Plotting Out My Half-Marathon Training Plan
As I mentioned last week, my half-marathon training starts soon! I’ve consulted several seasoned racers and training programs, and believe I’ve found a schedule that will work well and will have me feeling fairly prepared by race day. (At least as much as possible as someone can be who has never run more than 10 miles in one session before!)
Right now, here’s the general game plan:
- Walk/run or run (including one long run): 3 days
- Low-impact cross training: 1-2 days
- Rest or yoga/stretching session: 2-3 days
That may look like a lot of rest for some folks. Why is this so important to include in a workout agenda? To restore your mental and physical energy, to sidestep overuse injuries and to let your muscles heal from any breakdown (you’re doing just that during intense activity—with proper rest the muscles come back stronger). Hal Higdon, racing pro and co-founder of the Road Runners Club of America, thinks rest days are crucial too.
Training officially kicks off for me next week, so I’ll share more specifics and reflections as I move forward!
Leading up to the race, I thought it might be fun to sprinkle in motivational quotes, messages and links along the way! Here’s one to get us started:
“Don’t bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.” — William Faulkner
How often do you take rest days?
