The Boston Marathon is one of the most prestigious running events in the world. If you're a novice runner dreaming of participating, you're in the right place. This blog post outlines a comprehensive training plan designed to get you race-ready. Remember, every runner is different, so feel free to adjust the plan according to your needs.

How to run a marathon

Reading and enacting a training program starts with understanding these key terms:

Cross train: other forms of exercise other than running. Ideally, this should include strength training at least 1x/week, but can also include low impact forms of cardiovascular exercise (e.g. biking, swimming, etc.).

Active rest: light movement that improves mobility. Examples of active rest include walking, yoga, foam rolling, and stretching.

Rest: similar to some “active rest” activities (e.g. foam rolling, stretching, easy walk), meditation, or curling up with a good book - whatever you find helps your body recover. Rest and recovery are essential to a successful marathon training program!

Pace: difficulty of pace is unique to each person and, therefore, you must determine what “easy” and “medium” mean to you. “Easy” should be the pace you feel comfortable sustaining for long runs. “Medium” should feel like a challenge to maintain, but still sustainable for medium distance mileage.

Phases of marathon training

We’ve divided our program into 4 main phases based on the goals and focus given the number of weeks away from the race.