Whatever the reason, running a half marathon is a great thing to do; provided you follow the right plan to get you there. This training program will build on your running endurance and get you ready to race in 12 weeks. Below is a plan that gradually increases your long run each week. There is a high risk of injury but it is possible. Without adequate preparation, it will be difficult to reach the finish line, not to mention the possible injuries you could get before, during and after the marathon. You can stick to 3 days a week of running, but make sure you do a long run. Bonus: Sundays and Fridays are rest days! An 8 Week Marathon Training Plan To Complete A Marathon In Under Five Hours The distances in this marathon training program are the minimum requirement to complete a marathon in under 5 hours. Four weeks away is when you should start to feel yourself peaking. In my opinion, a 12 week marathon training schedule is the absolute minimum length for a thorough marathon preparation.. From the first to the eighth week, gradually increase your speed; do so … The long run takes an increasing role in marathon training 12-16 weeks out from race day. With five weeks to go, you should stay with the short run distance, adding 4 miles onto the long run distance. Your longest walk/run the first week is four miles, and you work up to race-ready over three months. (Related: The Magical Powers of Spending a Weekend Focusing on Workout Recovery) The 12-week half-marathon training guide. This 12-week half-marathon training plan starts with periods of walking interspersed with periods of running. Remember, everyone is an individual and your base level of fitness may vary. You can also check out some of my other training plans, like the 6 month marathon training plan or 20 week marathon training schedule – because both of these start father out from race day, you can start from a lesser fitness level. (You may switch the Friday and Saturday training sessions if you wish.) My plan consists of 3 runs a week , and a build up of just 13 weeks (instead of the usual 16-26 week training … As with the crash-course plan, a more traditional marathon build-up of 12 to 14 weeks still requires a basic level of marathon fitness when you begin the program. At six weeks out, you should be aiming to complete two 4 mile runs and two 6 mile runs in the week, with a long weekend run of around 12-14 miles. If you are capable of doing slightly more each day please do, but don’t increase your weekly mileage by more than 10 percent of the training. For the last ten weeks of specific marathon training, try to follow the day-by-day plan as closely as possible. During these weeks, aim to keep your long runs at a fully conversational, relaxed pace of 30-60 seconds a mile slower than your planned marathon pace. Gifts For Marathon Runners + A Free Training Plan. For an older runner, however, Bawcom suggests setting aside 18 to 20 weeks … You want to get a 20 mile training run about 3 weeks before the marathon, so you have to work up your long run to 20. It may be your first step towards the full marathon. It may be your end goal. When you’re younger, you can usually train for a full marathon safely in 12 to 14 weeks. From beginning your training, to lining up at the start and finishing, preparing for and running in the marathon is a fantastic experience that you will never forget. Ahead of the marathon season in 2015, I created a 13 week marathon plan for a friend who’s run a marathon before, and wants to keep running to a sensible level and not have it take over her life. 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