Race the
Half. Own It.
1:1 half marathon coaching built around your schedule, your fitness, and your race. Work with coaches who know what 13.1 demands and how to get you there strong.
The half marathon is the sweet spot of distance running. Long enough to demand respect. Short enough that the training fits your life.
The half is more than a stepping stone. It's the most popular race distance in America and a serious racing challenge in its own right. At 13.1 miles, every element of race execution matters — pacing, fueling, mental preparation — but the training fits into a life that still has room for everything else. That's what makes it powerful.
But that accessibility can be deceiving. The half marathon sits right at your lactate threshold — the line between aerobic comfort and anaerobic pain. Run too fast too early and you'll pay for it after mile 9. Under-fuel and your legs will shut down with two miles to go. The difference between a good half marathon and a great one comes down to training specificity. A downloaded plan can build your endurance. It can't teach you how to race the distance.
What separates 29029 Coaching from generic training plans is that we treat the half marathon as a discipline that deserves dedicated preparation — not a scaled-down marathon plan. Your coach builds race-specific fitness, develops your threshold, and creates a pacing and fueling strategy designed specifically for 13.1 miles.
Beyond the Training Plan
The half marathon is deceptively demanding. It sits at the edge of your aerobic threshold — fast enough to require real speed work, long enough to punish poor preparation. The difference between finishing and racing comes down to how specifically you trained for this distance.
Coached half marathon training addresses the full picture: threshold-based workouts that build race-specific fitness, interval sessions that develop top-end speed, and a pacing and fueling plan tested in training before you ever pin on a race bib.
- Builds race-specific speed endurance through tempo runs, threshold work, and progressive long runs
- Develops your personal pace zones based on actual fitness data — not a pace calculator
- Programs interval work that builds the top-end speed a half marathon demands
- Creates a fueling strategy — yes, you need one for 13.1 miles, and most runners underestimate this
- Designs a smart taper that brings you to the start line feeling sharp and fast
- Monitors training load and adjusts for life, fatigue, and how your body is responding week to week
A Training Plan Can't
Pace You.
A half marathon plan from the internet can tell you to run 10 miles this weekend. It can't tell you at what pace, whether that's right for where you are this week, or how to adjust when life gets in the way. A coach can.
Threshold-Based Training
The half marathon lives at your lactate threshold. Your coach identifies that threshold precisely and builds training around it — not around arbitrary pace charts. Every tempo run, every interval session is calibrated to YOUR physiology.
Race-Day Execution
The half marathon rewards a specific racing strategy: patient through the first 5K, controlled through the middle miles, strong through the finish. Your coach develops that strategy from your training data and rehearses it before race day.
Real Human Accountability
Not an app. Not a template. A coach who has raced half marathons, watches your training every week, knows your specific goal race, and adjusts the plan when life doesn't cooperate. That human element is what templates can't provide.
From First Half to Fastest Half.
Our half marathon coaching program meets you wherever you are — from runners lacing up for their first 13.1 to experienced racers chasing a PR or using the half as preparation for longer distances.
First-Time Half Marathoners
You've been running. Maybe you've done a 10K. You're ready for the next step. We build the distance safely, develop your pacing instincts, introduce race-day fueling, and make sure you arrive at the start line confident. Finishing strong is the goal.
PR Chasers
You've raced half marathons. Now you want to race them faster. We dial in your threshold training, optimize your interval work, develop a precise pacing strategy, and build the race-specific fitness that turns minutes of improvement into reality.
Marathon Steppers
The half marathon is one of the best launchpads to the full 26.2. We use the half to build your aerobic engine, test your fueling strategy, and develop the mental confidence that makes the jump to the marathon feel like a natural progression — not a leap.
The 1:1 Coaching Model
A real human who has raced half marathons, watches your training week-to-week, knows your goal race, and builds a plan that gets you to 13.1 miles feeling strong and ready to execute.
Application & Match
We review your running history, your goal race, your schedule, and what matters most to you — then match you with a coach whose experience and style are right for where you are and where you want to go.
Personalized Training Plan
Your coach builds a periodized plan with tempo runs, threshold sessions, intervals, long runs (capped at 10-12 miles), strength and recovery — all calibrated to your body and your goal time.
Weekly Check-Ins
Every week you connect with your coach — reviewing pace data, discussing how your body is responding, flagging anything that needs attention, and adjusting the plan based on what's actually happening versus what was planned.
Race Strategy
Your coach develops a detailed race-day plan: mile-by-mile pacing for 13.1, fueling windows, when to push and when to hold. You show up knowing exactly how to execute your race.
Post-Race Debrief
The race is data. Your coach reviews what worked, what you'd change, how your body responded — and uses it to inform your next goal, whether that's a faster time, a new distance, or simply building on the momentum.
The half marathon rewards
speed
and patience.
Fast enough to demand real fitness. Long enough to punish impatience. The half marathon is the distance where smart racing produces the biggest results — and where the gap between a trained athlete and a self-coached runner shows up most clearly.
Speed Meets Endurance
Half marathon training isn't just about logging miles. It's about building the specific blend of aerobic endurance and threshold speed that lets you hold race pace for 13.1 miles.
