How to Train for a Half Marathon By Running Just 3 Times a Week
Not every half marathon training plan needs to be all about racking up the miles. Here's how to properly prepare for 13.1 with three key runs each week.
Everyone who signs up for a half marathon signs up with the best of intentions—we’re not going to skip a single mile of our training plan, we’re going to cross-train at least twice a week, and we’ll definitely set aside dedicated time for recovery work. Well...LOL. The reality is, life gets in the way.
And with most half marathon training plans calling for at least four or as many as six days of running per week, it’s almost like you’re setting yourself up for failure if you have a demanding job, a family, or a social life.
But you can train for a half marathon by running just three days a week. One landmark study found that when veteran marathons followed the three-day-a-week Furman Institute of Running and Scientific Training(FIRST) program developed by researchers Bill Pierce and Scott Murr for 16 weeks, they improved their finishing times by an average of almost 20 minutes. Does that translate to the half marathon? “Definitely,” Pierce says.