Fitness Files: How I’m Using Runkeeper to Train for a Half-Marathon

One of my goals for 2020 is to run a half-marathon. I have run four, but I injured myself last year when I was training for a half-marathon. I’m excited to be running again and am spending a few months training for The Popular Brooklyn Half-Marathon on May 16. I think that if I slowly increase the number of miles I run and make sure to stretch and take days off, I should be able to stay strong for the race. I’m using the Runkeeper app to train. You select your goal and date, the longest distance you’ve run before, the number of miles you usually run a week, and the number of times a week you want to run. The program takes that information and uses it to create a custom training plan for you. Here’s what my Runkeeper training plan looks like:

Preconditioning: 6 weeks

Week 1: 2-mile relaxed run, 2.2-mile surges, 2-mile relaxed run

Week 2: 3-mile long run, 2.2-mile surges, 2-mile relaxed run

Week 3: 2-mile relaxed run, 4-mile long run, 2.2-mile surges

Week 4: 2-mile relaxed run, 5-mile long run, 2.9-mile surges

Week 5: 2-mile relaxed run, 6-mile long run, 2.9-mile surges

Week 6: 2-mile relaxed run, 7-mile long run

Getting Faster: 4 weeks

Week 1: 4-mile interval workout, 2-mile relaxed run, 8-mile long run

Week 2: 3-mile tempo workout, 2-mile relaxed run, 9-mile long run combo

Week 3: 4-mile interval workout, 2-mile relaxed run, 10-mile long run

Week 4: 4-mile interval run, 2-mile relaxed run, 11-mile long run combo

Going Farther: 4 weeks

Week 1: 3-mile tempo workout, 3-mile relaxed run, 9-mile long run

Week 2: 5-mile interval workout, 2-mile relaxed run, 12-mile long run

Week 3: 3-mile relaxed run, 10-mile long run, 5-mile tempo workout

Week 4: 3-mile relaxed run, 13-mile long run combo

Fine Tuning: 3 weeks

Week 1: 5-mile interval workout, 3-mile relaxed run, 11-mile long run

Week 2: 4-mile tempo workout, 5-mile relaxed run, 8-mile long run

Week 3: 4-mile tempo workout, 13.1-mile race day!!!

Wish me luck!