Half Marathon

The half marathon (13.1 miles / 21.1 km) is one of the fastest-growing distances in road running, with over 2 million US finishers annually. It's long enough to feel like a real endurance challenge but short enough that recovery takes days rather than weeks.

The half marathon demands respect. It's not "half a marathon" in difficulty — it's its own distinct race that requires proper training, fueling, and pacing. Most runners race the half at 10–15 seconds per mile slower than their 10K pace, holding an effort that's hard but controlled.

For many runners, the half marathon is the ideal distance: challenging enough to require structured training, but achievable with 3–4 days of running per week and peak long runs of 10–12 miles. It's also the perfect stepping stone for runners considering a full marathon.

Your longest training run should be 10–12 miles, done at easy pace — no need to run the full distance

Practice taking water at aid stations during training runs so it's natural on race day

Start your race 10–15 seconds per mile slower than goal pace and build into it

Carry or plan for one gel around mile 7–8 if you'll be running longer than 90 minutes