Your Half marathon training plan - from RD Run Coach

Training for a Half Marathon Isn’t Just About the Distance

When I put together a half marathon training plan at RD Run Coach, the first thing I look at isn’t the race date or the kilometres. I look at your life. Work, family, sleep, stress, injuries you’ve carried for years and the reality of how your body responds now, not how it did 20 years ago. A good plan fits around your life, not the other way around.

Every runner I coach has different days they can run, different recovery needs and different histories. Some need more rest between harder sessions, some need fewer runs but smarter structure, and some simply need reassurance that missing a run isn’t failure. Especially as we get older, recovery becomes training. Your plan is built to respect that, not fight it.

I factor in which days you can realistically run, where rest days actually sit, and how to space sessions so you’re building fitness without constantly feeling tired or sore. The goal is consistency over heroics. A sustainable plan will always outperform a perfect one you can’t stick to.

Run Squad is not mandatory to train for a half marathon, and plenty of runners succeed without attending every session. But it does help. Running in a group creates accountability, confidence and momentum, especially when motivation dips. More importantly, it provides an inclusive, supportive environment where everyone is welcome, regardless of pace or experience.

Our sessions move through a variety of terrain to prepare your body properly. We use the flat, forgiving paths of Newport around the water’s edge to build aerobic strength and rhythm. We head toward Williamstown Beach for longer flowing efforts and mental freshness. And when it’s time to build strength and resilience, the hills at Farnsworth Ave in Footscray give us exactly what we need without overdoing it.

A half marathon is a big goal, but it doesn’t need to take over your life. With the right structure, enough recovery and a plan that adapts to you as a person, not just a runner, it becomes achievable and genuinely enjoyable. That’s what I aim to deliver with every RD Run Coach training plan.