Is a sub-2 hour first half marathon realistic with this training schedule?
TL;DR
Started running in April 2026 and training for my first half marathon in late October. Current goal pace is 5:40/km to break 2 hours. Running 4 days a week (2 easy/strides, 1 building long run, 1 interval session) + strength training. Looking for feedback on whether this schedule can get me to a sub-2 hour finish!
Hello everyone!
I’m training for my first half marathon coming up in late October and would love some feedback on my current progression and schedule. I only started running in April 2026. When I began, my initial Zone 2 pace was pretty slow at around 9:00/km. Since then, I've seen some solid improvement,my Zone 2 pace has dropped down to about 7:15–8:00/km.
My Current 4-Day Training Split:
2x Easy Runs: 5km to 7km strictly in Zone 2, finishing with 5x 100m strides (with full recovery rest in between).
1x Long Run: Currently at 10–12km (built up from 7–8km). This is a pure Zone 2 aerobic base-building run.
1x Interval Session: 6 times 1km repeats. I hit these at 5:10–5:30/km pace, which is about 10–20 seconds faster than my target race pace.
Supplementary Training:
Strength Work: 2 to 3 times a week. Mobility: Dedicated stretching after every single run.
My Question:
My ultimate goal pace is 5:40/km to finish in under 2 hours. Given my current volume, pacing structure, and the timeline until late October, does a sub 2 hour finish seem achievable with this schedule?
Thanks so much for reading and for any advice you can share! 😊