The main difference between the half marathon plans and a marathon plan is the duration of the longer runs, there is also a small difference in the interval sessions which focus on longer and more sustained running at threshold or sub-threshold. At the start of this plan it is expected that you can already run steadily for an hour to 1 hour 30 for your long run and 2 other times per week so that for the first week you can start with 4 runs per week. It would be ok to start with a run/walk strategy over the first few weeks if this is needed to step into the plan.
The steps from one long run to the next are relatively large due to the relatively short nature of the plan. If this concerns you or you have a strong injury history then it might be worth choosing a longer plan and building up more gradually.
Speed is less important with this plan, if you would like to run a marathon faster then look towards the plans from 12 weeks or longer which give more time to develop your aerobic base and speed through the plan.
The steps from one long run to the next are relatively large due to the relatively short nature of the plan. If this concerns you or you have a strong injury history then it might be worth choosing a longer plan and building up more gradually.
Speed is less important with this plan, if you would like to run a marathon faster then look towards the plans from 12 weeks or longer which give more time to develop your aerobic base and speed through the plan.
I’m a high-performance triathlon and endurance coach with 20+ years of experience coaching athletes from beginner to elite level, including World and National Champions. With Master’s degrees in Exercise Physiology and Sport Psychology, I combine evidence-based training with mindset support to help athletes improve sustainably. I offer personalised coaching, race preparation, performance analysis, and athlete development across all triathlon, running, cycling and swimming distances.