Sub-2-hour half marathon training plan

By Eli Fayerman, running coach and founder of Running Schedule · Updated October 13, 2026

This free 12-week plan takes a runner from about 19 miles a week to a half marathon under two hours. It builds for seven weeks, holds a peak block for three, then tapers for two. Every week and every session is below.

For runners with a recent 10K around 54:30 who want to break two hours in the half marathon.

Built for a runner who already runs about 30 km a week on 4 days and has been running for 2 years. The plan follows principles from published training research, and its numbers are benchmarked against widely used published plans.

Your race date, your running days, and a plan that adjusts when you miss a run. Create my plan

How long is the plan?

The plan runs 12 weeks, race week included. Weeks 1 to 7 build your mileage, with an easier week in week 5. Weeks 8 to 10 are the peak block, and the last two weeks taper so you reach the start line fresh.

How many miles a week?

It starts at about 19 miles a week on four days and adds 1 to 3 miles a week. After the easier week in week 5, the build picks up where it left off. Mileage reaches 33 miles in week 8 and stays between 30 and 33 through week 10.

What is the longest run?

The longest run is 12 miles, first in week 7. Long runs in weeks 7 to 10 finish with a stretch at goal pace, 9:09 per mile, building to 6.2 miles at that pace. The rest, including the taper week, are at easy pace.

What if I miss a run?

A missed run is not made up later. Doubling up to catch up is the sudden jump in mileage the plan is built to avoid. In the plan you create, the schedule re-plans from the runs you actually did and tells you why in one sentence.

The schedule, week by week

Distances in mi · km

This is the full plan for the runner described above. Yours is built from your own race date, running days and current mileage, and it changes as you train.

Weekly volume

A 12-week plan: Build weeks 1 to 7, Peak weeks 8 to 10, Taper weeks 11 to 12. The biggest week is week 8, 53 km.

Build wk 1–7Peak wk 8–10Taper wk 11–12 Cutback week Race (21.1 km)
Weekly volume as a list
Week 1Build30 km
Week 2Build33 km
Week 3Build36 km
Week 4Build40 km
Week 5Build, cutback36 km
Week 6Build44 km
Week 7Build48 km
Week 8Peak53 km
Week 9Peak48 km
Week 10Peak53 km
Week 11Taper37 km
Week 12Taper21 km

Week 1

Build 30 km long run 10 km

Easy days marked with strides end with six 20-second pick-ups. They keep your legs used to speed alongside the harder sessions.

  1. Tue easy 6.5 km at easy pace, conversational the whole way. ~45 min
  2. Wed 7 km with 2 x 1.8 km at 5:39/km as cruise intervals. ~44 min
  3. Fri easy 6.5 km at easy pace, then 6 strides of 20 seconds, walk back between. ~44 min
  4. Sun long 10 km all at easy pace. ~1 h 09

Week 2

Build 33 km long run 12 km
  1. Tue easy 7 km at easy pace, conversational the whole way. ~49 min
  2. Wed 7 km with 3 x 0.8 km at 5:05/km and jog recoveries. ~44 min
  3. Fri easy 7 km at easy pace, then 6 strides of 20 seconds, walk back between. ~47 min
  4. Sun long 12 km all at easy pace. ~1 h 23

Week 3

Build 36 km long run 14 km
  1. Tue easy 7.5 km at easy pace, conversational the whole way. ~52 min
  2. Wed 7.5 km with 2 x 1.8 km at 5:39/km as cruise intervals. ~47 min
  3. Fri easy 7 km at easy pace, then 6 strides of 20 seconds, walk back between. ~47 min
  4. Sun long 14 km all at easy pace. ~1 h 37

Week 4

Build 40 km long run 16 km
  1. Tue easy 8 km at easy pace, conversational the whole way. ~56 min
  2. Wed 8 km with 4 x 0.8 km at 5:05/km and jog recoveries. ~50 min
  3. Fri easy 8 km at easy pace, then 6 strides of 20 seconds, walk back between. ~54 min
  4. Sun long 16 km all at easy pace. ~1 h 51

Week 5

Build Cutback 36 km long run 12 km

Cutback week: volume drops so the weeks of work before it can settle.

