Hello! I have a really good question about half marathon training to share today. The question is below, but basically this runner wants to know how important long runs are to half marathon training…
Hi Monica,
I have been running pretty consistently for almost a year now, I have ran in several 5ks, one 10k and a 5 mile race, I have a treadmill in my house so when I can’t run outside I will use it. At the end of March I will be running in my first half marathon. I feel like I’m not up to speed on my training, I don’t have a lot of time for my long runs and when I am running it’s usually about 3-4 miles per day. I was wondering if you had any tips or suggestions you could give me? Are the long runs really important or should I just keep up with shorts runs and do some cross training?
Look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
V
In answer to your main question – Are long runs really important?
Yes. For half marathon training the long runs can be considered the foundation for getting yourself prepared to run 13.1 miles. It’s a long distance, so you need to run long to get ready for it. Even in half marathon training plans that ‘only’ have you run 3 days a week the long run is a key part of that.
I totally understand that training for a long distance race takes up a lot of time. And between working and being a mom and life and the weather… it is really hard to fit in hours of running each week! I get it.
But, I don’t want you to get injured so I do suggest making sure that you try your best to build your body up to get ready for the distance. You don’t have to run long every week – some training plans call for 2 weeks of longer runs and then a step back week. Or find some other work around that is realistic for your life and time.
Good luck!!! And let me know if you have any other questions. I’m pulling for ya 🙂
I started today with a run in the sun. Gorgeous out today.
It’s been way too long since I’ve had a green smoothie! I had a craving yesterday and hit up the store for some spinach and a banana – the two key ingredients of an OG Green Smoothie.
In the blender: Ice, Almond Milk, Spinach, Peanut Butter, Banana.
I also tried this super healthy snack situation – Date with Almond Butter. I feel so healthy and fancy.
Except. I didn’t like it. Bah. E for effort.
Other Half Marathon Training tips:
The Best Half Marathon Training Tips
Are you ready to run a half marathon?
My Morning Running Routine – video
I got the half marathon training question via email – feel free to email me with your questions at runeatrepeat at gmail. I think a lot of runners have similar questions so it helps to share the information here and bounce ideas and approaches off each other in the comments.
Question: What did you eat today that was GREEN?
Oooh I ate avocado at lunch! Healthy fats!
I just got a whole big thing of dates from Costco last Friday. I love dates. I love peanut butter. But I worry that I won’t like them together. Thanks for deterring me! 🙂
Zucchini! Love me some zucchini.
That date/almond butter combo needed some chocolate chip love; try that. 🙂
I LOVE dates and almond butter as a snack except I add chocolate chips and make it like an amazing ants on a log!
Yes! My thoughts exactly.
#chocolateforlife
I cannot imagine training for a half without running long runs. What would even be the point. I agree with your post 100%!
I go from 6 to 7 miles this Saturday in my training plan. I am excited for it, but I’m sick so I have to get well. I will be mad if I miss my long run this week
I don’t really like the date + almond butter combo either! Well, technically I’ve just tried it with date + pb. But I imagine it would be similar haha
date + almond butter = heaven!
Cucumbers and lettuce, my two green things today, as part of my salad.
And I agree on the foundation of the long run during training. Not only does it get your body ready and use to the abuse (hee) but it will most definitely help your head game too. As well, you will learn when you need to fuel to get that extra push to carry you through.
Even if you run 8 miles constantly, totally different going over 10 miles!!
Wha?! I LOVE dates w/PB, I actually stopped buying dates bc It was such a problem!!
I am all about the Green eats!!! avocado on toast & greek salad w/romiaine
IM EATING NOW.
with java 🙂
persian cukes straight outta the bag.
Stirfried “kailan” (sorry, can’t recall the English term!), snow peas, lotus root, celery and bell peppers. So the first 2 qualifies as “green”.
I had a green smoothie for lunch yesterday, and I happen to love dates with almond butter on top!
Love this post! Thanks!
I’m currently training for a half using hal- higdon’s novice 2 plan (4 day a week runs). This must sound weird, but I’ll spare you the details, I often have to breakup my shorter runs if I also want to fit in a strength class. 10 minutes before and 20 after for a total of three miles. Is this okay?
I have also been using interval treadmill workouts for my 3 mile runs because I get bored easily and live in a snowy cold place. These incorporate speed walking on an incline. Will this still get me half ready?
Sorry for all the questions but I hope they are useful for more than just me 🙂
I have read another suggestion that you can split up your long run occasionally if you can’t run for an hour plus at one time. For instance, if your training calls for a 12 miler, you can do 7 miles in the morning and 5 that evening. I’ve never actually tried this in training but it might work for some people. The person who suggested this to me also said that you should do the whole distance at least a few times just to build your confidence that you can actually complete it.
I ate some avocado toast this morning!
That date and nut butter does look quite fancy…shame you didn’t enjoy it! Green for me was sautéed kale for dinner, spinach salad for lunch with broccolini.
I made a GIANT salad for dinner with avocado and chicken. I’m really full, but if there was more, I would eat it 🙂
As a first-time half-marathon runner this Sunday, I do NOT advise skipping long runs (7-11 miles) in training. I can totally see how the “go a few miles every day” approach builds a running base–I did this before committing to 13.1, and it helped me become a mentally and physically better runner. But there isn’t much that can substitute for feeling what 10, 11, 12+ miles actually FEELS like on your legs. I have only done “long” runs of 10-12 miles once weekly or every other week since September to prepare for my upcoming half marathon. The cool thing is that it doesn’t take a ridiculous time commitment–lucky for me since I’m in nursing school full-time with a job, fiance, and other stuff happening in life 🙂
If you want to run a half, you will. I think it’s a totally attainable goal for anyone who enjoys running, has established a semi-decent base, and likes going the distance! Good luck!
Look at those snow free roads! So jelly.
That was a good question. I’d love to be able to skip the long runs too. They’re grueling, especially when the weather is poor. But to run long miles we have to train long miles. Any other way is just wishful thinking.
Don’t judge me, but when I saw your PB on top of spinach my eyes bugged out because I thought you were going to eat salad with just PB as dressing and I was like,
“OMG I THOUGHT I ONLY DID THAT, I’M NOT CRAZY AFTER ALL!”
But I guess I still am crazy, because you were gonna make a smoothie. Hah!
Yesterday I had a green juice! Kale and spinach provided the greenness.
Homemade coleslaw! 🙂
I LOVE dates with almond butter. It even says so on my main page under my picture. Dates by themselves are too sweet so I like to balance it w the saltiness of almond butter. So good.
I make a green smoothie every morning of chia, greens, apple, lemon, and ginger. Also so good 🙂
Cucumbers and avocado:)