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How long to train for a half-marathon when not starting from scratch

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Kieren Apr 2021 5:06pm, 1 Apr 2021 4,158 posts	Quote Pin Kieren So most half-marathon plans are 12 -18 weeks. I've just finished an 18 week marathon plan (with some adaptions) to build up my base / durability. I have 25 weeks until my half-marathon and wanted to get some speed in the middle, with a slightly lower weekly mileage and more pace variation. I've planned 12 weeks of 5K training, 1 week active recovery leaving 12 weeks including taper for the half-marathon. Is there any guidance or good practice to working out how much time I might need to prep for the race? I am thinking I might be tempted to extend my 5K training window if that training does well.
Autumnleaves Apr 2021 9:26am, 2 Apr 2021 16,437 posts	Quote Pin Autumnleaves Would your 5k training still include a weekly longer run? For me the time on feet element of half marathon training is critical or I literally run out of steam.
Kieren Apr 2021 10:49am, 2 Apr 2021 4,159 posts	Quote Pin Kieren Yes to long run but at easy pace. There is not much tempo running in the plan - at least the 1st 6 weeks (I haven't plotted the rest). I use the vdot calculator and a regular 5K time trial to guide my training paces: runsmartproject.com Training looks like this: Long runs are at "easy" pace but I might (depending how I recover) alternate between easy and marathon pace weekly. Just curious if I need to be doing long tempo runs and for how long. I do want to PB at HM but am probably in shape to scrape that now.
Autumnleaves Apr 2021 4:18pm, 3 Apr 2021 16,447 posts	Quote Pin Autumnleaves Interesting. I think I probably would include some tempo personally - at a push I suppose you could do one or two fast finish long runs?
Kieren Apr 2021 8:33pm, 7 Apr 2021 4,162 posts	Quote Pin Kieren Thanks. I have decided I am going to extend the 5K block from 8 weeks to 16 weeks, till mid July. That will then give me 10 weeks including taper for the half marathon. My main goal is to lifetime PB at the half-marathon but I honestly thing I could probably do that right now. The training will just make me more confident.