How to Train for a Half Marathon?

How long would it take in shape track/cross country runner to train for half marathon?

• I just finished my track season and can't move on past my league because I ran jv I want to stay in shape and am thinking about doing a half marathon at the end of May (on the 27th) I am in pretty good shape I run a 12 minute 2 mile and right now can run 6 miles at a good pace with out stopping I am thinking if I can do that with more distance training I should be able to do 13 but I'm not sure

• Answer:

  This depends on your current level of fitness. You say that you are fit but there are different types of fitness - a 100m spriner (track runner) probably couldn't run a 6 minute mile (OK thaey could but maybe not 2 or 3 of them),where a mile track runner could run lots of them easily. Different fitness levels. Assuming that the cross country would be in the region of 4 mile races then you should have a good fitness base level (not sure how far your XC races are, but juniors tend to be about that). This would mean that on the road you could run pretty well for 6 to 8 miles (XC is harder than roads so back on roads and gong the same speed you can run further). If you can run 10 miles in training then I think you can do a half marathon on the day. All I will say that since your proposed half is in a couple of weeks is to enter it but take it carefully. When you get chance try a long run - as far as you can and up to 10 miles just to see how far you can really run now in training (make the route a circle round your house so you can sut it short with about 1 mile to get home again or a figure of 8 route with house in the middle - no more than about 2 or 3 miles to get home if it all goes wrong). Then you will have confidence that you can run the distance Speed - set off slow, I would say 7:30 minute miles (1:30 half marathon pace) which will take you firther than full speed all the way Good luck, hope it goes well and remember there are many many more half marathons so don't pressure yourself into running fast in your first one