Hal Higdon's Half Marathon Training

by Hal Higdon

Hal Higdon’s name is synonymous with running. As contributing editor of Runner’s World and best-selling author, he has helped countless runners achieve their distance goals. Now, he’s created the definitive guide on today’s most popular distance, the 13.1-mile half marathon. Hal Higdon’s Half Marathon Training is everything you wanted to know about running the half marathon, including where to begin, what to focus on, how to pace yourself, how to avoid injury, how to track your progress, how to stay the course, and how to improve. Whether this is your first or fiftieth half marathon, there is a plan for you. Inside you’ll find more than 15 customizable programs, ranging from novice to advanced (you’ll even find a walking-only plan), as well as proven strategies, race-day tips, and motivation from half-marathoners around the globe. From day 1 to mile 13.1, Hal will guide, encourage, and pace you to your goal. Other guides might help you complete the half, but only one will introduce you to the joys of running. Hal Higdon’s Half Marathon Training is a book you’ll return to for guidance and inspiration for a lifetime of running.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports, Fitness, Health

208 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2016

About the author

Hal Higdon is an American writer and runner. He has contributed to Runner's World magazine longer than any other writer. He is the author of 34 books, including the best-selling Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide. He has worked as a freelance writer since 1959, and has written a variety of subjects including a children's book that was made into an animated feature. He ran eight times in the United States Olympic Trials and won four World Masters Championships. He is one of the founders of the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA).

Reviews

[Michelle Mengxi · Rating 3 out of 5]

good advice for beginners but could have been much more concise, or all the anecdotes could've been placed in a separate box/font/print so they are easier to skip.

[Amandanoel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall a really good resource. However, most of this book is aimed more at VERY beginning runners and I didn’t love how many social media comments were all over the book- it felt like unneeded filler to me.
I DO think this has pushed me to sick of with some Higdon based training plan (though slightly modified) even though running easy/slow feels sooooooo weird after how hard I’ve worked to improve pace. Still, I’m far more aware of potential injury this time around and so I want a sound plan that takes care of my body instead of completely beating it up. And to realize just how long Higdon has been running and coaching is truly humbling and inspiring

[Penny · Rating 3 out of 5]

some good info, but even though I've never ran a half marathon, I've done a lot of running over several years. This book is mainly written for someone who has barely ran before. that said, I took the info and created my plan.

[Katie Trzepacz · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a new runner, I found this book helpful and easy to get through. It didn’t have too much overwhelming information. There were lots of personal stories of new and old runners which I enjoyed. There was also some good information about how to structure your training plans, but not so much that it became bogged down. It was inspiring!

[Fer Prz · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my never ending quest of using gadgetry to supplement my running hobby, I decided to take a step back and read a book about the subject and process of training plan development. Hal Higdon is a legit runner and respected publisher. I actually completed one of his plans using training peaks. Before buying yet another digital plan, why not read about it in my favorite yet forgotten medium, books.

Higdon takes you on a jog with him and lays out his training abd philosophy for the half marathon. The last chapter is devoted to DIY which really breaks everything down and helps you wrap all the knowledge obtained. Well worth the time and money, considering the training plan I was buying was more expensive than the book!

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up to get to know the half marathon program I just started (Novice 1) but I enjoyed getting to know the other programs too as a potential option for the future.

[Archie Dodwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 3 stars is harsh. This is a pretty good book if your want to run a half marathon and don’t have a clue where to start. I was hoping for a little more though. It acts as both motivational and instructional, flip flopping between the two. The start of the book is pure motivation; the following chapters about starting to run and building a base; the later chapters are training plans and how/when to use them.

I would have liked some more veteran advice. For example; diet for running, hydrating and fuelling during the run, what to do about chafing, winter vs summer running etc.

It is still a good book, I am a slow runner and I’ve hated running for 26 years. I learnt a lot about training for a half marathon, I’m 7 weeks into training and I’m finding running easier and more enjoyable than ever before. Don’t expect life changing advice however. It boils down to running a lot, increasing mileage each week and don’t overdo it to avoid injury.

[Gail Nebl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was thrilled with the book. Hal Higdon is a great ambassador for the sport plus he's knowledgeable. I love that he offers a variety of training plans but also explains how to adapt them or start your own. He also explains some of the science behind the options and why you should be doing what you should be doing. He also stresses consistency which is the number one, most important thing. I'm a marathon runner myself and loved the advise to novice runners. Congratulations Mr. Higdon! Excellent job!!

[Maggie Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I signed up for the Rock’n’Roll half marathon in Nashville on April 22, 2023. I have never done a half marathon before!

Hopefully I’ll be returning to write a review in a few months! 💙

UPDATE: I forgot to update this before, but I have since ran 2 half marathons! I absolutely love this program and come back it everytime. You can also find his plans for free online.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not a bad book, and contained many options for training plans. I liked the last section on running plans between multiple HM events (although I probably should finish *one* before worrying about the second). I even used the general format of Higdon's plans as a jumping off point to fashion my own plan. (As a HM novice who also enjoyed speed workouts to train for a previous 5k, none of his plans fit me quite right as written.)

While the training plans seem decent, this book could have been half the size. First of all, it was very repetitive. A chapter for each level of training meant that he explained concepts like cross-training and rest and speed-work over and over and OVER. Also, I know how to read a chart. Don't include one line of a chart and then write all of the same information in paragraph form. I can see that Monday is rest day and Tuesday I should run 4 miles.

