Next Step Training - Half Full Marathon
- Date
- June 30 – October 27, 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
Events
Weather
Typical Conditions
It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.
Typical High
88°
Typical Low
68°
Chance of Rain
33%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Laurel 3 W, 8 mi from the venue.
Host City
About Columbia, MD
Elevation
340 ft
Nearest Airport
BWI
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport · 10 mi
Time Zone
Eastern Time
From Endurance Grid
Line up lodging and travel early to lock in your race weekend.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
What Are You
Waiting For?
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Next Step Training - Half Full Marathon, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
22
Days to train
- Race
- Next Step Training - Half Full Marathon
- Date
- June 30 – October 27, 2026
Coming Up
More Running races near Columbia, MD
Tino's 5K
5K
Less than a mile away
The 12 Labours Hybrid Battlegrounds
Less than a mile away
Columbia Firecracker 5K & 10K
10K · 5K
Less than a mile away
Next Step Training - Building to 10K
10K
Less than a mile away
From Endurance Grid
About This Sport
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.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the Next Step Training - Half Full Marathon?
- Next Step Training - Half Full Marathon is a running race held in Columbia, Maryland on June 30, 2026. It is one of the many endurance events listed on Endurance Grid, a multi-sport endurance event calendar covering running races, triathlons, HYROX, and more endurance sports across the United States. Find more running races near you or explore our sports guides to learn what race day actually feels like.
- When and where is the Next Step Training - Half Full Marathon?
- Tuesday, June 30, 2026 in Columbia, Maryland at 9410 Kilimanjaro Rd, Columbia, MD. Check the 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 the event's registration page. Confirm pricing and distances there, and sign up.
Next Step Training - Half Full Marathon
Jun 30, 2026