Half & Full Marathon Training Program | Fall 2026 Powered by On

Half & Full Marathon Training Program | Fall 2026 
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Ignite Your Run. Train with Us. Finish Strong. 

Fleet Feet’s Half and Full Marathon Training Programs provide the structure, guidance, and community you need to train with confidence. Whether you’re preparing for your first half marathon, stepping up to a full marathon, or building on past experience, you’ll have a clear path forward and steady support from start to finish. 

Training for a half or full marathon is about more than logging miles. It’s about building confidence, learning what your body can do, and showing up consistently—even on the hard days. With the right plan and the right people around you, you’ll be ready. 

Over 13 weeks, you’ll follow a thoughtfully crafted training plan, meet twice each week for coached group runs, and receive expert guidance, in-person support, and educational resources tailored to half and full marathon success. From August through race day in November, you’ll build through a balanced mix of mileage, speedwork, hills, strength, and recovery while enjoying some of Madison’s best parks, trails, and running routes. 

Our mission is simple: help you arrive at race day feeling strong, confident, informed, and prepared. Whether you’re chasing a PR, running your first long-distance event, or looking for accountability this fall, we’ll support you every step of the way. 

No matter your pace, experience, or starting point, there’s a place for you here. 

IMPORTANT PROGRAM DATES 

• Program Timeline: August 15, 2026 – November 15, 2026 

• Meet & Greet/Kick-Off Event: Saturday, August 15, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. | Fleet Feet Madison, 8440 Old Sauk Rd. 

• First Group Run: Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. 

• Registration Deadline: Wednesday, August 12, 2026 

GOAL RACE 

Madison Half and Full Marathon: November 15, 2026 
If you are targeting another fall half marathon or full marathon, we can help you adjust the training plan to fit your race date. 

TRAINING PROGRAM RATES 

Please note: Madison Marathon race entry is not included with training program registration. 

• Early Bird: $159 through July 19, 2026 

• Regular Rate: $169 from July 20 through August 12, 2026 

• Late Registration: $179 beginning August 13, 2026 

Registration Deadline: Wednesday, August 12, 2026 

MEET & GREET PROGRAM KICK-OFF 

Date & Time: Saturday, August 15, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. 

Join us for a welcoming morning to celebrate the start of fall training. Enjoy coffee, light snacks, exclusive promotions, raffle items, vendor partners, and time to connect with fellow athletes before the season begins. 

What to Expect 

The kick-off meeting is primarily informational and designed to help you start the season prepared and confident. We’ll introduce the coaches and pacers, review key program details, and leave time for questions. Please plan for approximately one hour of discussion. 

Meeting Topics 

• Safety protocols and program requirements 

• Training plan overview, program details, and season expectations 

• Group run guidelines and participant expectations 

• Recommended gear for safe, successful training sessions 

• Ways we can support your individual goals and needs this season 

Who Should Attend 

We recommend that all new and returning athletes attend this meeting so everyone begins the season with the same information, expectations, and support. 

Optional Pre-Kickoff Fun Run: 7:45 a.m. | 30-minute out-and-back run for those interested. 

COACHED/SUPPORTED GROUP RUNS 

• Wednesdays: 6:00 p.m. 

• Saturdays: 7:00 a.m. 

Run Locations 

Meeting locations rotate across Madison’s west, central, and east sides to showcase a variety of local parks, trails, and running routes. 

Common meeting locations include: Olin Park, Vilas Park, McKee Farms Park, McDaniel Park, Olbrich Park, Winnequah Park, Military Ridge, Glacial Drumlin Trail, Orchid Heights Park, Lakeshore Path, Capital City Trail, Lower Yahara River Trail, and the Southwest Commuter Path. 

Wednesday runs will typically meet in a central Madison location unless they are paired with an in-store seminar or partner event. 

Course Coverage 

Throughout training, participants will run many sections of the Madison Half and Full Marathon courses. 

Schedule note: We will not meet as a group on Labor Day weekend |Saturday, September 5, 2026. 

