Over the years, I’ve had good and bad training cycles, as we all do. But I often reminisce about one build in particular: my second half marathon . I loved this cycle so much because it introduced me to one specific workout that made me feel strong and capable of handling longer distances—and running them at a faster clip.

When I signed up for the 2024 Philadelphia Half Marathon to conquer 13.1 again, I was eager to see what I was capable of. I followed a Runner’s World plan to get ready.

I wasn’t sure how well I would handle the weekend long runs and workouts, because I hadn’t officially trained for a race in more than four years, and this 10-week training cycle would have me reach up to 40 miles in a week.…