Our 20 Week Marathon Plan for Beginners is well-suited for new runners, or runners who are used to shorter distances. It’s designed to get you to the finish line, and hopefully to run the whole 26.2 miles.
Who is it for?: First-time marathon runners! Novices, beginners, people who have been running for less than a year.
How Long?: Five months (20 weeks). This allows for a very gradual increase in mileage in preparation for the marathon.
The plan doesn’t have a speed or pace focus at all – the objective is to get the required mileage in. It includes 3 mid-week runs, to be performed at a comfortable pace, and one long-slow run each weekend to build your max mileage. The plan includes one cross-training day per week and two rest days.