Your plan in four answers
Set for August 22, 2027, about 43 weeks out.
- Distances
- Half marathon, 10K, 5K
- Terrain
- Flat
- Taper starts
- August 10, 2027
Course
The Run the River course
All races start and finish at the Brett's Wharf precinct on Kingsford Smith Drive in Hamilton, which has its own CityCat terminal on the Brisbane River. Each distance follows the sealed riverfront pathway towards New Farm and back, an out-and-back route the organisers describe as flat, fast and scenic.
Read the full course notes
The half marathon runs two laps and comes back through the start area at about the time the 10 km sets off, where a taped lane keeps the two fields apart. Aid stations sit roughly every 2.5 km, some path sections stay open to the public, and the half starts at 6:00 am, the 10 km at 7:00 am and the 5 km at 8:15 am.
- Terrain
- Flat
- Distances
- Half marathon, 10K, 5K
- Weather on race day
- August in Brisbane brings dry, sunny winter weather: early mornings are usually around 11–15 °C, with afternoon highs near 23 °C and low humidity. The 6:00 am half starts cool, but the river path warms quickly once the sun is up, so start a touch conservatively, wear a cap and sunscreen, and use the aid stations even if you do not feel thirsty.
What to train for
A flat, sealed riverside course is made for even splits and a personal best.
Base your long runs on flat paths (16–20 km for the half) with the last 5 km at goal pace, and add a weekly session such as 3 x 3 km at half-marathon pace or 6 x 1 km at 10 km pace.
Practise tight 180-degree turnarounds without losing rhythm, and get used to running through a busy section, since half marathoners pass a fresh 10 km field at the start of their second lap.
Sample week
A sample Run the River 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, 8–10 km
- Thursday Key session
- Goal-pace run, 11 km with 6 km at race pace
- Friday
- Recovery run, 6 km, or cross-train
- Saturday Key session
- Long run, 16–19 km easy
- Sunday
- Easy run, 6 km, then 6 relaxed strides
Your build to race day
Taper
Tapering for the Run the River
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 is flat, so pacing decides the day: rehearse your goal pace in short segments during race week. With the race on August 22, 2027, your taper starts around August 10, 2027.
Also in Claude
Ask Claude for this plan
Add AthleteSpace to Claude once, then paste this prompt and put in your own numbers.
Build me a training plan for the Run the River Brisbane (Half marathon) on August 22, 2027. I run [distance] a week, [days] days a week, easy pace [pace].
Run the River training questions
How long should I train for the Run the River?
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 Run the River course hilly?
Flat. All races start and finish at the Brett's Wharf precinct on Kingsford Smith Drive in Hamilton, which has its own CityCat terminal on the Brisbane River.
What is the weather usually like at the Run the River?
August in Brisbane brings dry, sunny winter weather: early mornings are usually around 11–15 °C, with afternoon highs near 23 °C and low humidity. The 6:00 am half starts cool, but the river path warms quickly once the sun is up, so start a touch conservatively, wear a cap and sunscreen, and use the aid stations even if you do not feel thirsty.
When should I start tapering for the Run the River?
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 is flat, so pacing decides the day: rehearse your goal pace in short segments during race week. With the race on August 22, 2027, your taper starts around August 10, 2027.
Do I need an account to get a Run the River 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.