Do you have a passion for running and want to challenge yourself in a half marathon even though you’re a beginner? Then, setting a half marathon training plan for beginners is a must.
But before you actually make a schedule to gain endurance and prepare your body, there are some essential things to consider when deciding to challenge yourself in this kind of activity.
So, check out in this article what to consider when preparing a half marathon training plan for beginners!
Define your mindset
First, understanding where your mind is before starting to prepare for a half marathon is crucial to creating clear goals and keeping yourself motivated.
Half marathon training plan for beginners: what to consider before starting one
So, think about why you’re challenging yourself like this, what drives you and how you can keep yourself motivated through this process.
Also, if it helps, set an objective or a type of reward for when you achieve it.
Know your body
Before running a half marathon, one aspect to consider is learning to listen to your body.
If you’re a beginner, you can’t just jump right to the half marathon and expect to achieve 13.1 miles without any preparation.
So, keep in mind this preparatory period starts with knowing your body, what it can do now, and how you can improve it to achieve your goals.
So, take the time to evaluate these aspects and start from where your body is ready to begin.
Don’t wait to start
Yes, you’re a beginner, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start now.
As we said before, you need to understand what you can do today and start from there. So, hold on to your motivation, evaluate your current preparation status, and begin your journey towards the half marathon!
Create a half marathon training plan for beginners and stick to it, but also be flexible!
As part of the process, you have to create a half marathon training plan and try to follow it in order to achieve your goal of running 13.1 miles.
However, during your journey, you might feel the need to adjust your plan, and that’s fine.
While you must stick to the plan, you can also feel free to readjust it when needed. After all, your training schedule must always fulfill your body’s needs. If it doesn’t, you might experience injuries when running, body pain, or exhaustion.
So, to avoid further problems, constantly reevaluate if the plan is working.
What is the ideal half marathon training schedule for you?
Now that you’ve learned which factors to consider before running a half marathon, understanding how to create an ideal training schedule is crucial.
As a beginner, you must consider a 12 to 16 weeks plan to be able to build strength, endurance, and flexibility and run the 13.1 miles.
Of course, this can change from person to person. However, here is a general 12-week training structure you can use as a base and make adaptations to your reality and goals:
| Week | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thurs | Fri | Sat | Sun |
| 1 | Rest | 2 miles | Rest/Cross-training | 2.5 miles | Rest | 3 miles | Cross training/Easy Run |
| 2 | Rest | 2 miles | Rest/Cross-training | 3 miles | Rest | 4 miles | Cross training/Easy Run |
| 3 | Rest | 2 miles | Rest/Cross-training | 3 miles | Rest/Cross-training | 4 miles | Cross training/Easy Run |
| 4 | Rest | 2.5 miles | Rest/Cross-training | 4 miles | Rest | 5 miles | Cross training/Easy Run |
| 5 | Rest | 3 miles | Rest/Cross-training | 3 miles | Rest | 6 miles | Cross training/Easy Run |
| 6 | Rest | 2 miles | Rest/Cross-training | 4 miles | Rest | 7 miles | Cross training/Easy Run |
| 7 | Rest | 4 miles | Rest/Cross-training | 3 miles | Rest/Cross-training | 8 miles | Cross training/Easy Run |
| 8 | Rest | 3 miles | Rest/Cross-training | 4 miles | Rest | 9 miles | Cross training/Easy Run |
| 9 | Rest | 3 miles | Rest/Cross-training | 5 miles | Cross-training | 10 miles | Cross training/Easy Run |
| 10 | Rest | 2 miles | Rest/Cross-training | 4 miles | Cross-training | 11 miles | Cross training/Easy Run |
| 11 | Rest | 3 miles | Rest/Cross-training | 5 miles | Cross-training | 5 miles | Cross training/Easy Run |
| 12 | Rest | 2 miles | Rest/Cross-training | 2 miles | Rest/Easy run | Race day | Rest |
Ready? Now you know how to create a half marathon training plan for beginners and what to consider in this process.
But remember, this is a general training plan and must be adapted to your reality. So, to get a personalized training schedule, you must consult a specialist professional to help you with your specific needs.
And if you need more tips on running, keep navigating our blog and access all the information you need!