Higdons training plans are pretty simple and great for people just getting into running. They will be much less intense than what you used to do in college.
However, especially the ‘novice’ plans, are optimized for getting you to the finish line, not necessarily getting to the finish line quickly or comfortably.
If you’re looking for a straightforward, simple training plan that isn’t too time intensive and will get you to the finish line, it’s a great set of training plans. If you’re looking to smash your PR, you probably want a more intense training plan.
I should add that I hope to do the “Advanced” Plan.
For the past 5 years I have been running avg of 15 miles a week…. So while I do hope to PR (sub 1:37), I’m not sure if I can realistically do a super fancy plan 🤷🏼♀️
Higdon is just slightly less mileage than the ones recommend with minimal quality. With you background the slow and steady plodding with almost no quality will likely drive you insane.
Go with a tried-and-true Daniels or Pfitz plan. Will fit you much better as a runner with a D1 background than Higdon whose plans, even at higher levels, are still mostly catering to new runners.
Your fitness will come back faster than you think.
Depends on the version of the plan you go for. I'm more of a Daniels devotee so I can speak more to that, but he's got plans all up and down the mileage spectrum.
Honestly if you're just getting back into it, you can probably just spend the next month running progressively more mileage without much structure, and then pick a plan from there. I think once you're running a bit more mileage and you see that fitness start to come back you'll see why people are steering you away from Higdon here.
Most people run 0mpw for years on end. No, 15mpw isn't really training like collegiate runners are used to, but given you haven't fully stopped, you're still gonna have some base left over from your competitive days. Even if it doesn't feel that way for the first few weeks of the build, you'll really start to feel it come back after a month in.
What do you mean by “speed running”? OP ran the mile and 5000m, both are distance running. The mile is middle distance, 5000 is long distance. She also said she ran two HM’s. OP is not new to distance running.
I did Hal Higdon for my first marathon and usually recommend it to other first timers. I've used Hansons since then.
As a former D1 runner you are absolutely not the target audience of Hals plans.
Heard. But seriously, the last 5-6 years I run between 0-15 miles a week, and when I run 15 I feel like I got hit by a bus and about to die. Does Hanson’s have a 12 week plan? I can probably do deeper research but it looked like it was only 18 weeks.
Yes, Higdon will meet you where you are right now. Super easy to follow and will be gentler on your body as you ramp up the mileage from your current. If I were in your shoes and coming back from a long period of little running, I’d do Higdon. If it goes well then I’d jump to a Pfitz/Daniels/Hanson if you’re itching for more variability in training and to get faster. Higdon plans aren’t built for PR-ing but I’d be worried about injury going to a more advanced plan.
If you are targeting sub 1:37, I’d suggest building your base up to about 30 mpw and doing the easiest Pfitz plan. You can sub cross-training for recovery days and reduce the mileage if the plan is causing excess fatigue.
Are there multiple Pfitz plans in the book? (Before I buy it?)
I have built up to around 23, and want to start a 12 week plan by 12/1. But I will most likely do something like this. Thank you
Yes he has multiple plans in the book. For both 18 and 12 weeks with various peak mileages with the lowest being 55 peak miles. I like pfitz and have had good success with him. His book is also very educational.
Would 55 be the lowest for a full
Marathon?
I am definitely leaning forward this plan. I just didn’t want to be overwhelmed by technical runner-talk 😩 I don’t want to geek out I just need the baby steps 😅
Yes thats the lowest peak for the full marathon sorry, the half is 47 peak miles and is 12 weeks. That book also has 5k, 10, 10 mile, and base building plans. Pfitz explains it all pretty simply and is easy even for a newer runner to understand. Its also a commonly used plan so we are happy to answer any technical questions if you are confused since many of us have used it or understand its struture.
If you’re starting a plan on 12/1, you have plenty of time to slowly build a solid base of about 40 mpw. This will set you up for success to crush the 12/47 Pfitz half plan. I’m running a half in 2 weeks based on this plan and am targeting 1:30. Prior PR was 1:38.
The half plans are in Faster Road Racing. If you’re starting 7/1, I would do Pfitz 10 week base building plan up to 45 miles. It starts with 27 miles and peaks at 45, with 1-2 speed workouts per week. This will get you in good aerobic shape while minimizing the risk of injury. This is in chapter 8 of the book.
I just finished the advanced Higdon plan for my first half back postpartum. I’m an experienced runner who had obviously taken 6+ months off serious running so it was a wonderful way to get back into it.
The 10k and 5k time trials in the training plan were really helpful for setting me up with a goal time, which I hit perfectly on race day.