The book was also filled with a ridiculous amount of content cut and pasted from runners' comments on his FB page. The over-the-top motivation attempt seemed unnecessary. Would anyone *not* planning to run a half marathon pick up a "half marathon training" book? It seems unlikely. And I'm sorry, but I just don't care what Jane, 47, accountant from Boise experienced when she ran her first mile. That's not the book I was hoping to read, or what the title suggested. Teach me what I need to know to run a HM. Write more about nutrition and tapering, and less about name dropping and bragging about your own race results.

Complaints aside, I did use the general format of Higdon's plans as a jumping off point to fashion my own plan. (As a HM novice who also enjoyed speed workouts to train for a previous 5k, none of his plans fit me quite right as written.) Wish me (and especially my knees) luck!

[mellyana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is good for a beginner or someone who is thinking to run. It provides a bit of history, many stories from other runners - the non athlete ones. I can relate to their stories and I think many people can easily feel relatable to their stories.

If you are not sure how to start, if you are feeling shitty about your first training days, if you are feeling intimated by superior runners, this book can give you assurance that you can run, especially for a half marathon race.

I don't use its training programme. Well, nowadays there are plenty app and formula for that. However, it's good to understand the basic. For that, I prefer Jack Daniel's. Daniel's running formula is more technical and required a strong concentration through.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

None of this is anything you won't find online in some form, yet buying a book on running a marathon gives your goals some immediacy and reality. Having it in play site will do wonders for accountability, more than a bookmark on your browser will ever do.

Codifying your efforts, but reminding you that a 12-Week plan means you will have 84 workouts to develop a pattern of success is a great framing tool.

Hal also gives over five training plans (after "base training") with different emphasis. He also has some tips for Cross-training (yoga is good for recovery, not cross-training. Bikes are good, so is swimming..

There is even an 18-week course to work for the half-marathon to the full.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for anyone looking for half marathon training plans and insight into training for races in general. Higdon is a valuable resource on running and his book definitely walks the line between flexibility and having some type of plan.

Personally, I had been kinda doing my training on my own and picked up this book to see how far off I was. Good news it that I am on track to run a half in September and this book gave me the confidence to sign up for the race even though I wasn't sure about it. Not sure what my next goal after September will be, but I'll probably reference the book again if I continue to set running goals.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hal is a great running coach!!! He has great plans and speaks from incredible experience with decades of high level running under his belt. He is not a literary great and the perspective he speaks to changes throughout and there are repeated sentiments through the writing as well…again-as not a beginner runner of half marathons-slogging through the beginner sections was boring but I can appreciate it for what it is. There’s some great advice here and it’s a really good reference book for anyone at the HM start line.

[Himanshu Kapila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for people like me who are amateur runners. We make a mistake of pushing ourselves too fast too soon. This book gives structured training programs and builds up your level. There are multiple programs suggested by the author and anecdotes from normal people are also shared. Must read if you’re seriously preparing for a half marathon.

[EmReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was just okay sort of book which I read on my ebook reader. I had no AHA moment while reading. The training plan for the beginners looks not so intimidating like Hansons plan. The chance is high that I would follow that only even though there was no mention of interval or tempo runs in the plan. After all, who does not like the simple plan? The ambitious one! ;)

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you are a novice or professional, you can find benefit from this book. Higdon provides the history of the distance, eating right, appropriate cross-training, and race day tips. Higdon also provides an assortment of training schedules, and even teaches you how to make your own training schedule. This is a great reference book to utilize for all your half-marathon races.

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this for not only a running program, but extra comments and quotes from others on what has worked and what hasn't. Hal Higdon seems realistic in the time and skill levels of various people-novice to experienced, and I appreciated the insight on training from different levels.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good information

I am going to start training for my first half marathon and decided to use one of his training plans. This book was very helpful in explaining all plans and the differences between them. Lots of good information in this book.

[Crystal Swafford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m already in a half training program, but I found this book helpful. It was encouraging, inspiring, and helped define some terminology and strategy I did not fully understand. I really love that this book will help me beyond my race to continue my running journey.

[Jessica Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good info for the first few chapters, then it got too repetitive for me! I got tired of all the testimonials and social media comments. His app is amazing though and highly recommend using it if you’re wanting to get into running!

[Μιχάλης · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book could have been a lengthy post with a handful of links to the training schedules. Seriously take away the social media posts shared in the book, the repetitions, and the self boasting, and you could fit everything in a single chapter.

[Celin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned a lot about how to get to my goal .

[Lucrecia Raulerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to help train for Half marathon

[Catalina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! Once I'm done with the 10k I'm running this weekend I'll start a plan for my first half-marathon. So excited!

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plan to use his advanced training for Cap City but with more rest days instead of easy days

[Vera Bedan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I regret not reading this before choosing a training plan. Will definitely read again before planning my next half marathon! It's easy to read and the information given is easy to digest.

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit dated in terms of nutrition but the foundations have stood the test of time.

[Tina]

Higdon gives training plans in this book and tells how to personalize a plan. There are many short stories of runners that may encourage readers to train for a half.

[Amy Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a runner for 10 plus years. I still enjoyed reading this to refresh my mind on how to succeed. The training plans are the best. Trust the process and you’ll cross the finish line.