Marathon Training

25 Week "To Finish" Program                                                             Salt Lake Running Company

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Even if you have never run a step this 25 week training program is designed to help you train for and finish a marathon.  It is important for those who may be new to the sport of running to start slowly and build week by week, giving the body time to adjust.  More experienced runners are free to join in when the program matches their current level of training and fitness.

 The program involves 3 days of running and 2 days of cross training and is divided into 9 different periods of adaptation.  The most important day of the week is the weekend long run which start at 3 miles and finish at 20-22 miles.  At first glance, the task may seem insurmountable but experience and research shows the body, given proper rest, has the capacity to adapt quickly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dates

 

 

10/28/2007-11/24/2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WK

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Details

 

Period 1

1

OFF

run 15-30 min

walk or XT*

run 15-30 min

walk or XT

off/stretch**

3 miles

XT days 15-30 min

2

OFF

run 20-35 min

walk or XT

run 20-35 min

walk or XT

off/stretch

4 miles

XT days 20-35 min

3

OFF

run 25-40 min

walk or XT

run 25-40 min

walk or XT

off/stretch

5 miles

XT days 25-40 min

4

OFF

run 15-30 min

walk or XT

run 15-30 min

walk or XT

off/stretch

3 miles

XT days 15-30 min

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dates

 

 

11/25/2007-12/22/2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Period 2

5

OFF

run 20-35 min

walk or XT

run 20-35 min

walk or XT

off/stretch

6 miles

XT days 20-35 min

6

OFF

run 25-40 min

walk or XT

run 25-40 min

walk or XT

off/stretch

7 miles

XT days 25-40 min

7

OFF

run 30-45 min

walk or XT

run 30-45 min

walk or XT

off/stretch

8 miles

XT days 15-30 min

8

OFF

run 20-35 min

walk or XT

run 20-35 min

walk or XT

off/stretch

4 miles

XT days 20-35 min

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dates

 

 

12/23/2007-1/5/2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Period 3

9

OFF

run 35-50 min

walk or XT

run 35-50 min

walk or XT

off/stretch

9-10 miles

XT days 25-40 min

10

OFF

run 30-45 min

walk or XT

run 30-45 min

walk or XT

off/stretch

5 miles

XT days 30-45 min

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dates

 

 

1/6/2008-1/19/2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Period 4

11

OFF

run 40-55 min

walk or XT

run 40-55 min

walk or XT

off/stretch

11-12 miles

XT days 35-50 min

12

OFF

run 30-45 min

walk or XT

run 30-45 min

walk or XT

off/stretch

6 miles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dates

 

 

1/20/2008-2/2/2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Period 5

13

OFF

run 45-60 min

walk or XT

run 45-60 min

walk or XT

off/stretch

13-14 miles

ALL XT days 30-45 min until week #3

14

OFF

run 30-45 min

walk or XT

run 30-45 min

walk or XT

off/stretch

7 miles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dates

 

 

2/3/2208-2/23/2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Period 6

15

OFF

run 45-60 min

walk or XT

run 45-60 min

walk or XT

off/stretch

8 miles

Week 11 is makeup week. If you’re on track take a break.

16

OFF

run 45-60 min

walk or XT

run 45-60 min

walk or XT

off/stretch

14-16 miles

17

OFF

run 30-45 min

walk or XT

run 30-45 min

walk or XT

off/stretch

8-10 miles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dates

 

 

2/24/2008-3/8/2208

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Period 7

18

OFF

run 45-60 min

walk or XT

run 45-60 min

walk or XT

off/stretch

16-18 miles

 

19

OFF

run 30-45 min

walk or XT

run 30-45 min

walk or XT

off/stretch

8-10 miles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dates

 

 

3/9/2008-3/22/2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Period 8

20

OFF

run 45-60 min

walk or XT

run 45-60 min

walk or XT

off/stretch

18-20 miles

 

21

OFF

run 30-45 min

walk or XT

run 30-45 min

walk or XT

off/stretch

8-10 miles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dates

 

 

3/23/2008-4/19/2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Period 9

22

OFF

run 45-60 min

walk or XT

run 45-60 min

walk or XT

off/stretch

20-22 miles

 

23

OFF

run 25-40 min

walk or XT

run 25-40 min

walk or XT

off/stretch

8-10 miles

XT days 25-40 min

24

OFF

run 20-35 min

walk or XT

run 20-35 min

walk or XT

off/stretch

4-5 miles

XT days 20-35 min

25

OFF

run 15-30 min

walk or XT

run 15-30 min

off/stretch

OFF

Marathon Day

XT days 15-30 min

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*XT stands for cross training.  These activities are aerobic based activities which include swimming, biking/spinning, aerobics, etc.

**Off/stretch days are resting and/or stretching which could include yoga, palates, etc (Do nothing that would cause excessive soreness or fatigue).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTES

Training weeks can be changed to run tues/thurs  and walk/ XT mon/wed if necessary.  Always alternate a day of running with a day of walk/XT.

Bolded weeks are rest weeks.  These weeks are designed to give you time to "absorb" your training.  Doing less on these weeks is mandatory!

The walk/xt days are extremely important for consistency, injury prevention and overall aerobic fitness. If you lift weights earlier in the week is better.

Week 11 is a chance to play catch up if necessary or rest in order to get rejuvenated for the second, and more important, part of the program.

When in doubt ALWAYS choose lower end of times and mileage and remember a little walking early saves a lot of crawling later.

 Uphill and downhill training can be very important but incorporate it on days other than your long runs.

Refer to www.saltlakerunningco.com for other running tips, training seminars, and running groups.

HAVE FUN and GOOD LUCK!