Training for Coburg Half-Marathon

Training for a long race goes better if you run with a group that shares your goal and a coach who has helped hundreds runners reach it before. You set the goal, and I provide the group support and coaching advice for carrying out a proven training plan.

This summer we mainly point the training toward the Coburg Summer Classic (July 16^th) Half-Marathon. Runners can also choose other local races (such as the new Loving Liberates Half, Prost8K and Butte to Butte) or events farther afield (Newport Half, Wild Rogue Relay, Hood to Coast) – and adjust training distances accordingly. Or you can join this training without aiming for any race but just to take a regularly scheduled and supported long run with the group.

With numbers of our marathoners declining for several years, we offer no formal marathon program this summer. However, you’re welcome to join our half-marathoners for some of your training. For an October marathon, I recommend starting with the Coburg group through that race, then continuing to extend your long run afterward.

The Eugene Running Company has sponsored this training group since its launch in 2005. More than 500 runners have joined us, and their finish rate in halves and marathons is greater than 99 percent.

The team meets at the Running Company on Sunday mornings at 8:00 (unless noted otherwise in the schedule below). The training fee is $50 for these two months of training. Bring a friend who’s new to the team, and it’s two of you for the price of one. This is payable at the store before your training begins.

We welcome runners of all abilities and experience levels. However, we strongly recommend that you have run at least four miles before this training begins. Our minimum number of runners in each training cycle is 10, below which you don’t get full value of teaming up. The maximum is 30, above which the group becomes too large for one coach to manage well. To reserve a spot on Joe’s Team, contact me at: joesrunteam@gmail.com.

OUR SCHEDULE

May 14^th –5 miles to start training for Coburg Half

May 21^st –6 miles

May 28^th –7 miles

June 4^th – (no team training; Newport Marathon weekend)

June 11^th – 8 miles (at Mill Race Path in Springfield)

June 17^th – 9 miles (on Saturday, before 6/18 Prost8K)

June 25^th – 10 miles

July 2^nd – 11 miles (Joe is away)

July 9^th – 6 miles

July 16^th – Coburg Half at 8:00 a.m.

Our next round of training after Coburg will target the Florence Half (September 24^th). That mileage build-up will begin on July 23^rd.