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12 Week Marathon Plan For Beginner & Intermediate Runners

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12 Week Marathon Plan For Beginner & Intermediate Runners

Author

Mike Bentley

Length

12 Weeks

Plan Description

GOAL – Marathon

PLAN LENGTH – 12 Weeks

LEVEL – Intermediate & Beginner

TRAINING FREQUENCY – 4 Runs + 2 Strength Sessions Per Week

Take on your marathon with confidence using this structured 12-week performance plan, designed to guide you from your current fitness level to crossing the finish line strong — and earning that marathon finisher’s medal.

This plan builds progressively, developing your aerobic engine, running efficiency, and durability so you arrive on race day prepared, resilient, and ready to perform.

WHAT TO EXPECT

You’ll complete:
• 4 structured run sessions per week
Including aerobic development runs, marathon-pace efforts, long runs, and race-specific sessions designed to build endurance and pacing confidence.
• 2 structured strength & conditioning sessions per week
Focused on building strength, improving running economy, and reducing injury risk so you can train consistently throughout the 12 weeks.

Every session has purpose. Every week builds on the last. No guesswork — just smart, progressive training.

SYNC TO YOUR DEVICE

All sessions are structured and can sync directly to your wearable device, allowing you to train anywhere, anytime. With clearly defined workouts, pacing guidance, and planned recovery, this program keeps you accountable and on track from week one to race day.

WHO IS THIS PLAN FOR?

This plan is ideal if:
• You’re targeting a 3–4 hour marathon finish
• You’ve completed a half marathon and can comfortably cover that distance
• You’re returning to structured training and want clear direction
• You’re chasing a personal best with a smart, sustainable approach

PREREQUISITES

Before starting this plan, you should be able to comfortably run for 90mins.

This is not just about finishing — it’s about building a strong aerobic base, moving efficiently, staying injury-free, and performing when it matters most.

Train smart. Stay consistent. Earn your medal.

How it Works

Load Your Plan

Quickly view upcoming workouts in the TrainingPeaks app.

Workout and Analyze

Upload completed workouts from your favorite tracking app or device.

Track Your Progress

Get feedback, stay on top of your training and perform at your best.

Learn More

Training Plan Sample Week

Stats

Average Weekly Breakdown

Workouts Weekly Average Longest Workout
Run x4
05:29:00 04:00:00
Strength x2
01:26:00 00:45:00
Day Off x1
—— ——
Workouts Per Week Weekly Average Longest Workout
Run
05:29:00 04:00:00
Strength
01:26:00 00:45:00
Day Off
—— ——

Training Load By Week


This plan works best with the following fitness devices:

  • Heart Rate Monitor
  • GPS

All supported devices


  • This plan includes a Free Basic TrainingPeaks Account.
  • Access your training plan anywhere on the TrainingPeaks mobile and desktop apps.
  • Track your performance with robust data tracking and detailed graphs.
  • Plan for your event in the TrainingPeaks calendar.
  • Track your weight, sleep, hours, fatigue and stress while you train.
  • Completed workouts sync with popular apps like Garmin and Wahoo. Learn More
  • If plan includes Structured Workouts, then planned workouts sync to compatible devices and guide you through workouts in real time. Learn More

Refund Policy

This plan is protected by our Refund Policy and may, with the author's approval, be exchanged for a plan of equal value from the same author.

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Save 20%

Premium unlocks smarter training with advanced analytics, TrainingPeaks Virtual, and Structured Strength to give you deeper insights and data-backed results.

$107.99 USD for the first year, billed yearly.

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