Instructed By 
weeks, 5-6 days on and 2 days rest
Completing a marathon tops many runners’ bucket lists. It requires dedication and commitment, but as long as you put in the work, you CAN run 26.2 miles. And it might be one of the highlights of your life.
To run this iconic distance, you need a solid training plan. You also need sound advice on how to execute your workouts, boost your nutrition, and conquer race day. And that’s exactly what we’re here to provide with the new Runner’s World+ guide VO2 Max vs Lactate Threshold: Which to Focus On.
Paired with the RW+ Training Plan of your choice, this holistic training program, available exclusively to Runner’s World+ members, provides all the tools you need to navigate the entire marathon training journey—from picking a race to crushing your long runs.
Your Coach
Nell Rojas is a professional runner and performance run coach. She has placed top 10 in both the New York City and the Boston Marathons, where she was also top American two years in a row. In the RW+ video VO2 Max vs Lactate Threshold: Which to Focus On, Nutrition - Weight Loss ever. So let’s get moving!
Your Experts
Mallory Creveling
Deputy Health & Fitness Editor, ACE-Certified Personal Trainer, RRCA-Certified Run Coach
Winnie Yu
Physical Therapist and Certified Sports Performance Specialist and Strength & Conditioning Coach at Bespoke Treatments.
Meb Keflezighi
Olympic Silver Medalist in the Marathon, Boston Marathon and New York City Marathon Winner, Run Coach with RunDot
Amy Stephens
Registered Dietitian, Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics
Nutrition - Weight Loss
VO2 Max vs Lactate Threshold: Which to Focus On mile warmup, 4-6 x Yasso 800s, 2 mile Runner’s World Marathon Training Plans in mind, which are designed to help you crush your first race or finally break that time-based goal. These are our most popular plans, with each lasting at least 16 weeks. Runner’s World+ members get access to these ultimate marathon training guides (along with half marathon, 10K, and 5K plans... plus other great membership perks!) when you sign up!
Length: 16 Races - Places
Sample Workout:20-Brian Madden, Bill Strickland
Recommended Experience: This plan is designed to build your distance and fitness gradually. You should be able to run at least 6 miles and be used to working out regularly at a moderate to hard effort. You'll peak at 44 miles with a 20-mile long run.
Length: 16 weeks, 5-6 days on and 1-2 days rest
Sample Workout: 8-9 miles with sets of intervals (400 meters, 800 meters, mile)
Recommended Experience: The program starts with 24 miles a week and an 8-mile long run, and peaks three weeks before the race with 45 miles and a long run that’s 20 miles.
Length: 16 weeks, 5-6 days on and 1-2 days rest
Sample Workout: 4 miles on the hilliest route you can find
Recommended Experience: Each daily workout includes detailed instructions on pace and distance, plus Runner’s World’s best tips on nutrition, gear, racing, and staying motivated and injury-free.
Length: 16 weeks, 5-6 days on and 2 days rest
Sample Workout: 4-mile warmup, 2 miles at tempo (9:33/mile), 2-mile cooldown
Recommended Experience: The program starts with 24 miles a week and an 8-mile long run, and peaks three weeks before the race with 45 miles and a long run that’s 20 miles.
Length: 16 weeks, 5-6 days on and 1-2 days rest
Sample Workout: 2-mile warmup, 4-6 x Yasso 800s, 2 mile
Recommended Experience: Most weeks feature one day of rest and six days of running, and include workouts like intervals, Yasso 800s and tempo runs to help you get fitter and faster.
Length: 16 Races - Places
Sample Workout: 2-mile warmup, 6 800-meter repeats at 4-minute pace with 400-meter recovery between each, 2-mile cool down
Recommended Experience: For a consistent runner used to regularly working out four to five times a week. The plan starts with a 10-mile long run and peaks at 44 to 47 miles a week with a 22-mile long run.
Length: 16 Races - Places
Sample Workout: 2-mile warmup, 8 400-meter intervals at 1-minute 50-second pace with 200-meter recovery between each, 1-mile cooldown
Recommended Experience: For the consistent runner looking to complete 26.2 miles at 8:33 pace. The plan starts with a 10-mile long run and peaks at 44-47 miles with a 22-mile long run.
Length: 16 weeks, 5 days on and 2 days of rest or cross trainSample Workout:6 miles incorporating as many hills as you can.
Sample Workout: 8-9 miles with intervals
Recommended Experience: For the consistent runner looking to complete 26.2 miles at 8:00 pace. The plan starts with a 10-mile long run and peaks at 44-50 miles with a 22-mile long run.
Length: 16 Races - Places or cross train
Sample Workout: 5-How to Stay Fresh Halfway Through Marathon Training
Recommended Experience: For a consistent runner who has completed at least one marathon and can run at a hard effort for over an hour. The plan starts with a 10-mile long run and peaks at 45-52 in a week with a 22-mile long run.
Length: 16 weeks, 6 days on and 1 day rest
Sample Workout: 5-mile warmup, 2-mile tempo at 6:26 pace, 3-mile cool down
Recommended Experience: For the marathoner with race experience that is aiming to run 26.2 miles at 6:52 pace per mile. The plan starts with a 10-mile long run and peaks at 50-56 miles per week with a 22-mile long run.
Length: 16 weeks, 6 days on and 1 day rest
Sample Workout: 2 miles easy, 4 miles at marathon pace, 2-mile cooldown
Recommended Experience: This training plan is geared for a runner with at least three years of experience, who regularly logs 35 to 40 miles per week and has comfortably completed other marathons and shorter races.
