After the WDW Half on Saturday(!!), the real half training starts! (I may die.) Every year, the East Nasty community does training for the Country Music Half, so I decided this would be a good way to incorporate some of my runs! At first, I planned on doing at least two runs a week with the group, including the long run each week. However, they want you to be able to run 5 miles without walking from the start, which I just can’t do right now (sigh!). So I’m going to do the speed workouts on Thursday nights (marked as 3rd runs below) with them and then maybe a few others, depending on how well I’m progressing. (So, please, no one invite me to do anything on a Thursday night in the next few months. I am easily swayed.)
I also plan on doing at least two runs on my own each week, with the first one usually including strides at the end. Plus I have the Hot Chocolate 15k coming up in February, so that will act as my long run for that week.
My goals for the Country Music Half:
- Finish!
- Get a PR.
- Try my hardest to do it without walking (except through water stops).
All runs are easy runs, unless designated otherwise. Pace times are listed below (and may be very optimistic because I know that’s not my current 5k pace).
| Week | 1st Run* | 2nd Run | 3rd Run** | 4th Run | Long Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.13-1.19 | rest | rest | 6x short hill | 5mi | 5.5mi |
| 1.20-1.26 | 3mi | rest | 8x short hill | 5mi | 6mi |
| 1.27-2.02 | 3mi | rest | 2×10 min tempo | 5mi | 7.5mi |
| 2.03-2.09 | 3mi | rest | 20 min tempo | 5mi | 9mi |
| 2.10-2.16 | 3mi | rest | 5x long hill | rest | Hot Chocolate 15k |
| 2.17-2.23 | 3mi | rest | 5x long hill | 5mi | 8mi |
| 2.24-3.02 | 3mi | rest | 30 min tempo | 5mi | 9.5mi |
| 3.03-3.09 | 3mi | rest | 30 min tempo | 5mi | 11mi |
| 3.10-3.16 | 3mi | rest | 6x (800m 5k pace / 400m jog) | 5mi | 11mi |
| 3.17-3.23 | 3mi | 1mi goal pace | 5x (1000m 5k pace / 400m jog) | 5mi | 12.5mi |
| 3.24-3.30 | 3mi | 2mi goal pace | 4x (1200m 5k pace / 400m jog) | 5mi | 14mi |
| 3.31-4.06 | 3mi | 3mi goal pace | 3x (1600m 5k pace / 400m jog) | 5mi | 12.5mi |
| 4.07-4.13 | 3mi | 4mi goal pace | 3x2mi intervals | 5mi | 15k progressive |
| 4.14-4.20 | 2mi | 5mi goal pace | 3mi goal pace | 5mi | 5mi |
| 4.21-4.27 | 2mi | rest | 3mi | rest | Half marathon! |
* 1st Runs will usually incorporate 8 strides at the end.
** 3rd Runs will be done with the East Nasty Half Marathon Training Group.
Pace Times:
Strides: 9:45-10:15 min/mi
5k pace: 10:15-10:45 min/mi
Tempo: 10:45-11:15 min/mi
Goal pace: 11:15-11:45 min/mi
Easy: 12:00-12:30 min/mi
Jog: 13:00+ min/mi
Progressive Runner 
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