 Ah, the marathon. It’s one of those big bucket list items that so many people are itching to cross off. But with so many plans out there of varying lengths, it can be hard to know how long you need to carve out to get to both the start and finish lines healthy and happy.
First, note that “there is no one way to train for a marathon,” says Amanda Nurse, a certified running coach, founder of Wellness in Motion Run Coaching in Boston and a two-time Olympic Trials qualifier in the marathon. Some people, she says, do it with more miles under their feet, while others can have a great race doing a decent amount of cross-training and by building a great cardio base in other ways. “It is so individual,” she adds.
One thing all experts will agree on, though, is you do need to have a plan—and most plans will say it takes about 16 to 20 weeks to train for a marathon.
“Following a plan is beneficial to improve not only your physical fitness—aerobic capacity, lactate threshold, and strength, but also your mental fitness—motivation, discipline, and consistency,” says Raj Hathiramani, a RRCA-, USATF-, and USA Triathlon-certified coach, as well as a running coach at Mile High Run Club in New York City.
Here, experts weigh in on why it’s important to take 16 to 20 weeks to train for a marathon, and what the training block can do for you and your body. |
Ah, the marathon. It’s one of those big bucket list items that so many people are itching to cross off. But with so many plans out there of varying lengths, it can be hard to know how long you need to carve out to get to both the start and finish lines healthy and happy.
First, note that “there is no one way to train for a marathon,” says Amanda Nurse, a certified running coach, founder of Wellness in Motion Run Coaching in Boston and a two-time Olympic Trials qualifier in the marathon. Some people, she says, do it with more miles under their feet, while others can have a great race doing a decent amount of cross-training and by building a great cardio base in other ways. “It is so individual,” she adds.
One thing all experts will agree on, though, is you do need to have a plan—and most plans will say it takes about 16 to 20 weeks to train for a marathon.
“Following a plan is beneficial to improve not only your physical fitness—aerobic capacity, lactate threshold, and strength, but also your mental fitness—motivation, discipline, and consistency,” says Raj Hathiramani, a RRCA-, USATF-, and USA Triathlon-certified coach, as well as a running coach at Mile High Run Club in New York City.
Here, experts weigh in on why it’s important to take 16 to 20 weeks to train for a marathon, and what the training block can do for you and your body. |
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| A step-by-step guide on when and how to use weights to your run advantage. |
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| Every shoe here scored high in fit, cushioning, and—of course—comfort. |
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| Strengthen your core and perfect your running form with this move that will have you breaking a sweat. |
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| The race will offer menstrual products at medical stations and provide private breastfeeding and pumping areas at the halfway point and finish line. |
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| A father and his five sons each collected their Six Star medals in Tokyo. |
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