3/4 day/week Half-Mary training plan ?

Can she run 3miles at a time without feeling wiped out?  If you're coming from being sedentary I think a 10/11 week program is aggressive - I'd shoot more for 16 weeks. 

This gives enough leeway to have extra rest days/weeks if she's feeling burnt and also allows more of a gradual buildup. 

3 miles 3x a week is a lot if you haven't been doing much.

Here's a link to an article on Runners World for a 3 day/week program.

I plan on using this later this year if I get over injuries

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-244-258-9369-0,00.html 

I, too, plan on using the FIRST plan developed by Furman University for my marathon in Jan 08.  Its a good 3 day plan that encourages cross-training on your off days.  Check out their website for more information. 

See this is exactly what I was wondering . All of the plans , HalHigdon , JeffGalloway, RR , etc. make an assumption that one can do the 3 miler with ease but while she may make the 3 miles , it won't be with ease

Thing is there's a nice 1/2M in 11 weeks time hence ... but yeah , maybe I should get her to do some base building for the 1st few weeks and then launch into an actual training plan .

This FIRST program is a nice idea but the leading assumption is that you can do 3 miler easily and the 1st long run is for 6 mi ... thought it might be a bit ambitious. 

There's a reason all those plans assume a certain level of fitness.  It's because it's generally not recommended to jump into marathon training without it.

11 weeks is, in my opinion, too aggressive, especially considering her current mileage and fitness level.  I'd be hard-pressed to agree to a 16 week program.  My reason is that you both would have her finish and enjoy the experience, both the training and the race.  If her body isn't ready for the demands, it can cause problems.

I know, I know, she just wants to finish.  That's my point.  She wants to finish, but not be injured in the process.

From talking and reading about the FIRST program, it works.  However, I don't think it's the best for a novice marathoner.  It requires a pretty high level of dedication to both the running and the cross training.  The cross training is as important as the running, since it helps build the aerobic base.  But you really have to get those runs in, since there's only 3 per week.  No skipping.

Again, this is mostly my opinion on things, based on the information you've provided.  I could be completely off, she could easily train and run a marathon in 10 weeks, and make me look like a liar. 

Scout-

you are correct.  I went back and re-read the initial post and must have glazed over the  'a bit sedentary in the recent past ' part.  Your right, the FIRST program is a bit aggressive for someone who has not been running quite a bit prior to starting. 

Yes.  Exactly.  All the plans out there assume that you have a base level of running fitness - i.e. that you can run about 10 miles per week with no problems BEFORE even starting the plan.

If the 1/2 in 11 weeks looks like a good goal - what might be a good option would be to do the first couple of weeks of the program and evaluate how it's going.  If it's too hard, back off, find another 1/2 marathon further out.  If it feels ok, keep going.

Another option, and one that I think would be a good compromise would be to plan for a 10k about 10/11 weeks out (is that option available at the same race as the 1/2 M?) and then go from there to a 1/2 marathon.

IMO, I myself would rather take some extra time and have a gradual build up that I could sustain, rather that totally push myself, end up not having any fun and stressing out over it (and possibly courting injury).  There's always another race out there in the future.