Your plan in four answers
Nashville St. Paddy's Half has not announced its next date, so we have estimated March. Change the date below once you know it.
- Distances
- Half marathon, 10K, 5K
- Terrain
- Rolling
Course
The Nashville St. Paddy's Half course
The half marathon starts and finishes at Wave Country, 2320 Two Rivers Parkway, with the half going off at 8:15 a.m. and the 10K and 5K at 8:30 a.m. Every course is on paved road or trail.
Read the full course notes
The official elevation map passes the 5K U-turn early, crosses the Stones River bridge near mile 5, tops out on the Hickory Hill connector around mile 8 and climbs again past Two Rivers Middle School in the last few miles. The chart lists about 1,228 feet of total gain and the same in loss, all between roughly 420 and 560 feet of altitude, so expect steady rolling rather than one big hill. Water stations offer water, with sports drink added on the half course, and the half has a generous 3 hour 30 minute time limit.
- Terrain
- Rolling
- Distances
- Half marathon, 10K, 5K
- Weather on race day
- Early March in Nashville is cool and changeable: average highs climb from about 57 °F at the start of the month to 67 °F by the end, with lows around 38–46 °F. With an 8:15 a.m. start, expect temperatures in the 40s °F, so dress in layers you can shed. Roughly one day in three brings some rain, and a southerly breeze of about 9 mph is typical.
What to train for
With more than 1,200 feet of climbing spread across the route, build your long runs on rolling terrain so repeated short climbs feel normal.
Add hill repeats of 60 to 90 seconds once a week and practice running relaxed on the downhills, since every climb is matched by a descent.
Two climbs come late, near mile 8 and again after mile 10, so finish some long runs with 2 to 3 miles at goal effort on hills. Long runs of 10 to 12 miles will give you the confidence to enjoy the second half.
Sample week
A sample Nashville St. Paddy's Half training week
A week from the middle of the build, about six weeks out. Your plan sets the real distances and paces from your own fitness and adjusts them every week as you train.
- Monday
- Rest, or 20 minutes of mobility
- Tuesday Key session
- Intervals: 5 × 1 km at 5K to 10K effort, easy jog between
- Wednesday
- Easy run, 5–6 mi
- Thursday Key session
- Goal-pace run, 7 mi with 4 mi at race pace
- Friday
- Recovery run, 4 mi, or cross-train
- Saturday Key session
- Long run, 10–12 mi easy
- Sunday
- Easy run, 4 mi, then 6 relaxed strides
Taper
Tapering for the Nashville St. Paddy's Half
Start the taper ten to fourteen days before race day. Cut your weekly volume by about a third, then by half in race week, and keep a few short efforts at race pace so your legs stay sharp. The course rolls, so keep one short session on undulating ground in the first taper week.
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Build me a training plan for the Nashville St. Paddy's Half Marathon, 10K & 5K in March. I run [distance] a week, [days] days a week, easy pace [pace].
Nashville St. Paddy's Half training questions
How long should I train for the Nashville St. Paddy's Half?
Most runners give a half marathon twelve to sixteen weeks of focused training on top of an existing base. The plan above counts back from your actual race date, so if you have less time than that it builds the best plan the remaining weeks allow rather than pretending you have longer.
Is the Nashville St. Paddy's Half course hilly?
Rolling. The half marathon starts and finishes at Wave Country, 2320 Two Rivers Parkway, with the half going off at 8:15 a.m. and the 10K and 5K at 8:30 a.m.
What is the weather usually like at the Nashville St. Paddy's Half?
Early March in Nashville is cool and changeable: average highs climb from about 57 °F at the start of the month to 67 °F by the end, with lows around 38–46 °F. With an 8:15 a.m. start, expect temperatures in the 40s °F, so dress in layers you can shed. Roughly one day in three brings some rain, and a southerly breeze of about 9 mph is typical.
When should I start tapering for the Nashville St. Paddy's Half?
Start the taper ten to fourteen days before race day. Cut your weekly volume by about a third, then by half in race week, and keep a few short efforts at race pace so your legs stay sharp. The course rolls, so keep one short session on undulating ground in the first taper week.
Do I need an account to get a Nashville St. Paddy's Half training plan?
No. The plan above builds in your browser with no account, no email, and no card. Make a free account only if you want to keep it, log your runs against it, and have the coach keep adapting it as your training goes.