Been a while since I’ve been here, but have a question about an upcoming stand alone half marathon on 3/25. I’ve been following the Hal Higdon Intermediate I plan pretty consistently. Im at the end of week 9 (of 12), which calls for a 10k to check my progress. No 10ks scheduled in the area, so I suppose I’ll make up my own, or should I do another “long” run? Also, the end of week 11 calls for a final long run of 12 miles before race weekend. I’ve heard different opinions on this from some not so expert runners. Some thought this was too much. Thoughts? Thank you!
http://www.halhigdon.com/training/64474/Half-Marathon-Walk-Training-Program-Intermediate-1
Been a while since I’ve been here, but have a question about an upcoming stand alone half marathon on 3/25. I’ve been following the Hal Higdon Intermediate I plan pretty consistently. Im at the end of week 9 (of 12), which calls for a 10k to check my progress. No 10ks scheduled in the area, so I suppose I’ll make up my own, or should I do another “long” run? Also, the end of week 11 calls for a final long run of 12 miles before race weekend. I’ve heard different opinions on this from some not so expert runners. Some thought this was too much. Thoughts? Thank you!
http://www.halhigdon.com/...ogram-Intermediate-1
I don’t think 12 miles a week before a HM is necessarily too much. If you’ve trained well and are fit, the body can handle it, but it just seems unnecessary. I can’t see any benefit from running 12 miles a week before, it’s not going to make you any fitter, plus you run the risk of picking up a niggle with only a week to get it sorted out. If it was an unimportant race then yeah do the 12 miles, I’ve done long 3 hour rides the day before an OD, but that race hasn’t been that important.
Stick to the plan. I followed it before and had my fastest time.
Best wishes
I used it for my first half and crushed it. I use his running plans for everything. Crushed my first full too
Just had a look at the plan. It looks to me sensible in that the week 6 and 9 races are proper preparation. So for each week you’ll of had a long run the Sunday before and then a lower mileage week before the race with 2 rest or easy days immediately before. By sticking to a race effort in week 9 you should then have an idea about how that build up works for you.
I’d say do a 10k race effort and then how that goes informs whether you do the week 11 long run. As I say, you’ll of done it twice so you are in a good position to adjust the final stages before the half marathon to what you now know works.
Training isn’t just physical work and adaption. It is also learning how to race. So you should be doing these race efforts, trialing race kit at the same time. Eat the same in the lead up to it as you plan to do on the race. Wake up at the same time as you would and start the effort at the same time the race will start. Use this weekend to check as many things as you can.