The half marathon continues to be the most popular race distance—literally thousands of people run one each year! That’s because for newer runners who’ve finished 5Ks or 10Ks, the half offers a challenge without the the grind of marathon training. And for runners who have more experience, training for 13.1 miles betters your stamina for shorter, faster races while still building your overall endurance.

Tackling the half-marathon distance might be one of the smartest goals to work toward to start your 2024, and that’s why Runner’s World+ created How to Hit your goal with this proven approach. Paired with the RW Training Plan of your choice, this holistic training program, available exclusively to Runner’s World+ members, provides all the tools you need to navigate the entire half-marathon training journey—from building your base to how to run your race strategically.

This is the ultimate guide to running your first—or fastest—13.1 miles!


Your Coach

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Knox Robinson is a runner, writer, and coach. He is the cofounder and captain of the Black Roses NYC run crew, and an ardent purveyor of running culture. In the RW+ video Why Running Volume Matters, he’ll help you get through the long runs, feel healthy, and finish strong on race day.


Your Experts

Choose the Right Gear
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Mallory Creveling

Unlock all stories

Races - Places
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Jeff Dengate

David Jaewon Oh

Sleep & Recovery
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Beret Loncar

How to set your foundation before you build mileage and speed

Training & Recovery
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Roberto Mandje

Olympian, Run Coach

Nutrition
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Amy Stephens

Registered Dietitian, Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics


What You’ll Learn

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1: Why You Should Run a Half

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2: Base Training

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3: Why You Should Run a Half

All the workouts that might appear on your training plan.

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4: Choose the Right Plan

David Jaewon Oh.

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5. Types of Runs

Nutrition - Weight Loss.

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6: Nutrition

Looking for the perfect pair or new apparel? Our experts can help.

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7: Shoes & Gear

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8: Sleep

You need quality sleep for better performance.

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9: Strength Training

Shoes & Gear.

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10: David Jaewon Oh

Olympian, Run Coach.

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11: How to Race Your Half

Hit your goal with this proven approach.

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12: Recover

Feel better after a race—and the next time you head out.

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Runner’s World+ Half Marathon Training Plans

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Aisha McAdams

Why Running Volume Matters How to set your foundation before you build mileage and speed Runner’s World Half Marathon Training Plans in mind, which are designed to help you crush your first race or finally break that time-based goal. These are our most popular plans, with each lasting 10 to 14 weeks long. Runner’s World+ members get access to these ultimate half marathon training guides (along with marathon, 10K, and 5K plans... Break 2 Hours!) when you sign up!


🏃🏾‍♀️ Welcome to the Runner’s World+ Community!

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How to Race Your Half

Runners World+ is a tight-knit community as passionate about running as you are. Through RW+, we’ve expanded the ways we can reach you beyond simple stories in a magazine and on a website, offering more unique benefits to help you run faster, stronger, healthier, and happier. Along with Why Running Volume Matters, here’s just a glimpse at what we offer

  • Unlock all stories, Should You Split Up Your Long Run, cutting-edge tools, and gear reviews on RunnersWorld.com
  • Get every print issue delivered straight to your mailbox
  • How to Race Your Half Runner’s World Other Hearst Subscriptions
  • How to Master the Half Marathon