Fleet Feet Boston Bound™ & Winter Performance Marathon Training Program

Are you qualified for the Boston Marathon (or trying to qualify)? Are you an avid, experienced runner, looking for a group of like-minded, FAST athletes to help push you to the next level?

Make your 2027 Boston Marathon weekend the experience of a lifetime with Fleet Feet and New Balance.

Our acclaimed Boston Bound™ training program presented by New Balance is about more than just running the race, it’s about developing lasting bonds with your training partners and creating unforgettable memories in the city of Boston over the race weekend. 

The program offers two options:

• Boston Bound™: For those who are currently registered for the 2026 Boston Marathon. Includes a complete training program and exclusive amenities in Boston.

• Winter Performance: For those who aspire to be a Boston Marathon qualifier. Or, for those who already may be at this level but may be running a different spring marathon.

The Fleet Feet Boston Bound™ and Winter Performance training program, powered by New Balance, is a 15-week program designed to help you physically and mentally prepare for the Boston Marathon and overcome Chicago's lack of hills and difficult winter training conditions. 

Fleet Feet Boston Bound™ & Winter Performance Program Sponsors

Fleet Feet Boston Bound™

The Fleet Feet Boston Bound™ training program, presented by New Balance, is for those who are currently registered for the 2027 Boston Marathon. Boston Bound is a run-certified coached, 15-week program designed to:

• Help you physically and mentally prepare for the Boston Marathon
• Overcome Chicago's lack of hills and difficult winter training conditions
• Create community and camaraderie among all participants
• Alleviate the stress of race weekend detail planning so you can focus on the Boston Marathon experience
• Provide unmatched amenities in Boston, not only for you but for your invited guests as well

Program benefits:

• 15-week day-by-day training program coached by certified coaches with over 60 combined Boston Marathon finishes.
• Wednesday evening speed & tempo runs at Fleet Feet Old Town (indoor bathroom & gear check provided).
• Saturday morning long runs at Fleet Feet Old Town and off-site training locations (depending on weather conditions). Fully supported (gear check, Gatorade, and water provided).
• Hill training that mirrors the Boston Marathon Course.
• Fleet Feet Boston Bound™ & Winter Performance New Balance program shirt
• Private clinics on topics including race prep, goal setting, and nutrition
• Weekly Boston Bound™ newsletter with workouts and training tips
• Race weekend amenities in Boston including coach support
• Race Weekend support by our sponors New Balance, Therabody, and more.

Boston Marathon Race Weekend Amenities:

• Access to room blocks at Westin and Marriott Copley (based on availability: link to room block portal will be provided in registration confirmation).
• Private charter buses to the start line in Hopkinton (bathroom and hydration available on the bus)– stay on the buses until your wave starts and leave gear on the bus. Gear will be ready for you at Race Day Resort at the Westin Copley Hotel.
• Sunday morning shakeout run along the Charles River complete with last minute tips and advice from your Boston Bound coaches. Bagels and coffee provided post-run.
• Exclusive pasta party in Boston's North End Sunday evening. Friends and family may also join you for an additional fee.
• Race Day Resort - Private pre-race lounge for runners prior to boarding buses to the start line. Open at 5 a.m. with light breakfast (to-go options available) and hydration. Join us post-race for gear pick up, food, beverages and recovery area complete with Therabody compression boots and massage therapists.
• Post-race celebration!

Important Program Dates:

• December 9th: Pre-Season Prep Clinic at 6:30 pm at Fleet Feet Old Town
• December 28th: 15-week program begins on Final Surge
• First group run occurs at Fleet Feet Old town on January 2nd at 7am 

Fleet Feet Winter Performance Program

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is this program only for runners who are training for the 2027 Boston Marathon or trying to qualify for a future Boston Marathon?  

• No. While the program originated as a training program specifically for the Boston Marathon, it has grown organically over the years as runners not doing Boston heard about the quality of the program and the level of training it provides. There are options for people who will be running Boston and trying to qualify, but also training plans geared towards athletes looking to do other spring marathons, such as the Illinois Marathon in Champaign-Urbana, the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati, or other races in similar timeframes. 

Is there a time qualification standard for the program? Is this program only for runners who are presently close to the qualification standards for the Boston Marathon? If I’m not close to those standards, will I be running alone?

• No, no, and no! This program is for anyone interested in high-level marathon training, including longer interval and tempo workouts, long runs with structured pace-work built in, and opportunities to learn about advanced racing techniques from experienced coaches who have successfully raced at a high level in Boston and many other marathons.  Our groups are large and diverse as to pace, gender, and age, which allows for lots of opportunities for running partners. Remember that the Boston qualifying standards for a 65-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman are the same, as are the qualifying standards for a 35-year-old woman and a 55-year-old man. 

I’m training for my first marathon. Should I do this program?

• Probably not unless you are coming from a collegiate performance background. This program is designed for advanced marathon racing performance, and the workouts and long runs are such that most first-time marathon runners would not be a good fit for this program. Exceptions would be runners with significant prior experience racing the half marathon at a high level, or runners moving to the marathon following recent competitive collegiate distance running. If you have questions about whether this program is right for you, please reach out to racingteam@fleetfeetchicago.com 

Does this training program offer pacers? 

• No, there are no assigned pace group leaders for long runs or workouts. Coaches will assist athletes in finding other participants who will be running similar paces in long runs and workouts to work together. 

How will we prepare for the hills of the Boston course (or other hilly marathons) in the Chicago area?

• Selected long runs throughout the program will take place at off-site locations that have been selected for their similarities to the topography of the Boston Marathon course, including sections of gently rolling hills and sustained climbs similar to the Newton Hills. Portions of the runs also take place on sections that are significantly steeper inclines than anything on the Boston Marathon course, to ensure you are more than prepared to run your best from Hopkinton to Boston. 

I don’t have a car; will I miss out on the long runs that are off-site?

• No. Within the group, we assist runners to coordinate carpooling with each other. Many participants who do not have access to a car have been able to make it to all long runs.

How many miles should I be able to run before training begins?

• We recommend that as a minimum, runners should be consistently running at least 5-6 times per week, with a minimum “long run” distance of 8-10 miles once per week. Running 4 times per week with an additional 1 or 2 sessions of 45 minutes or more of cardio exercise (such as swimming, cycling, or spinning) is also fine.

Is there a virtual option I can sign up for?

• Yes! We now have a virtual training option for both Boston Bound™ and Boston Qualify. The virtual training options are for those who cannot join us in person, but will follow the same training program as our in-person atheltes. All questions about your training can be directed to Coach Cynthia, their information can be found in the welcome email you recieve once you register for the program.