing: I'm doing a modified Daniel's/CoachT plan (when its completed). My max long run will be 16 miles. Similar mileage per week as Litch. Currently in Phase I and building my base. Goal Race: Lehigh Valley Half Marathon, April 27, 2008 followed by teh Broad Street 10miler the weekend after.

Runnin-from-the-Law · Dec 10, 2007

I'm training for my 2nd HM too. Background: First HM was in 5/07 and I felt and looked horrible while running it. My 10k and 10 mile races/times since then make me think I should be able to do much better on this 2nd HM. I've been running since about 5/06. Current training: I'm trying to build mileage for about the next month (between 30 - 35 mpw), then I'll start a plan, but not sure which plan I'll use yet. Goal Race: just signed up today for the Earth Day HM in St. Cloud, MN on 4/19.

keriksen · Dec 10, 2007

I'm training for my 2nd HM. I was pleased with my first in Philly. Background: I used a cut-down version of the Daniels Marathon A plan for Philly, peaking at 50M/week. I'm unsure exactly where I'm going to peak this time, but my reach goal is 60M/week, with 17-18M max LRs. If I am able to get to 60M/week, I should be able to do the full Daniels plan, without cutting back the quality runs much, but I'm also leaving open the possibility of dropping back to 50-55M/week. Current training: I'm building back up after Philly. I've got somewhere in the 40M range planned this week with some strides, which will be my first non-easy running since Philly. We'll see how that goes. Goal Race: Currently planning on the Eugene HM, but that's not 100% certain.

tigger · Dec 11, 2007

I'm currently getting ready for a marathon in February, but will also likely run the Vancouver HM in early May. I ran it last year and managed a nice 3 min PR. This year I want to do the same. 
Like others, I use a marathon training plan that I modify to create a HM program. For HM training I use the Pfitzinger 70 mpw plan, with long runs cut to no more than 15 miles and with a few more threshold runs thrown into the weekly base training. I usually cut the VO2 max work as well. Fewer of the sessions and fewer intervals per session.

Litchfield Hills · Dec 11, 2007

That sounds very similar to what I have done. Daniels has 2 'quality' efforts each week, once you are don base building. In about half of the weeks, I dropped the second quality work out for a long run.

kevin50 · Dec 11, 2007

I'm either running a HM April 5th or a 25K on April 12. The weather is too unpredictable in December-January for me to really have a set plan. My objective is to run somewhere between 30-45 mpw until February. I know, that's a big range. I ran 46.5 miles last week, and hope to be around 40 in most weeks. But I'm realistic in that there's going to be at least 2 considerable winter storms where I spend most of my time shoveling instead of running. Once I get into February, the only real change will be longer weekend runs.

Litchfield Hills · Dec 11, 2007

My sched this week. I am base building, so we are all slow easy aerobic runs. 
Mon: 4 
Tue: 7 
Wed: 5 
Thu: 4-5 
Sat: 11

Jill · Dec 11, 2007

I had a great 45 min. fartlek run today! 
Warmed up for .5 miles, then ran 5 minutes at 9:30 pace alternated with 1 min. 8:30 pace for 40 minutes, followed by .5 mile cooldown. My typical easy pace up until now has been around 11 m/m, so the slower 9:30 m/m was faster than usual. Ended up with 5 miles exactly. I was tired afterwards but felt great! Hope this training makes me speedier. 
I should get in about 29 miles this week. 
My speed runs are Tues/Thurs 
Easy runs are Wed/Fri/Sat 
Long runs are Sun

ScratchType1 · Dec 11, 2007

Background: Started running on April 21st, spent the next 7 months carefully building miles to get me to where I could run a half-marathon. Most of it was run easy, with some tempo runs and fartleks and 5K races. Current Training: Just planning on doing mostly easy runs for the next 4 weeks or so, trying to get around 25 miles per week and climbing to around 30 miles per week. Hope the weather cooperates on that. Goal Race: The actual goal race is Broad Street Run, 10 miler, in May. But there's the Caesar Rodney Half-Marathon in early March that I hope to use a sort of long training run and at which time I hope to be able to do around 10 min/mile pace there.

Litchfield Hills · Dec 13, 2007

Wednesday ended up getting cut at 2 miles because of chafing issues. Otherwise I am on track for the week. Sat's 11 miler may be at about 4 AM due to the social calendar, and some weather we are are expecting. Ahhh, New England winters....

ScratchType1 · Dec 14, 2007

So far this December weather hasn't been helping with wanting to get the miles up to around 25 per week. But then, I figure at my level worrying about running specificity isn't a big concern and that crosstraining in place of runs that get canceled by bad weather should do nicely. 
Weather forecast for this coming weekend had been looking ominous but has improved some for around here that I should be able to do a long run on Saturday morning and get a shorter recovery run in on Sunday afternoon. Last night's run got replaced with 45 minutes on the exercise bike, perhaps the most boring activity possible, but it was a good 45 minutes to help my quads and overall aerobic fitness. 
I hope that next week the weather is kind enough to let me get up around 25 miles of running. If not, crosstrain as needed.

Jill · Dec 14, 2007

Skipped my run yesterday due to weather and no desire to tough it out and drive in the icy conditions to the gym. It was probably a good thing to take a rest day because I don't want these shin pains to turn into shin splints. I got 4 miles in this morning at the gym.

Dankinia · Dec 15, 2007

I decided to join you all here in hopes of helping with my motivation. Background: I started the C25K program the beginning of April 2007 Current trainiing: sporadic and horrible. I really need to get a set plan. I know I might have to walk some/most of the HM I have signed up for if I don't get my ass in gear. Goal Race: Eugene Half Marathon May 4th 2008

mykemp1971 · Dec 15, 2007

Dude! I had no idea that was your first half! That was quite a debut!

Jill · Dec 15, 2007

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/banana.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="banana">kini!!!

Dankinia · Dec 16, 2007

Hi Jill.

VTLaura · Dec 16, 2007

Background - I usually run 2-3 half marathons a year. I am very out of shape relative to my 2004 PR of 1:43. I ran a couple of halves this year on very scattered training (hey, life gets in the way sometimes!) with the best one of the year being just over 2 hours. Training Plan - I'm using the Basic Competitor's plan from Bob Glover's Competitive Runners handbook. I'm on the 2nd week of a 12 week training plan. My paces are so far lining up with a 1:55ish half, which would be great for February. Goal Race - Short term it's the Hyannis Half Marathon at the end of February. I'd like to use this training to get me on the road to getting back near PR shape this fall. I'm going to need to lose some weight in addition to running more consistently.

Half Marathon Training - Dec 10-16

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