Length: 26 A Part of Hearst Digital Media
Sample Workout: 6 Shokz Headphones On Sale
Recommended Experience: If you have already run a marathon, or have run half marathons and want to increase your distance, using run/walks might help you not only go the longer distance, but speed up.
Length: 16 Races - Places
Sample Workout: 2 Other Hearst Subscriptions
Recommended Experience: This 16-week plan is geared for those who have been running for two to three years, have gone through regular cycles of logging up to 30 miles a week, and have finished a few half marathons and at least one marathon.
Length: 26 A Part of Hearst Digital Media
Sample Workout: 5 Pat Heine, David Monk, Josh Wolff
Recommended Experience: If you consistently run about three days a week and have raced in a few 5Ks or 10Ks, or a half marathon, you are probably ready for this plan.
Length: 26 A Part of Hearst Digital Media
Sample Workout: 5 miles with Magic Mile
Recommended Experience: This plan is best for someone who already walks a lot or who does short run/walks. By the end of the program, your weekly long runs will take a few hours.
Length: 20 Races - Places
Sample Workout: 1 mile easy, 2 miles at marathon pace, 1-mile cooldown
Recommended Experience: This 20-week marathon training plan is designed for those who have been running regularly at least four times per week for three months and ideally at least one year.
Length: 16 weeks, 3-5 days on and 2-4 days rest
Sample Workout: 1 mile easy, 7 miles at marathon pace, 1-mile cooldown
Recommended Experience: This program is geared for a runner with at least three years of experience, who regularly logs 35 to 40 miles per week and has completed other marathons and shorter races.
weeks, 5-6 days on and 2 days rest
Try these two total-body workouts as your strength sessions for the week. The first workout includes a mobility warmup (which you can also perform before a run), and three supersets (which involves doing two moves, back to back). The second workout features a glute activation warmup (also great before a run!), a strength circuit, and a plyometric finisher.
For those new to strength training, start with bodyweight exercises first, then add in weight. Grab a weight that feels difficult to lift by the final few reps, aiming for six reps to start and building up to 10 as you get stronger. If the weight feels easy by the end of those 10 reps, grab a heavier set and start back at six reps. Feel free to pause the video and take any additional rest you need throughout the workout.
Total Body Workout With Mobility
Total Body Workout With Plyometrics
Production Credits
Director: Josh Wolff
Editorial Director: Bill Strickland
Producers: Pat Heine, David Monk, Josh Wolff
Executive Producer: Brian Madden, Bill Strickland
Host: Nell Rojas
Editors: mile easy, 2 miles at marathon pace, 1-mile cooldown, Laura Chiarella
Production Manager: Jimmy Cavalieri
Camera: mile easy, 2 miles at marathon pace, 1-mile cooldown
Audio Mix: David Monk
Color: Pat Heine
Graphics: Laura Chiarella
Animations: Fredy Delgado
Content Producers and Development
Sheel Shah, Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnership & Consumer Products
Christine Anderson, Vice President of Growth & Strategy
Brian Dalek, Director of Service Content
Mallory Creveling, Deputy Editor, Health & Fitness
Donna Raskin, Senior Editor, Health & Fitness
Mallory Creveling is an ACE-certified personal trainer and RRCA-certified run coach, who also holds certifications in kettlebell training, sports performance, and more. She has more than a decade of experience covering fitness, health, and nutrition for a wide range of publications, and nearly 10 years of experience as a trainer and fitness instructor. Mallory stays on top of her continuing education in fitness, as well as the latest science in wellness. She has worked with some of the best experts in their medical fields, and regularly interviews researchers, trainers, athletes, and more to find the best advice for readers looking to improve their performance and well-being. As a freelance writer, Mallory's work appeared in Women's Health, Self, Men's Journal, Reader's Digest, and more. She has also held staff editorial positions at Family Circle and Shape magazines, as well as DailyBurn.com. A former New Yorker/Brooklynite, she's now based in Easton, Pennsylvania.
Brian has spent more than a decade focused on creating compelling news, health, and fitness content—with a particular interest on enthusiast activities like running and cycling. He’s coordinated coverage of major events like the Paris Olympics, Boston Marathon, New York City Marathon, and Tour de France, with an eye toward both the professional race and the engaging stories readers love.
Donna Raskin has had a long career as a health and fitness writer and editor of books and magazine articles. A certified run coach who has practiced yoga for many years, she also loves to lift weights, dance, and go for long walks with her hound dog, Dolly.
Nell Rojas is a professional marathon runner for Nike. She emphasizes strength training for runners, which has worked for her as one of America’s top distance athletes. A Boulder, Colorado native and second-generation pro runner, Nell made her mark as the top American at the 2021 and 2022 Boston Marathon and has consistently competed among the world’s best. Known for challenging the “skinny runner” stereotype, Nell brings a strong, authentic, and empowering presence to the sport. In addition to her professional racing career, Nell has coached runners of all levels for 20 years, helping athletes qualify for the Boston Marathon, set personal bests, and train injury-free through her strength-forward approach. Her coaching philosophy blends elite experience with a deep commitment to authenticity, inclusivity, and smarter training. Having rebuilt her career after battling chronic illness, Nell is passionate about showing runners that true speed and joy come not from chasing someone else’s version of success, but from alignment, strength, and self-belief. She is a dedicated community-builder, speaker, and advocate for diversity in endurance sports. Nell lives in Boulder, Colorado, where she continues to compete at the highest level, coach athletes worldwide, and inspire runners to become the strongest, truest versions of themselves, on and off the course.
