Author: Swati Jaiswal | Published: November 2024

You’ve signed up and committed to your half-marathon goal, and now you need to figure out how to reach your personal best (PB)!

Whether you're a beginner looking to complete your first half-marathon or an experienced runner aiming to shatter your PB, success in this event hinges on more than the number of hours spent running.

It is a carefully crafted combination of factors like:

• Effective training structure
• Appropriate nutrition
• Adequate recovery
• Understanding your genetic predisposition and how your body responds to exercise

Now, what do we even mean by a “carefully crafted combination?”

It’s about understanding how to get the best out of YOUR body. It is about asking:

• What types of intervals will yield the best results?
• How many long, slow runs should I incorporate?
• How do I progress my mileage safely?
• How often should I be resting?
• What should I eat to fuel my performance?

All good questions, and ones that for most people, are difficult to answer.

Unfortunately, many of the one-size-fits-all training plans that are easily accessible online are generic in nature and meant to cater to a broad audience.

These standardized ‘recipes’ do not account for individual differences and are more about hitting the weekly target than tuning into ‘what do YOU need to drive YOUR performance’.

Limitations of generic training plans for half marathons