Time and Place:
The 5 mile Time Trial will take place on Tuesday, June 26th at 6:30pm.
Time: 6:30 - 8:00pm Tuesday, July 10 - September 11, then from September 18 - October 23 we will begin train from 6:00 - 7:30pm in order to compensate for the reduced daylight.
Training dates: Tuesdays from July 10 - October 23
Place: Wilde Lake High School

Note: Maximum number of runners: 110

The 2018 Next Step Half/Full Marathon Program is designed to provide you with coaching and a structured training plan geared toward reaching your fall race goals. You'll train in a group environment and receive the support of coaches and other runners that share similar goals.

This program is not easy. As such, we discourage new runners or runners who have not yet run a 10k from signing up. It will challenge you and often push you past your comfort zone. This program is designed to give you support and structure during your hardest weekly workout. Why do this alone when you can join a group of similarly minded runners and coaches?

Your coaches are experienced runners who commit to support you and share vast amounts of information on running and training for these longer races because they too are runners that have successfully completed half and full marathons.

It is highly recommended that runners signing up for the Next Step Half/Full Training Program have, at a minimum:

• Base of 20-25 miles of running per/wk if you are training for a full marathon and have completed a 10 mile long run.
  
• Base of 10-15 miles of running per/wk if you are training for a half marathon.

We consider this base mileage critical in taking this "next step" in training for longer distance races. Anything less and we get nervous that you're starting behind and may be prone to injury if you ramp up miles too quickly.

You must be able to maintain a long run pace anywhere from 6 - 13 minute miles of constant running.

There will be a 5 mile time trial that will help put you in the best group. As the program progresses you may change groups in order to ensure you have training partners at a similar pace.

* Please note that although we welcome runners of all ability, that this program is not geared towards the walk/run method of marathon training. While you may take occasional walk breaks on your long run, you MUST be able to run continuously during the training nights.

The Next Step Half/Full Marathon program begins with a 5 mile Time Trial on Tuesday, June 26th at 6:30pm. We will meet at the track. There will be a week off in between the time trial and the first training so that we can place you into your training groups, and accommodate the week of July 4th. The first official training with your groupmates and coaches will be Tuesday July 10th, with trainings occurring weekly through October 23rd to help you prepare for your late-October/early-November race.

The time trial will be held on June 26th. Groups will meet Tuesday evenings beginning July 10 at Wilde Lake High School in Columbia, MD at 6:30 p.m. Once daylight saving time begins, the start time will switch to 6:00 p.m.to benefit from the most sunlight.

For event related questions please email the program coordinators Stephanie Caporaletti, Rachel Collins, and Franz Vergara at nextstepmarathon@striders.net