Do I really have to follow a training plan for a half?

Hi all, have worked myself up to an hour of steadt running every other day and then once a week a long run which is up to 1hr 10 this week. All the training plans hugely reduce the mileage and I don't want to have to do that!!! If I start to build in some tempo and speed work, can I just keep doing what has worked for me do you think?

wait...what do you mean?

reduce mileage when?

your long run is for an 1:10 right? is that the longest you have ever run?

How long have you been running?

when is your half?

I mean because so many of the runs are 20 or 30 mins with mainly just one long run in the week! Seems really low when i am running for an hour. Yes longest is 1hr and 10 so i have a long way to go! Have been running for about a year and the half is in 12 weeks
Thanks

Ok I get it....well then I would say that this is not the plan for you. I would start to reasearch half plans and go from there.

if you are at an 1:10 now are you going to add 10 minutes to your longrun every week? that is what I would do. then I would work my way up to 2.5 hours.

I would be careful with speed work tho. a tempo run would be good for you. If this is your first half then you need to get happy with the distance first.

Benji Durden has a great marthon plan that goes by time. you could take some of his key workouts and use them for your half. His plan starts you out with hills to build leg strength then short tempo runs to build speed. you may need to build your own plan out of it.

Body

here it is.

That's brilliant thanks! Yes - adding 10 mins to my long runs was the plan. Can't say the idea of speedowrk appeals but everyone seems to recommend. It's hard isn't it to find your own way when there is so much advice out there!