Whether you are training for your first race or you want to run faster, improving your endurance is necessary for achieving your goal. The long run is a tried-and-true way to improve endurance - especially if you run beyond your race distance. Overdistance long runs improve your race-specific endurance, whether you are training for a 5K, 10K, or half marathon. The long run is, by definition, the longest run of the week. It is a staple in training plans for all distances and all abilities of ...
Half Marathon
How I Took 12 Minutes Off My Half Marathon Time
I ran my first half marathon almost four years ago, clocking in a 1:46 finish time. I was beyond elated - it was faster than I dreamed of running. In the four years since then, I’ve taken almost 12 minutes off my finish time, dropping down from that 1:46 to a 1:34 at my most recent half marathon. In today's post, I am sharing how I took 12 minutes off my half marathon time - and how you can drastically improve your finish time over the years as well. Know that Progress Isn't Linear A ...
Speed Training for Long Distance Runners
Many long-distance runners want to improve their finish times, especially if they have completed more than one marathon or half marathon. While factors such as weekly mileage and nutrition play a significant role, there’s one aspect of improving as a runner that many long-distance runners neglect - speed training. Elite runners certainly aren’t neglecting their speed training. Molly Huddle’s incredible finishing kick on the track contributed to her American record in the half marathon and ...
How to Overcome a Negative Mindset on Race Day
The brain can be your greatest enemy or your most powerful tool on race day. As your most powerful tool, your brain can help you reach your true physical potential; as your greatest enemy, your mind can become a negative space that yields a blow to both your confidence and your performance. Learning to get out of your own head on race day is an essential step to enjoying racing and reaching your peak performance potential. Yet as many runners can attest, it’s one of those things that is far ...
The Anatomy of a Training Plan: Half Marathon Peak Week
There is a difference between theory and practice. You can know the training principles as abstract concepts, but putting them into practice in a training plan can be a completely different story. You can read all the articles on Runner’s World but unless you know how to translate the theory into practice, you may end up with a hodgepodge of different elements rather than a training plan progressing toward a particular goal. I thought it would be a fun exercise to examine the anatomy of a ...