Next Step Training - Half Full Marathon
- Date
- June 30, 2026
- Distance
- Next Step Training - Half Marathon · Next Step Training - Full Marathon
From the Organizer
Join the Howard County Striders for one of their prestigious training programs!
Are you ready to take your Half or Full marathon endurance training to the “Next Step”?
If so, you’re in for a fun ride this Summer and Fall!
Please be advised this program is NOT intended for brand new runners, nor for anyone 18 years of age or younger. Rather, the Next Step is to take your running to the Next Level. As such, there are certain minimum essentials required to be successful:
Minimum Base Mileage
If targeting a FULL marathon: Able to run at least 20-25 miles per/week (base mileage).
Able to perform a long run of AT LEAST 10 miles at start of program
If targeting a HALF marathon: Able to run AT LEAST 10-15 miles per/week
Minimum Pace
You need to be able to maintain a pace of 13 minutes or faster pace of constant running. Runners who are unable to maintain this pace on the time trial, may be asked to switch programs to one of a shorter distance. We will not be including a walk/run or Galloway style training option for this program.
Time Trial
We will conduct a 5 mile time trial for all participants on the first day of the program to assess current fitness level and to group participants appropriately for optimal training and success
Distances & Pricing
Race Location
About This Sport
From Endurance Grid's Founder
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it's the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer's event page.
The half marathon is the distance where you find out what you're actually made of. Long enough to demand real preparation. Short enough that it doesn't consume your life to train for it. Most people who run their first half describe it as the race that changed their relationship with what they're capable of. Once you cross this finish line, the bar moves. That's not a warning — that's the point.
Race day energy varies by event size, but the finish line feeling is the same regardless. Big races keep the noise going the whole way. Smaller races give you stretches where it's just you and the miles — and that solitude becomes its own kind of fuel.
The half marathon rewards people who show up for the boring training miles.
How long to train: 10–14 weeks. If you're already running consistently, 10 weeks of structured buildup is enough. If you're building from a casual base, give yourself 14.
Running
From 5K to marathon, running races are the most accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Coming Up
More running races in MD
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the Next Step Training - Half Full Marathon?
- Next Step Training - Half Full Marathon is a running event held in Columbia, MD. Learn more about the different endurance sports here.
- When and where is the Next Step Training - Half Full Marathon?
- Tuesday, June 30, 2026 in Columbia, MD at 9410 Kilimanjaro Rd, Columbia, MD. Check the official event page for exact start times and wave schedules.
- How do I register for the Next Step Training - Half Full Marathon?
- Registration is handled through their official registration page. Confirm pricing, distances available, and sign up there.
Next Step Training - Half Full Marathon
Jun 30, 2026