How long should beginners train for a half marathon?

Many first-time runners benefit from 12-16 weeks depending on current consistency.

How far should my longest run be?

Most beginner plans peak around 10-12 miles before race day.

Can I walk during my first half marathon?

Yes, planned run-walk strategies are common and effective for first-time finishers.

How many days per week should I run?

Most beginner half plans use 3-5 running days with dedicated recovery days.

AI-Powered Training

Beginner Half Marathon Plan

Build confidence for your first 13.1 with manageable weekly progression and clear long-run milestones.

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Preview Your First Week

See how we structure your training.

Mon

RecoveryRest

Tue

WorkoutEasy 4k

Wed

RecoveryRest

Thu

WorkoutEasy 5k

Fri

RecoveryRest

Sat

WorkoutLong 8k

Sun

RecoveryRest

This is just a sample. Your actual plan will be customized to your exact pace and schedule.

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Your first half marathon made practical

This plan helps newer runners build endurance safely while keeping weekly training realistic.

Beginner half marathon priorities

Build Endurance Safely

Increase long-run distance gradually with enough recovery to stay consistent.

Arrive Race-Ready

Use pacing guidance and confidence-building workouts for your first 13.1.

Beginner half marathon plan features

First-time 13.1 progression structure

Long-run milestone framework

Beginner pace guidance

Recovery-aware weekly design

Calendar sync and PDF exports

Free personalized generation

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Beginner Half Marathon FAQs

Next Steps

Compare related plans and tools before creating your custom schedule.

All-level half plan

Compare beginner and performance options.

Intermediate half plan

Progress when your base is stronger.

Race predictor

Estimate realistic half-marathon pacing.

Free Running Tools

Enhance your training with our suite of free calculators.

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Pace Calculator

Calculate your training paces based on race goals.

Race Time Predictor

Predict your finish time for any distance.

Training Zones

Find your optimal heart rate zones.

VO2 Max Calculator

Estimate your aerobic capacity.

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