PACE GROUPS 

To help you stay consistent, supported, and confident during long runs, we provide pace leaders across a variety of pace ranges each season. Pace leaders help maintain steady pacing, offer encouragement, and keep groups organized from start to finish. 

Typical pace groups for our half and full marathon programs include: 

• 8:30–8:45 min/mile 

• 9:15–9:30 min/mile 

• 10:00–10:15 min/mile 

• 10:30–10:45 min/mile 

• 11:15–11:30 min/mile 

• 12:00–12:30+ min/mile floater 

Final pace groups are determined by registered participants and overall program size. The 12:00–12:30+ min/mile pacer typically serves as a floater, checking in with participants running between approximately 12:00–15:00 min/mile. 

NOTES & RECOMMENDATIONS 

Base mileage recommendations are designed to help you stay healthy, reduce injury risk, and build safely throughout the training season. The fall half and full marathon programs are intended to build on an existing fitness foundation. If you have questions or concerns about these recommendations, please contact Megan at sweetm@fleetfeetmadison.com. 

Recommended Base/Starting Mileage 

• Half Marathon Long Run: 3–4 miles 

• Half Marathon Weekly Mileage: 8–10 miles 

• Full Marathon Long Run: 8 miles 

• Full Marathon Weekly Mileage: 18–20 miles 

Starting mileage may be completed as a continuous run or through a run/walk approach. 

Pace Guidance 

Our programs welcome runners and run/walkers across a wide range of paces and experience levels. There are no pace requirements to participate, and athletes typically train at paces ranging from approximately 8:00–15:00 minutes per mile. 

Since many races have course time limits, we encourage participants to review the pace expectations for their goal event before race day. 

For the Madison Marathon, runners should expect to maintain approximately a 13:44 min/mile pace for the full marathon and approximately a 16:00 min/mile pace for the half marathon. 

Participation Age Requirements 

Half Marathon: 16 years of age | Full Marathon: 18 years of age 

FLEET FEET X ON RECOVERY RESORT    

Sunday, November 15 | 6:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 

Celebrate your finish in style with exclusive access to our VIP Recovery Resort, available only to training program participants. This dedicated space is designed to help you recover, recharge and celebrate your accomplishment alongside teammates, coaches and fellow runners after race day. Included with your VIP access: 

VIP Recovery Resort Benefits 

• Private gear check  

• A heated, comfortable home base tent before heading to the start line 

• Hypervolt massage guns, foam rollers, mobility tools, and recovery compression boots for post-race recovery 

• Food and refreshments to help refuel 

• A comfortable recovery space to relax, unwind, and celebrate your accomplishment with your Fleet Feet community 

After months of training, you’ve earned the ultimate race day recovery experience. 

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS – WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT 

• A complete, adaptable training plan for half and full marathoners, including warm-up and cool-down exercises, recommended strength, mobility, and core workouts, and hill and performance-focused sessions to improve efficiency and running economy 

• Weekly program emails with training tips, route information, advice, and motivation 

• Coaching support in person and by email to answer questions throughout the season 

• Organized, supported group runs twice each week for accountability, camaraderie, and fun, with routes that include portions of the Madison Half and Full Marathon courses 

• Educational and interactive seminars covering gear, nutrition, recovery, mobility, and other topics to support your training 

• Samples of nutrition and hydration products 

• Pace group leaders on weekend long runs to help you stay on track 

• An exclusive On co-branded performance running shirt 

• Shoe wear tests, promotions, and giveaways from vendor partners 

• Attendance incentives 

• Fleet Feet coupon book 

• Race-day access to the Recovery Resort 

• Madison Half and Full Marathon race-entry discount 

• A fun, inclusive community for runners and run/walkers of all levels 

TRAINING PROGRAM CONTACT AND QUESTIONS:  

Megan Sweet | Director of Training: sweetm@fleetfeetmadison.com  
Fleet Feet Madison: 608-833-9999  
Fleet Feet Sun Prairie: 608-834-9999