Establish
Regular easy running and a controlled long day.
Your half marathon begins at mile 10.
The first ten miles decide what the final 3.1 feels like. Train the distance, protect the opening, and arrive at mile ten with a choice.
Your effort account13.1 miles
Early excitementDo not spend it
Comfort at halfwayProtect it
Choice at mile tenEarn it
The goal is not an easy race. It is choosing when the race becomes hard.
Twelve weeks starts after the base.
A half-marathon plan commonly assumes you already run several days per week and can complete roughly 3–5 miles comfortably. If you are starting from zero, build that foundation first; the race block is not the foundation.
A first-timer framework
Build, absorb, peak, arrive.
Use three or four runs per week. Keep most running conversational, separate demanding days, and repeat or reduce a week when recovery falls behind.
Extend
Build the long run, with a lighter week inside the block.
Peak
Rehearse clothing, fuel, hydration, and controlled late effort.
Arrive
Reduce load while preserving familiar movement.
The longest run is not a test race. Many first-timer plans peak around 10 miles or an appropriate time-on-feet equivalent. You do not need to prove 13.1 in training.
Ten first-race decisions
Protect the final 5K before race day.
First half marathon
Beginner Half-Marathon Training Plan
A 12-week framework for runners who already have a base—and a clear route for those who do not.
First half marathonHow Long Should You Train for a Half Marathon?
Twelve weeks is common after a base; starting from zero requires more runway.
First half marathonHow Much Should You Run Each Week for a Half Marathon?
Use frequency, long-run proportion, and recovery instead of chasing one universal total.
First half marathonHow Long Should Your Longest Run Be Before a Half Marathon?
Many beginner plans peak below 13.1 miles; the longest run is preparation, not a rehearsal race.
First half marathonRun/Walk Half-Marathon Strategy
Choose the interval in training and use it before fatigue makes the decision.
First half marathonHow to Pace Your First Half Marathon
Settle early, protect miles four through ten, and decide what remains at mile ten.
First half marathonFuel and Hydration for a First Half Marathon
Rehearse the exact products, timing, and water plan that race day will use.
First half marathonThe Week Before a Half Marathon
Reduce training load, preserve routine, and settle logistics before the final night.
First half marathonFirst Half-Marathon Race-Day Checklist
Bib, layers, transport, fuel, start position, and the decisions that should already be made.
First half marathonHow to Recover After a Half Marathon
Handle the finish, the first day, and the return to running without turning recovery into another contest.
Run More!
You can do it!
RunTeaming is a running game for iPhone and Android. Your best qualifying run of the week becomes your score on a five-runner team, which competes against another team near its level. The app supplies the team and opponent. You run where and when you choose.
Use the button to choose iPhone or Android and see the current installation options.
Try RunTeamingChoose the installation page for your phone.