2024 Winter Marathon Training Program

Marathon Training Program

At 26.2 miles, the Marathon is the ultimate road race. And the Marathon training journey is the ultimate running experience. For many runners, the desire to do a marathon is about personal challenges. You might want to test your limits or prove that you can go the distance. Perhaps a friend has talked you into it. You may want to lose weight, get healthier or raise awareness for a charity. And while running a marathon can be daunting, millions of people participate in marathon races worldwide each year. Getting to the start healthy, let alone crossing the finish line after 26.2, takes hard work, discipline, and planning. Starting mileage for these programs is 5 miles. A successful runner in these programs can comfortably run a 15K, half marathon or farther before beginning the training program.

Fleet Feet’s goal in marathon training is to get you physically and mentally ready to cover the distance, not just to the finish line, but to the finish line as best you can. Our Marathon Training Program is a 22-25 week program that uses run-only or run/walk training methods. It is designed to prepare runners for their first-ever endurance event or to help seasoned runners meet new performance goals. This program will educate on endurance training principles, run training discipline, mental skills training, hydration and nutrition, body awareness, pacing, and running autonomy.

Goal Races

Carmel Marathon, Carmel, IN 04-13-2024

Chicagoland Spring Marathon, Schaumburg, IL 05-05-2024

Not running Carmel or Chicagoland? You can train with us for other April/May 2024 marathons.

The starting mileage for our marathon training programs is 8 miles for our summer/fall program and 5 miles for our winter/spring program. A successful runner in these programs should be consistently running 3-4 days per week and able to comfortably run a half marathon before beginning the training program.

Program Includes

• 22-26 -week training plan (depending on season and goal race)
• On-site coaching
• 2x per week coached group runs (plus three homework runs)
• Planned routes and hydration support for group runs
• Participant-only, in-store, merchandise discounts
• Mentor and team support, encouragement and camaraderie
• Top quality technical running shirt
• Educational discussions on endurance running planning and execution
• Post-run refreshments
• Emailed advice and support by certified coaches