Tempo & Threshold Runs
Tempo runs are the backbone of half marathon training. They teach your body to clear lactate at race pace and build the aerobic power that makes 13.1 miles sustainable. Your coach programs these at the right intensity for your fitness.
Interval Training
Half marathon fitness requires speed on top of endurance. Structured interval sessions — 800s, mile repeats, cruise intervals — build the top-end aerobic capacity that makes race pace feel controlled rather than desperate.
Long Runs with Purpose
Your long run doesn't need to be 20 miles for a half. But it does need to be specific. Some long runs build pure endurance. Others practice race pace. Others test fueling. Your coach programs each one with a clear goal.
Fueling & Race Nutrition
Most runners underestimate fueling for the half. If you're racing for 90 minutes to 2+ hours, your glycogen stores will run low. Your coach helps you find what works, test it in training, and lock in a plan before race morning.
Taper & Peak
The taper is where half marathon fitness sharpens. Less volume, maintained intensity, and strategic rest bring you to the start line feeling fast and fresh. Your coach designs a taper that peaks your fitness on race day — not the week before.
Runners First.
Coaches Always.
29029 Coaching's half marathon coaches are experienced runners who understand the unique demands of 13.1. They've raced the distance, coached hundreds of athletes through it, and know exactly what separates a good half marathon from a great one.
Sarah Roberson
Marathon & Endurance Coach
Sarah specializes in helping runners balance half marathon training with the demands of real life — work, family, everything else. She coaches with patience, precision, and a genuine investment in making the training fit your life while building real racing fitness.
Jen Segger
Elite Trail & Endurance Coach
With 20+ years of elite endurance sport experience, Jen brings a depth of racing knowledge that translates powerfully to half marathon coaching. She builds athletes who are strong, confident, and prepared to race — not just survive the distance.
Nicki Coghill
Distance Running & Trail Coach
Nicki completed the Leadville Marathon, 50-miler, and 100-miler in the same calendar year. Her deep understanding of pacing and distance preparation makes her a natural fit for half marathon athletes who want to race smart and finish strong.
Real Results.
Real Relationships.
"I signed up for coaching because I kept blowing up after mile 8. Jen looked at my training and immediately saw the problem — I was doing all my runs at the same pace. She introduced tempo work and threshold intervals and within two months my easy pace dropped by 30 seconds a mile without even trying. Ran a 1:38 at my spring half and negative split the whole thing. I'm still kind of in shock."— Amanda R., 34 · First Sub-1:40 Half
"I'd been stuck at 1:45 for three half marathons in a row. Coach Nicki completely restructured my training — less junk miles, more purposeful work. She also fixed my fueling which I honestly thought didn't matter for a half. Turns out it matters a lot. Ran 1:39 and felt better at mile 13 than I have in any race. She changed how I think about running."— Jason K., 38 · Half Marathon PR
"I'm a single mom with two kids and a full time job. I told Sarah there's no way I can train for a half. She said 'give me three days a week and I'll make them count.' She wasn't kidding. Every run had a purpose. I never felt like I was wasting time. Crossed the finish of my first half and my kids were holding a sign they made and I completely lost it. Best morning of my year."— Nina P., 42 · First Half Marathon Finish
"I originally signed up to train for a half as a stepping stone to the full marathon. But the half became its own thing for me. Coach Grant taught me how to actually race — not just survive — and the confidence that gave me changed everything. I did end up running the marathon six months later but honestly the half is still my favorite distance. There's something about 13.1 that just clicks."— Tyler M., 29 · Half Marathon to Marathon
Everything You Need to Know
How long does it take to train for a half marathon?
Most athletes need 10–14 weeks with a solid base, though beginners may want 16 weeks. Your coach builds a timeline based on your current fitness, running history, and goal — not a one-size-fits-all template.
How many miles per week for half marathon training?
Typical peak mileage ranges from 25–35 miles per week for recreational runners to 40–55+ for competitive athletes. Your coach designs volume around your body, your schedule, and your specific race goal.
Do I need to fuel during a half marathon?
Yes. Most runners benefit from taking in calories after 60–75 minutes of running. Your coach helps you develop and test a fueling plan in training so nothing is new on race day.
What's a good half marathon time?
That depends entirely on you. Average finish times range from 1:45 to 2:15, but what matters is YOUR goal. Your coach sets realistic targets based on your fitness data and builds the training to hit them.
Can I train for a half marathon running three days per week?
Yes, if the runs are purposeful. Three quality sessions — a tempo, an interval workout, and a long run — can be very effective when supplemented with cross-training. Your coach designs around your available time.
Is coaching worth it for 'just' a half marathon?
The half marathon is deceptively demanding. It sits right at your lactate threshold — fast enough to hurt, long enough to punish poor pacing. Coaching helps you train at the right intensities, fuel properly, and execute a smart race plan.
Half Marathon Deep Dives
Focused reads on specific half marathon goals — from your first 13.1 to breaking the 2-hour barrier.
Ready to Race?
Your half marathon is waiting. A 29029 coach will help you get there.
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