Before you start your 16-week marathon training journey, it’s important to know your base. Marathon training is a big commitment, and having the right foundation will help you stay healthy, confident, and strong throughout the program.
Are You Ready?
To start this program, you should be able to:
Run 9 miles comfortably at an easy pace
Run 4 days per week
Accumulate 20–25 miles per week for the past 4–6 weeks
Why it matters: This base helps protect against injury, ensures your training is sustainable, and sets you up to finish your marathon strong.
Not Quite There Yet?
No worries! If you’re building toward this level:
Start with our Half Marathon Beginner program to develop endurance and consistency.
If you’re brand new to running, begin with the 5K program first.
Completing the full Intermediate Half Marathon Plan is ideal preparation.
💡 Transition Tip: If you race a half marathon hard, give yourself 1–2 weeks of recovery with easy running before jumping into the marathon plan. This ensures your body is ready for the upcoming mileage.
Your Next Steps
Assess your current weekly mileage and long run distance.
Choose the preparatory program if needed (5K or Half Marathon Beginner).
Once you meet the baseline, start our Marathon Program and enjoy the guidance, structure, and tools included.
Less Than 16 Weeks Before Your Race?
This program is written with a full 16-week build in mind, so starting later than that just means a bit more flexibility in your mindset and expectations.
Experienced runners can jump in around Week 4. Keep an eye out for signs of overtraining — pain, elevated resting heart rate, and similar red flags — and be ready to back off certain runs if they show up.
Newer or first-time marathoners should start at Week 1. Race day may be a bit of a stretch, but it's still doable — it just may not go quite as smoothly as if you'd had the full 16 weeks.
If you have any questions or need assistance, our Support Team is here to help. Contact us anytime at support@movesapp.com — we’re dedicated to making sure you have the best experience possible!