Back in the Running Game: Accelerated 8-Week Half Marathon Training Program

Half Marathon Training Program

Half Marathon Training Program

After three months of battling plantar fasciitis, I’m back in the saddle – or sneakers as it were. With the Richmond Half Marathon coming up 8 weeks from Sunday, it’s officially go time. I typically train for 12-16 weeks prior to a race. It’s almost always better to easy your way in and build up slowly. Injury is something we can’t control and sometimes you just have to,

“do what you can, with what you have, where you are” ~Teddy Roosevelt

 

This week marked week one of shorter runs, dedicated foam rolling, and targeted yoga practices. Sunday will be my first long run in months – fingers crossed! I’ll be running through the residual inflammation in my plantar fascia and will provide tips I learn for managing the pain while still rocking the program below.

What’s been working for me thus far? Rolling my arch and outer heel with a lacrosse ball every morning and evening, icing using a frozen water bottle after every run, and keeping the rest of my body loose, limber and rolled out. A diet low in inflammatory foods (sugar, gluten, red meat, etc) is part of the game plan as well. You are what you eat!

Do you have any tricks that have helped you train through injury?

Plantar Fasciitis Therapy

8-Week Half Marathon Training Program

half-marathon-training-program-8-weeks

 

Rock your next Half Marathon with this Modified Training Program

I just made it through week 1 of my 12-week half marathon training program and enjoyed a lovely run through Rock Creek Park in balmy 55-degree December weather. In the past I’ve gotten repeatedly injured in the lead up to running events, so I’m committed to being smart and diligent about training this time around.

What you see below is adapted from the well-known Hal Higdon Intermediate Half Marathon Training Guide. I’m a yogi thus there is a lot more stretching, foam rolling, and “self-care”-esque elements to my plan of attack. My goal: run fast, remain injury-free. There is no worse feeling than training really hard for something only to blow out a knee or tear a hamstring a couple weeks prior to race day.

Half Marathon Training

This plan is intended to keep your muscles and mind healthy and happy for 12 weeks straight. Feel free to shift your week’s workouts around to accommodate your busy schedule. Make it doable otherwise you’ll start to resent and cop out on it.