Beginner's Half-Marathon Trainer: The 14-Week Program to Completing a Half-Marathon in Your Best Time

by Jon Ackland

Prepare for your first half marathon or learn strategies and training regimens to boost your speed and stamina to maximize your perfomance

The half-marathon is booming in popularity and it’s easy to see why. At just over 13 miles, the race is short enough for beginners but long enough to test even serious runners. So whether you want to compete or just push yourself, the half-marathon offers the perfect challenge. With its can’t-fail, 14-week programs, The Beginner’s Half-Marathon Trainer shows how to run your best time without injury or time-intensive training. By offering several unique programs, it caters to everyone from walkers to competitive racers and teaches you how

•Mentally prepare
•Train smarter
•Improve speed and endurance
•Properly nourish your body
•Pace your self

Genres: Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published March 3, 2007

Reviews

[Jeannee Neumann · Rating 4 out of 5]

It did it's job. I just completed my first half and although the race still kicked my butt, I expected it to and honestly can't blame the book since I didn't do most of the assigned short runs in the last few weeks of the training plan I selected. There are several plans for different levels (beginners, regulars who want better times, etc.) but they are all are time- and not distance-based. For example, one week I had to run 20 "hilly" minutes for two days and then 60 "easy" minutes on a Sunday. This was OK for me since I run between a 9:30 and 10 minute mile. My last assigned long run before my race was 120 minutes, so I came pretty close to the 13.1 miles I ran on race day. If you run at a slower pace, this book may not bring you up to the distance you may want to be by race day, but I think it's still worth a shot.

It brought me from running 3 miles tops to completing a half-marathon, so I'm pretty pleased.

[Nicoal]

Dear Publisher,

Please hire me as your copyeditor. You seem to be in need of my skills.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm looking for a training plan for a half-marathon newbie, but I've run shorter distances in the past. This had a variety of 14 week plans that seemed reasonable, but I disliked that they were in minutes instead of miles. At about 10 minutes/mile when I'm not pushing it, it would probably be fine for me, but the author never addressed this, and a slower runner wouldn't be prepared for a marathon using this method.

I liked that he includes hill and speed workouts with even his begining plan. I wouldn't feel prepared just running all easy runs.

I appreciated his focus on knowing the course. It's an aspect of the race I hadn't given much thought. If I decide to go for it, I'll do some long runs on the course, but probably use a different training plan. Maybe I'll just convert his times to distances to help me feel better about it psychologically.

[Kristiyan Bonev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, the first three pages are a motivational explosion. Hah, I literally considered leaving the book and start running. I even gave it to my wife to read only those three pages, cause I found them amazing.

Now, I couldn't make the most of the book, cause I've signed up for a Spartan Race with the length of half-marathon. Basically I couldn't use the exact training schedule.

But it is still a very useful book. You will learn how to drink water during the race, what exactly is happening to your body, the technique of running, the mind set, the nutrition, how to stay injury free, and a lot more. And most of all, you will be at least a tiny bit more confident going into any race, knowing more about what are you facing.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this book during the final weeks of my half marathon training. It has been hugely helpful, and has provided just the right level of detail to help me make ‘sense’ of the commitment to run this distance and what is required from me to achieve this well.

I’ve picked up some new tips, debunked a bunch of myths, checked I had chosen my gear in a sensible way and begun thinking about what will happen on the day and - for the first time - after.

There’s been a read across from the training program I am following, but this book gives you so much more than a schedule.

I highly recommend it as a resource for those beginning to run longer distances.

[CherylR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very compact, useful guide for the first time half marathoner. I enjoyed this book.

[Loren · Rating 2 out of 5]

The program seems good (although I am not following this one) and there is some very general info about technique, etc. But the font is difficult to read and the book barely skims over key points like shoes, injuries, nutrition, and all the other important stuff that should be included since the book is geared toward beginners.

[Mark Cichonski]

This book was fantasitic for helping me get ready to run the Philly half marathon in September. There is some really fantastic advice in here, knowing the course, understanding what fluids are being used at the race, race day prep, etc... The training plans were really good and helped me optimize my runs.

[Mrklingon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, clear and basic advice.

This is only the start - we're signed up for a half-marathon in September, and this is my first foray into specific instruction. On the way there, there will be 10Ks and 5Ks... all with that half-marathon waiting. We'll see how it turns out.

[Slb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Training plans in minutes don't work for slower runners.