Long runs with context
Distance increases are checked against recent load so the plan builds without unnecessary spikes.
Half marathon
A half marathon plan that notices a bad week.
The long run is the whole event. It should climb only when last week actually happened. Miss a day and the next one does not double.
No credit card required · Free plan available forever
- Race-specific 8-16 week half marathon blocks
- Long-run and tempo progression with readiness checks
- Race prediction and pacing strategy in Pro
Half Marathon Training App
A half marathon block with VDOT paces, a long run that only grows if the week can take it, and a rewrite if you miss a day. Free to start.
Race pace becomes familiar
Tempo and marathon-pace sessions teach control before race day.
Travel and life are handled
Automatic routes and schedule adaptation keep the block moving when weeks change.
A goal to work toward. A week that fits.
Paces matched to your fitness, routes for your sessions, and a plan that adapts to your training.
How many weeks does half marathon training take?
Most half marathon blocks run 8 to 16 weeks, with the right length depending on your current weekly mileage and how much long-run experience you already have. A runner coming from a recent 10K block can often prepare in 8 to 10 weeks; someone building up from a lower base benefits from closer to 16 weeks so the long run and weekly volume can increase gradually.
Runapt sets the block length from your current fitness and race date instead of defaulting to a fixed number of weeks, so the progression matches what your body can actually absorb.
Building the long run without overreaching
The long run is the centerpiece of half marathon training, but distance increases that outpace your recent training load are the most common way runners get hurt in a half marathon block. A safer approach increases the long run gradually and backs off periodically rather than pushing distance up every single week.
Runapt checks each long-run increase against your recent training load, so the progression builds toward race distance without unnecessary spikes.
Learning to hold half marathon race pace
Race pace for a half marathon sits between tempo and marathon pace, comfortably hard rather than all-out, and most runners go out too fast in the opening miles because it feels deceptively easy. Tempo and race-pace-specific sessions during training teach your body and your sense of effort what that pace actually feels like before race day.
Runapt’s VDOT-calibrated pace targets set race-pace sessions specific to your current fitness, and Pro adds a pacing strategy so you know what pace to expect at each stage of the race.
Tapering without losing fitness
The two or three weeks before a half marathon should reduce volume while keeping some intensity, since cutting both volume and intensity too aggressively can leave legs feeling flat on race day rather than fresh. The goal of a taper is to arrive rested without losing the fitness the previous months built.
Runapt shapes the taper automatically as your race date approaches, and readiness or missed sessions can still adjust the remaining workouts without undoing the taper’s purpose.
Start free, add Pro when you want more
Half marathon plans are part of Runapt Pro, which starts with a 14-day free trial. Pro includes the plan with VDOT-based paces, automatic routes and readiness-aware long-run progression, plus race prediction, pacing strategy and AI coach notes. The free plan covers 5K and 10K plans.
The paces come from a recent time. The length comes from the race date and the days you can train.
FAQ
How many weeks do I need?
Most half marathon blocks run 8-16 weeks depending on base fitness and race date.
Does Runapt adapt the long run?
Yes. Readiness, missed sessions, and recent training load can change future sessions.
What is a good pace for my first half marathon?
It depends on your current fitness rather than a fixed number. Runapt calculates race-pace targets from a recent result, and Pro’s race prediction gives a realistic finish-time estimate as your training progresses.
How long should the longest training run be before a half marathon?
Many plans peak the long run somewhere between 16 and 19 kilometers a few weeks before race day, then taper. Runapt sets the exact peak distance from your fitness and how many weeks are left.
Can I train for a half marathon on 3 or 4 runs per week?
Yes. Runapt builds the plan around your available days, prioritizing the long run and one quality session when training days are limited.
What should I do in the final week before the half marathon?
Volume drops sharply while a touch of race-pace work stays in, following the taper Runapt shapes automatically as race day approaches.
Free
$0/month
5K and 10K. Two plans. No card.
- 5K and 10K plans
- Up to 2 training plans
- Standard GPS routes
- Run log and history
- Basic real-time pace tracking
- Achievements and streaks
No credit card. Free forever.
Pro
$49/year
Half and marathon. The week moves after a missed run.
- Founder price — locked in for life
- Everything in Free
- Unlimited training plans
- Half marathon and marathon plans
- Adaptive plan adjustments
- AI coach notes & chat
- Fatigue dashboard
- Race prediction and pacing strategy
- HealthKit, Strava, and Polar sync
About $4.08/mo billed annually, which is cheaper than monthly. Prefer monthly? $7.99/mo. 14-day free trial.
Prices shown for your region. Your exact price is set by the App Store or Google Play at checkout.
Start with a free plan.
Download Runapt and build your first training week. The free plan has no time limit.
Or start on the web