Half-Marathon Training Plan

My next "big" race is the Mankato Marathon - half-marathon! Race day is October 19, and I started a 12 week training program this week. I developed a plan based on looking at Hal Higdon's Intermediate half-plan, and a program from the Coach option on the Nike app. By combining these two plans, I was able to up my mileage without running 5-6 days a week.

The main components, in my opinion, of this plan and what I want to focus on is:

• running four days per week. I often just run three times per week
• longer long runs that I have done while training for previous half-marathons
• incorporating speed work
• maintaining cross training

What's going to be hard:

• maintaining the quantity of workouts I have been able to do this summer when I go back to work
• telling myself quality is still better than quantity
• wanting so badly to start TRX classes at the Y when they officially start, but not knowing how it will feel! I have a feeling I will be very sore, and know that might not be a great idea
• deciding what to cut out (fourth run or cross training) should the plan prove to be too much

With that said; here's the plan I have laid out:

Week	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thurs	Sat	Sun
7/28/2014	5 miles	XT	5x400	XT	8 miles	5 miles
8/4/2014	6 miles	XT	Tempo	XT	8 miles	6 miles
8/11/14	6 miles	XT	6x400	XT	10 miles	7 miles
8/18/14	5 miles	XT	Tempo	XT	12 miles	7 miles
8/25/14	8 miles	XT	7x400	XT	12 miles	8 miles
9/1/14	8 miles	XT	Tempo	XT	12 miles	6 miles
9/8/14	8 miles	XT	8x400	XT	14 miles	9 miles
9/15/14	5 miles	XT	Tempo	XT	12 miles	10 miles
9/22/14	9 miles	XT	9x400	XT	14 miles	10 miles
9/29/14	8 miles	XT	Tempo	XT	10 miles	11 miles
10/6/14	10 miles	XT	10x400	XT	12 miles	8 miles
10/13/14	7 miles	XT	Tempo	XT	Rest	13.1 miles

*I took Friday out of the table for sake of formatting and needing it to fit. Friday's are my rest day!

It's ambitious, but I am up for the challenge.

The goals I am going for with such an ambitious plan are:

A goal - 2:20
B goal - between 2:20 - 2:25
C goal - PR with anything faster than 2:27:51
D goal - finish! :)

I am also super excited that this is a fall race, and I think that is totally going to work in my favor! (or at least hopeful that it will!)