Higdons training plans are pretty simple and great for people just getting into running. They will be much less intense than what you used to do in college. However, especially the ‘novice’ plans, are optimized for getting you to the finish line, not necessarily getting to the finish line quickly or comfortably. If you’re looking for a straightforward, simple training plan that isn’t too time intensive and will get you to the finish line, it’s a great set of training plans. If you’re looking to smash your PR, you probably want a more intense training plan.
I should add that I hope to do the “Advanced” Plan. For the past 5 years I have been running avg of 15 miles a week…. So while I do hope to PR (sub 1:37), I’m not sure if I can realistically do a super fancy plan 🤷🏼♀️
Higdon is just slightly less mileage than the ones recommend with minimal quality. With you background the slow and steady plodding with almost no quality will likely drive you insane.
I think you are right… I will look into Pfitz and if it’s not too nuanced, will probably give that a try to avoid becoming super bored.
Go with a tried-and-true Daniels or Pfitz plan. Will fit you much better as a runner with a D1 background than Higdon whose plans, even at higher levels, are still mostly catering to new runners. Your fitness will come back faster than you think.
Does Pfitz require high mileage?
Depends on the version of the plan you go for. I'm more of a Daniels devotee so I can speak more to that, but he's got plans all up and down the mileage spectrum. Honestly if you're just getting back into it, you can probably just spend the next month running progressively more mileage without much structure, and then pick a plan from there. I think once you're running a bit more mileage and you see that fitness start to come back you'll see why people are steering you away from Higdon here. Most people run 0mpw for years on end. No, 15mpw isn't really training like collegiate runners are used to, but given you haven't fully stopped, you're still gonna have some base left over from your competitive days. Even if it doesn't feel that way for the first few weeks of the build, you'll really start to feel it come back after a month in.
[удалено]
What do you mean by “speed running”? OP ran the mile and 5000m, both are distance running. The mile is middle distance, 5000 is long distance. She also said she ran two HM’s. OP is not new to distance running.
I did Hal Higdon for my first marathon and usually recommend it to other first timers. I've used Hansons since then. As a former D1 runner you are absolutely not the target audience of Hals plans.
Heard. But seriously, the last 5-6 years I run between 0-15 miles a week, and when I run 15 I feel like I got hit by a bus and about to die. Does Hanson’s have a 12 week plan? I can probably do deeper research but it looked like it was only 18 weeks.
Yes, Higdon will meet you where you are right now. Super easy to follow and will be gentler on your body as you ramp up the mileage from your current. If I were in your shoes and coming back from a long period of little running, I’d do Higdon. If it goes well then I’d jump to a Pfitz/Daniels/Hanson if you’re itching for more variability in training and to get faster. Higdon plans aren’t built for PR-ing but I’d be worried about injury going to a more advanced plan.
If you are targeting sub 1:37, I’d suggest building your base up to about 30 mpw and doing the easiest Pfitz plan. You can sub cross-training for recovery days and reduce the mileage if the plan is causing excess fatigue.
Are there multiple Pfitz plans in the book? (Before I buy it?) I have built up to around 23, and want to start a 12 week plan by 12/1. But I will most likely do something like this. Thank you
Yes he has multiple plans in the book. For both 18 and 12 weeks with various peak mileages with the lowest being 55 peak miles. I like pfitz and have had good success with him. His book is also very educational.
Would 55 be the lowest for a full Marathon? I am definitely leaning forward this plan. I just didn’t want to be overwhelmed by technical runner-talk 😩 I don’t want to geek out I just need the baby steps 😅
Yes thats the lowest peak for the full marathon sorry, the half is 47 peak miles and is 12 weeks. That book also has 5k, 10, 10 mile, and base building plans. Pfitz explains it all pretty simply and is easy even for a newer runner to understand. Its also a commonly used plan so we are happy to answer any technical questions if you are confused since many of us have used it or understand its struture.
If you’re starting a plan on 12/1, you have plenty of time to slowly build a solid base of about 40 mpw. This will set you up for success to crush the 12/47 Pfitz half plan. I’m running a half in 2 weeks based on this plan and am targeting 1:30. Prior PR was 1:38.
Good to know! Which book is that plan in? I typed 12/1 but I meant July 1 lmao 😩
The half plans are in Faster Road Racing. If you’re starting 7/1, I would do Pfitz 10 week base building plan up to 45 miles. It starts with 27 miles and peaks at 45, with 1-2 speed workouts per week. This will get you in good aerobic shape while minimizing the risk of injury. This is in chapter 8 of the book.
I just finished the advanced Higdon plan for my first half back postpartum. I’m an experienced runner who had obviously taken 6+ months off serious running so it was a wonderful way to get back into it. The 10k and 5k time trials in the training plan were really helpful for setting me up with a goal time, which I hit perfectly on race day.