Half marathon - Increase mileage before or during specific plan?

Training Advice/Discussion

4 years ago 01/20/2020 2:40pm EST

Hello all,

I'm a long time reader but first time poster on this forum and looking for some advice for a 1/2 marathon training plan. I'm looking to run a half marathon later this year having only ever run 5k and 10ks (although did a marathon about 8 years ago) and had a question regarding training.

I currently run 30 miles per week of mostly easy and moderate runs with my longest run about 10/11 miles with tempo and intervals sprinkled in. I'd like to increase my base mileage to about 45 miles over the next couple of months before i start a 1/2 marathon specific plan.

What would the difference (if any) be between maintaining 30 miles for now and only increase mileage to 45 mpw as part of a 12 week plan in the summer finishing with the race in October or increasing mileage now to 45 and then maintaining that mileage through the summer but include much more specific sessions with speed work and intervals, hills etc that i would have as part of the plan anyway?

Should you always try to increase mileage when training for a particular event or would just introducing specific sessions have the same effect?

I suppose a further point would be if time allowed would be to increase base to 45 mpw now before further increase from 45 to 60 miles as part of a race specific plan but other commitments would probably not allow this.

4 years ago 01/20/2020 2:56pm EST

re: welshvet234

More miles are always better- if you can gradually increase your base this spring running mostly easy, maybe throw in some strides after one run/ week, and get up to a consistent 45 mpw with a LR of 12-14, you will have a strong base entering a 12 week HM specific period and crush it on race day. I dropped my HM time by 10 min by increasing to 45-50 mpw from 30-35.

4 years ago 01/21/2020 1:41pm EST

re: Scubacane

Thanks for your answer. I suppose my follow up question to this is then that can my 12 week race plan remain at 45 miles per week with just tapering at the end but introduce consistent intervals and other sessions replacing some of the easy runs. Every race plan I see always increases mileage from 30 to 45, or 45 to 60ish if already there.

Would it be better to keep training at 30ish through the spring before increasing slowly to 45 from 12 weeks out?

4 years ago 01/21/2020 2:26pm EST

re: welshvet234

welshvet234 wrote:
Thanks for your answer. I suppose my follow up question to this is then that can my 12 week race plan remain at 45 miles per week with just tapering at the end but introduce consistent intervals and other sessions replacing some of the easy runs. Every race plan I see always increases mileage from 30 to 45, or 45 to 60ish if already there.
Would it be better to keep training at 30ish through the spring before increasing slowly to 45 from 12 weeks out?

No, it wouldn't be better. More miles=better. Increase your mileage up till your 12-week plan starts. If you're comfortably running 45 miles/week then, then you'll probably want to do a 12-week plan that maxes out at 55-60.

4 years ago 01/21/2020 2:48pm EST

re: ATEA4RE

Running more than 45 miles per week is probably out of the question as I won't have the time to do it. I could probably just squeeze in 45 absolute max. I just need to get my head around a race specific plan that doesn't increase in mileage week on week before the taper.

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