For some runners, the prospect of preparing to run a half marathon in three months is a bit daunting, so we’ve prepared this five-month training plan to offer a more gradual buildup to race day — both physical and mental — than our 12-week beginner and 16-week intermediate training plans offer.
20-weeks is the battle tested half marathon training time. If you’re this far out, we also recommend downloading a training app like Runna. Whether you’re a beginner looking to finish your first or a veteran runner trying to PR, Runna is like having a dedicated running coach in your pocket. Use code HALF for 2 weeks of free training.
This plan starts slowly with four days of running each week over the first six weeks, later transitioning to five days of running each week as the calendar proceeds further into the training.
20-Week Half Marathon Training Schedule
| Week | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
| 1 | Off | 3 miles | Off | 3 miles | Off | 4 miles | 3 miles |
| 2 | Off | 3 miles | Off | 3 miles | Off | 4 miles | 3 miles |
| 3 | Off | 4 miles | Off | 4 miles | Off | 5 miles | 3 miles |
| 4 | Off | 4 miles | Off | 4 miles | Off | 5 miles | 3 miles |
| 5 | Off | 5 miles | Off | 5 miles | Off | 6 miles | 2-3 miles |
| 6 | Off | 5 miles | Off | 5 miles | Off | 6 miles | 2-3 miles |
| 7 | Off | 3 miles | 5 miles | 3 miles | Off | 7 miles | 2-3 miles |
| 8 | Off | 3 miles | 5 miles | 3 miles | Off | 7 miles | 2-3 miles |
| 9 | Off | 4 miles | 5 miles | 4 miles | Off | 8 miles | 2-3 miles |
| 10 | Off | 4 miles | 5 miles | 4 miles | Off | 8 miles | 2-3 miles |
| 11 | Off | 4 miles | 6 miles | 4 miles | Off | 9 miles | 2 miles |
| 12 | Off | 4 miles | 6 miles | 4 miles | Off | 9 miles | 2 miles |
| 13 | Off | 5 miles | 6 miles | 5 miles | Off | 10 miles | 2 miles |
| 14 | Off | 5 miles | 6 miles | 5 miles | Off | 10 miles | 2 miles |
| 15 | Off | 5 miles | 6 miles | 5 miles | Off | 10 miles | 2 miles |
| 16 | Off | 5 miles | 6 miles | 4 miles | Off | 11 miles | 2 miles |
| 17 | Off | 4 miles | 6 miles | 4 miles | Off | 12 miles | Off |
| 18 | Off | 4 miles | 6 miles | 4 miles | Off | 12 miles | Off |
| 19 | Off | 4 miles | 5 miles | 4 miles | Off | 6 miles | Off |
| 20 | Off | 4-5 miles | Off | 4-5 miles | Off | 13.1 miles | Off |
About This Training Schedule
Who It’s For
Because this training plan spreads out the weekly and long runs over five months, it can be used by runners who are attempting their first half marathon as well as by someone who’s run several halfs already and wants a structured approach to their training.
The plan is designed to gradually ease the runner into the process with light, easy runs in the opening weeks, followed by longer, more demanding runs in the middle and later weeks, to help build your fitness level.
Injury Prevention
The 20-week plan is designed to escalate the mileage you’ll run each week more slowly than the other two plans, by bumping up the mileage one week and repeating it the next, and then bumping it up again the following week, and so on.
This will help you develop both the physical stamina and the mental confidence that you’ll be able to complete 13.1 miles by showing you, very slowly (which is designed to prevent injury), that you really can do it — the mileage doesn’t increase dramatically from week to week, we just add one mile onto the weekly long runs each week.
Remember also to get plenty of rest on the days you don’t run, or consider cross-training such as strength exercises, to give your legs ample time to rest and replenish, especially after your long runs.
If you’re looking for more helpful advice on avoiding injuries in your training, we recommend injury-prevention plans from apps like Exakt Health.
Race Day Timing
he schedule above places the weekly long run on Saturday, followed by a usually much shorter quick run (or walk) on Sunday. Feel free to swap these if the race you’ve signed up for falls on a Sunday; I’ve always found that it’s best to do your long runs on the day you’ll actually run your race, to allow your body to get used to the rhythm of the short run/long run each week.
Consult the Experts
Remember that there are a number of ways to structure a half marathon training plan. Running coaches Hal Higdon and Jeff Galloway, who is well-known for his Run-Walk-Run approach to training, offer a number of training plans on their own websites that are excellent guides to getting ready for any race.
More Half Marathon Training Plans
8 Weeks • 9 Weeks • 10 Weeks • 12 Weeks • 14 Weeks • 16 Weeks • 18 Weeks
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