Training for a half marathon

So, I've decided to train for a half marathon! I've run two before, one in 2009 and one in 2010. I wanted to  make it an annual event, but unfortunately I didn't get ready in time to run one in 2011. But I plan to do one this spring! There's one in my area scheduled for Earth Day in April. I don't have a time goal (I am way too slow of a runner for that). My goal is just to finish the race. Having the half marathon as a goal is a perfect way for me to make sure I keep up with running (or exercise of any kind).

not really how I look when I run

I wanted to share my training schedule, since I've used it before and found it easy to follow even with a busy work/life schedule. It only asks you to run three times a week, two half-hour runs during the week and one long run on the weekend. If you don't have time to do a long run on a weekend (or if it's too snowy outside -- like it was for me this weekend), just move it to Monday or Tuesday. 

When I first started training in 2009, I was a terrible, slow runner and really didn't think I could ever run 13 miles...in a row...But the training schedule (from Jeff Galloway) I used was just enough to ease me into running longer and longer distances. For those that haven't done much running at all, Jeff Galloway has a conditioning program to try for eight weeks before beginning half marathon training.

I'm currently in week six of the half marathon training schedule, which means that the reasonable-distance runs are out of the way (the longest one I have done so far is 6.5 miles). The next few weeks bring much longer ones. This is where really interesting podcasts come in handy... Anyway, without further ado, here is the schedule. Notice that it should be started 17 weeks before the race. For more information, see Jeff Galloway's site.

Half Marathon Training Schedule for Runners and Walkers
Week	Monday	Tuesday TT	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
1	off	30 min run	off	25 min run	easy walk	off	3 miles
2	off	30 min run	off	30 min run	easy walk	off	4 miles
3	off	30 min run	off	30 min run	easy walk	off	5 miles
4	off	30 min run	off	30 min run	easy walk	off	2.5 miles
5	off	30 min run	off	30 min run	easy walk	off	6.5 miles
6	off	30 min run	off	30 min run	easy walk	off	3 miles with MM
7	off	30 min run	off	30 min run	easy walk	off	8 miles
8	off	30 min run	off	30 min run	easy walk	off	3 miles with MM
9	off	30 min run	off	30 min run	easy walk	off	9.5 miles
10	off	30 min run	off	30 min run	easy walk	off	4 miles
11	off	30 min run	off	30 min run	easy walk	off	11 miles
12	off	30 min run	off	30 min run	easy walk	off	4 miles with MM
13	off	30 min run	off	30 min run	easy walk	off	12.5 miles
14	off	30 min run	off	30 min run	easy walk	off	4 miles with MM
15	off	30 min run	off	30 min run	easy walk	off	14 miles
16	off	30 min run	off	30 min run	easy walk	off	5 miles
17	off	30 min run	off	30 min run	easy walk	off	Half Marathon Race
18	off	30 min run	off	30 min run	easy walk	off	5 miles
19	off	30 min run	off	30 min run	easy walk	off	6-8 miles