Half Marathon Training Plan Level 3 - Intermediate Duration: 12 Weeks Goal Time: 1h35-1h45 #GETTINGITDONE WELCOME Congratulations! Welcome to the community and well done on taking that first step to becoming a better, faster and stronger runner! We're here to help you with your journey to get you where you want to be. By downloading this plan you agree to the terms and conditions which can be found on www.benparkes.com/pages/terms-and-conditions. Please ensure you have read these fully before starting this plan. It's pretty much impossible to be able to follow the plan exactly - life gets in the way and other things crop up. However this will serve as a guide that you can build in and around your life. Feel free to move a few sessions around if you need to. If you have any questions feel free to get in touch via the website. Good luck with all your training and make sure you come back and let me know how you get on in your race! Happy running and keep on getting it done! Ben #GETTINGITDONE PACE CHART The chart below will give you a rough guide of how to pace each run based on your goal finish time. Most runs on the plan will refer to this chart so you can be confident that you are training at the appropriate intensity. #GETTINGITDONE GLOSSARY Easy Runs These runs help build your aerobic base which will allow you to run long distances. You should be able to easily hold a conversation on your easy runs. If it feels hard in any way, then slow down. Easy Pace You should feel like you could easily hold a conversation with someone at this pace refer to the pace chart for a suggested easy pace for your goal. Hill Sessions Running up and down hills is great to build strength in the legs. Don't worry about finding the perfect hill, use whatever you have nearby. Make sure you are running up the hill at a steady controlled pace rather than a sprint. Intervals These sessions involve running at a fast pace and then recovering for a given number of times. Intervals are the best way to improve your speed! Interval Pace The pace to run your intervals at. Refer to the pace chart for a suggested interval pace for your goal. Long Runs These runs are crucial as they build endurance and help prepare the body and mind to run the distance. Remember this is a great time to practice your race day routine - run in the kit you plan to use on the day, have the same breakfast, start your run at the same time as your goal race and make sure you’re hydrated. Progression Runs These involve getting faster throughout the run and teach you to keep pushing even when the legs are tired which is how you will feel towards the end of a race! Steady Pace That gear a little bit harder than easy. Starting to put a bit of effort in but shouldn't feel too challenging. Strength Training Setting aside a session or two for strength training each week will help to improve your running economy and efficiency. It is also a great way to correct any muscle imbalances in the body and can help to reduce the risk of common running injuries by strengthening any weak areas. Some great exercises are planks, bridges, squats, step ups, lunges, deadlifts, clams and calf raises! Strides These are 20 second bursts of fast running, around 95% effort with a 30-60 second rest between each. You'll usually see these at the end of an easy run, so finish up with your easy run and then add the strides at the end. They are great for improving stride length and help build better form and efficiency so don't skip them! Tempo Runs These runs build physical fitness as well as mental toughness. Tempo is the intensity that we like to refer to as comfortably uncomfortable, or as a rough guide, something that you feel you could hold for about an hour. Tempo Pace Comfortably uncomfortable - refer to the pace chart for a suggested tempo pace for your goal. Training Load This is to give you a rough indication of the intensity of the session and how much "stress" the body will be put under. If you need to move sessions around then try and avoid multiple back to back high intensity days. Rest Days These days are just as important as training days! Avoid any running or cross training on these days. Focus on getting good quality sleep and letting your body recover so it can rebuild and make adaptations. #GETTINGITDONE PLAN MILES Weeks 1-4 #GETTINGITDONE PLAN MILES Weeks 5-8 #GETTINGITDONE PLAN MILES Weeks 9-12 #GETTINGITDONE PLAN KM Weeks 1-4 #GETTINGITDONE PLAN KM Weeks 5-8 #GETTINGITDONE PLAN KM Weeks 9-12 #GETTINGITDONE THANK YOU! If you would like to support what we do, then please consider these options to keep the content coming. Your support means SO much and we couldn't do it without you! Get 10% off all running gear including hats, singlets, tees and hoodies using code PLAN at checkout! www.benparkes.com Loads of tips and tricks to help you with your training including warm up videos, strength training, recovery advice and loads more! www.youtube.com/benparkes Support us financially by becoming a Patron from £2 per month. www.patreon.com/benparkes The Amazon store has hand picked items that we use and love to help you with your training and recovery! www.amazon.co.uk/shop/influencer-7c13cb8b #GETTINGITDONE AND FINALLY... Thank you for supporting us by buying into our philosophy and believing in what we do. You can achieve way more than you think you can and this plan will give you a great foundation to use with your training going forward. There will be some tough moments over the course of the plan but many more highs, as you get fitter and stronger! We know you can do it and looking forward to hearing all about how you get on! Wishing you all the very best in life, training and racing. Keep on getting it done! Ben #GETTINGITDONE