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There’s no time like the present: get started on your half-marathon journey today with our eight week training plan.@WomensRunning

8-Week Intermediate Half Marathon Training Plan
You’ll get into half marathon running shape in 2 months with this training plan.
Updated Dec 28, 2024
The Editors of RUNFollow
from Women’s Running
If done correctly, it is possible to βcrash trainβ for a half marathon. Whether itβs an injury, an illness, work stress or scheduling that threw you off track, even just four weeks is enough time to prepare for a successful 13.1-miler provided youβre healthy and able to train without further interruptions. But a better approach is to follow this 8-week intermediate half marathon training plan.
The key to crash training is building fitness quickly without taking big risks. The best tools for fast fitness are frequency and intensity. Doing some kind of cardio almost every dayβwhether that means running, walking or cross-trainingβwill help you make the most of the time you have.
RELATED: Take the βYou vs. the Year 2025β Running Challenge
Getting Started
This 8-week intermediate half marathon training plan is perfect if your half marathon is eight weeks away and youβre fit enough to run 5 miles comfortably.
The plan includes βoptionalβ days, when you have a choice to rest, run or cross-train (XT) with non-impact cardio, such as cycling or elliptical training. Youβll get fitter faster if you choose the rest option only when you feel your body needs it.
Each run uses a five-point intensity scale based on ratings of perceived effort (RPE). Heart-rate monitors can be helpful, but going by feel works just as well. Use these guidelines to understand your planβs intensity scale.
RPE 1: Very Easyβa pleasant effort you feel you could keep up almost indefinitely.
RPE 2: Comfortableβyouβre not holding yourself back but you can still easily carry on a conversation.
RPE 3: Comfortably Hardβthe highest intensity at which you can speak comfortably.
RPE 4: Hardβafter a few minutes at this intensity, your breathing is labored.
RPE 5: Very Hardβan effort that you can sustain for a couple of minutes at most
0 of 4 minutes, 46 secondsVolume 90%
Week 1
Monday: REST
Tuesday: FAST FINISH RUN 30 min @ RPE 2 + 5 min @ RPE 3
Wednesday: EASY RUN 35 min @ RPE 2
Thursday: OPTIONAL: WALK, RUN or XT 35 min @ RPE 1-2 or Rest
Friday: INTERVAL RUN/WALK 5 min @ RPE 1 + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 5 x (1 min @ RPE 5/2 min @ RPE 1) + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 5 min @ RPE 1
Saturday: XT 35 min @ RPE 2
Sunday: LONG RUN 5 miles @ RPE 2
Week 2
Monday: REST
Tuesday: FAST FINISH RUN 35 min @ RPE 2 + 5 min @ RPE 3
Wednesday: EASY RUN 40 min @ RPE 2
Thursday: OPTIONAL: WALK, RUN or XT 35 min @ RPE 1-2 or Rest
Friday: INTERVAL RUN/WALK 5 min @ RPE 1 + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 7 x (1 min @ RPE 5/2 min @ RPE 1) + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 5 min @ RPE 1
Saturday: XT 40 min @ RPE 2
Sunday: LONG RUN 6 miles @ RPE 2
Week 3
Monday: REST
Tuesday: FAST FINISH RUN 35 min @ RPE 2 + 10 min @ RPE 3
Wednesday: EASY RUN 45 min @ RPE 2
Thursday: OPTIONAL: WALK, RUN or XT 40 min @ RPE 1-2 or Rest
Friday: INTERVAL RUN/WALK 5 min @ RPE 1 + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 9 x (1 min @ RPE 4/2 min @ RPE 1) + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 5 min @ RPE 1
Saturday: XT 45 min @ RPE 2
Sunday: LONG RUN 7 miles @ RPE 2
Week 4
Monday: REST
Tuesday: FAST FINISH RUN 30 min @ RPE 2 + 5 min @ RPE 3
Wednesday: EASY RUN 35 min @ RPE 2
Thursday: OPTIONAL: WALK, RUN or XT 35 min @ RPE 1-2 or Rest
Friday: INTERVAL RUN/WALK 5 min @ RPE 1 + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 7 x (1 min @ RPE 5/2 min @ RPE 1) + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 5 min @ RPE 1
Saturday: XT 35 min @ RPE 2
Sunday: LONG RUN 6 miles @ RPE 2
Week 5
Monday: REST
Tuesday: TEMPO RUN 5 min @ RPE 1 + 10 min @ RPE 2 + 15 min @ RPE 3 + 10 min @ RPE 2 + 5 min @ RPE 1
Wednesday: EASY RUN 45 min @ RPE 2
Thursday: OPTIONAL: WALK, RUN or XT 45 min @ RPE 1-2 or Rest
Friday: INTERVAL RUN/WALK 5 min @ RPE 1 + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 6 x (2 min @ RPE 4/2 min @ RPE 1) + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 5 min @ RPE 1
Saturday: XT 45 min @ RPE 2
Sunday: LONG RUN WITH FAST FINISH 7 miles @ RPE 2 + 1 mile @ RPE 3
Week 6
Monday: REST
Tuesday: TEMPO RUN 5 min @ RPE 1 + 10 min @ RPE 2 + 20 min @ RPE 3 + 10 min @ RPE 2 + 5 min @ RPE 1
Wednesday: EASY RUN 50 min @ RPE 2
Thursday: OPTIONAL: WALK, RUN or XT 50 min @ RPE 1-2 or Rest
Friday: INTERVAL RUN/WALK 5 min @ RPE 1 + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 5 x (3 min @ RPE 4/2 min @ RPE 1) + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 5 min @ RPE 1
Saturday: XT 50 min @ RPE 2
Sunday: LONG RUN WITH FAST FINISH 7.5 miles @ RPE 2 + 1.5 mile @ RPE 3
Week 7
Monday: REST
Tuesday: TEMPO RUN 5 min @ RPE 1 + 10 min @ RPE 2 + 25 min @ RPE 3 + 10 min @ RPE 2 + 5 min @ RPE 1
Wednesday: EASY RUN 55 min @ RPE 2
Thursday: OPTIONAL: WALK, RUN or XT 50 min @ RPE 1-2 or Rest
Friday: INTERVAL RUN/WALK 5 min @ RPE 1 + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 4 x (4 min @ RPE 4/2 min @ RPE 1) + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 5 min @ RPE 1
Saturday: XT 55 min @ RPE 2
Sunday: LONG RUN WITH FAST FINISH 9 miles @ RPE 2 + 2 mile @ RPE 3
Week 8
Monday: REST
Tuesday: TEMPO RUN 5 min @ RPE 1 + 10 min @ RPE 2 + 20 min @ RPE 3 + 10 min @ RPE 2 + 5 min @ RPE 1
Wednesday: EASY RUN 45 min @ RPE 2
Thursday: INTERVAL RUN/WALK 5 min @ RPE 1 + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 4 x (2 min @ RPE 4/2 min @ RPE 1) + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 5 min @ RPE 1
Friday: XT 35 min @ RPE 2
Saturday: REST
Sunday: HALF MARATHON
Carrie Underwood Better, Faster, Stronger @DrinkBODYARMOR #LYTEUpNashville
Katron Long Jacket & Vest @oiselle #women
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Repeat after us: Without adequate recoveryβeasy days, sleep, downtimeβtraining adaptations go down the tubes. @WomensRunning

Women’s Running
@WomensRunning
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Repeat after us: Without adequate recoveryβeasy days, sleep, downtimeβtraining adaptations go down the tubes.