  1. Tue easy 8 km at easy pace, conversational the whole way. ~56 min
  2. Wed 8 km with 2 x 1.8 km at 5:39/km as cruise intervals. ~51 min
  3. Fri easy 8 km at easy pace, then 6 strides of 20 seconds, walk back between. ~54 min
  4. Sun long 12 km all at easy pace. ~1 h 23

Week 6

Build 44 km long run 18 km
  1. Tue easy 9 km at easy pace, conversational the whole way. ~1 h 03
  2. Wed 8.5 km with 4 x 0.8 km at 5:05/km and jog recoveries. ~53 min
  3. Fri easy 8.5 km at easy pace, then 6 strides of 20 seconds, walk back between. ~58 min
  4. Sun long 18 km all at easy pace. ~2 h 05

Week 7

Build 48 km long run 20 km
  1. Tue easy 9.5 km at easy pace, conversational the whole way. ~1 h 06
  2. Wed 9.5 km with 2 x 2.4 km at 5:39/km as cruise intervals. ~1 h 00
  3. Fri easy 9 km at easy pace, then 6 strides of 20 seconds, walk back between. ~1 h 01
  4. Sun long 20 km 16 km easy, then finish with 4 km at (5:41/km). ~2 h 14

Week 8

Peak 53 km long run 20 km

Threshold runs as one continuous block up to 6 km, and a second quality session joins the week from this week: the block is two thirds through.

  1. Tue 11 km with 5 x 0.8 km at 5:05/km and jog recoveries. ~1 h 09
  2. Wed easy 11 km at easy pace, then 6 strides of 20 seconds, walk back between. ~1 h 15
  3. Fri 11 km with 5.3 km steady at 5:39/km. ~1 h 10
  4. Sun long 20 km 14 km easy, then finish with 6 km at (5:41/km). ~2 h 11

Week 9

Peak 48 km long run 17 km

A lighter week between the block's long weeks: 48 km rather than 53 km, and the long run steps back.

  1. Tue 10.5 km with 4.8 km steady at 5:39/km. ~1 h 07
  2. Wed easy 10 km at easy pace, then 6 strides of 20 seconds, walk back between. ~1 h 08
  3. Fri 10.5 km with 5 x 0.8 km at 5:05/km and jog recoveries. ~1 h 06
  4. Sun long 17 km 9 km easy, then finish with 8 km at (5:41/km). ~1 h 48

Week 10

Peak 53 km long run 20 km
  1. Tue 11 km with 5 x 0.8 km at 5:05/km and jog recoveries. ~1 h 09
  2. Wed easy 11 km at easy pace, then 6 strides of 20 seconds, walk back between. ~1 h 15
  3. Fri 11 km with 5.3 km steady at 5:39/km. ~1 h 10
  4. Sun long 20 km 10 km easy, then finish with 10 km at (5:41/km). ~2 h 06

Week 11

Taper 37 km long run 12 km
  1. Tue easy 8.5 km at easy pace, conversational the whole way. ~59 min
  2. Wed 8.5 km with 3.7 km steady at 5:39/km. ~54 min
  3. Fri easy 8 km at easy pace, then 6 strides of 20 seconds, walk back between. ~54 min
  4. Sun long 12 km all at easy pace. ~1 h 23

Week 12

Taper 42.1 km

Race week: the work is done, so keep it short and easy until race day.

  1. Tue easy 7 km at easy pace, conversational the whole way. ~49 min
  2. Wed easy 7 km at easy pace, conversational the whole way. ~49 min
  3. Fri easy 7 km at easy pace, conversational the whole way. ~49 min
  4. Sun race 21.1 km Race day: the half marathon you have been training for.

Create my plan

This is a training plan, not medical advice. Check with a doctor before starting if you have an injury or a health condition.