RW's Basic Marathon Schedules: Intermediate
Classic 16-week marathon schedules
| | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
Week 1
(27-31M) |
Rest or 4M easy |
4M steady with a few strides |
4M easy |
5M - run to a hill, then 8 x 30 secs uphill, jog down | Rest |
5M steady, cross-country or parkrun |
9M slow |
| Week 2 (31-35M) |
Rest or 4M easy |
5M - warm up, then 3M at a brisk pace, timed. Warm down. |
5M steady |
5M - warm up, then 8 x 90 secs fast, 90 secs slow | Rest |
5M steady, cross-country or parkrun |
11M slow |
| Week 3 (34-38M) |
Rest or 4M easy |
5M - run to a hill, then 8 x 30 secs uphill, jogging back down |
6M easy |
5M - warm up, then 5 x 3 mins fast, 2 mins slow (or 5 x 800m on track, with 400m jog recoveries) | Rest | 5M steady, cross-country or parkrun |
13M slow |
| Week 4 (39-43M) |
Rest or 4M easy |
6M - warm up, then 3M at a brisk pace, timed. Warm down. |
7M steady. |
6M - warm up, then 3 x 6 mins (or mile on track) with 2 min recoveries. | Rest |
5M easy | 15M slow with 5M in middle at marathon pace |
| Week 5 (38-42M) |
Rest or 4M easy |
6M - run to a hill, then 10 x 30 secs uphill, jogging back down |
8M easy |
6M - warm up, then 9 x 90 secs fast (or 400m) with 90 secs (or 200m) slow |
Rest |
4M jog with strides | Half-marathon or 10k race or timetrial |
| Week 6 (43-47M) |
Rest or 4M easy |
6M easy |
9M steady |
6M - warm up, then 6 x 3 mins fast, 2 mins slow (or 6 x 800m on track, with 400m jog recoveries) |
Rest |
5M easy |
17M slow with 5M in middle at marathon pace |
| Week 7 (43-47M) |
Rest or 4M easy |
6M - hill running: 11 x 30 secs, or fartlek with 12-15 30-sec bursts |
6M easy |
7M - warm up, then 4 x 6 mins (or mile) with 2 mins rest between each. Time them. |
Rest |
4M slow |
20M slow |
| Week 8 (37-41M) | Rest or 4M easy |
6M easy |
7M steady |
6M fartlek, inc bursts of 200-400m | Rest |
4M jog with strides |
Half-marathon race or timetrial |
| Week 9 (44-48M) |
Rest or 4M easy |
6M fartlek, inc sustained bursts of up to 400m |
8M steady - start slowly, finish fast |
6M - warm up, then 10 x 90 secs fast (or 400m) with 90 secs (or 200m) slow | Rest |
4M easy with strides or parkrun |
20M slow |
| Week 10 (42-46M) |
Rest or 4M easy |
7M steady, starting slowly |
9M steady |
7M - warm up, then 7 x 3 mins fast, 2 mins slow (or 7 x 800m on track, with 400m jog recoveries) |
Rest |
4M easy |
15M steady, including 5M at marathon pace |
| Week 11 (47-51M) |
Rest or 4M easy |
6M - hill running, 12 x 30 secs |
10M steady - start slowly, finish fast |
7M - warm up, then 5 x 6 mins (or mile) with 2 mins rest between each. | Rest |
4M easy, with a few strides or parkrun |
20M slow |
| Week 12 (43-47M) |
Rest or 4M easy |
6M fartlek, inc sustained bursts of up to 400m |
9M steady |
7M - warm up, then 18 x 45 secs fast (or 200m), with 60 secs (or 200m) slow | Rest |
4M easy, with a few strides or parkrun | 17M easy with 5M at marathon pace |
| Week 13 (46-50M) |
Rest or 4M easy |
6M - hill running, 12 x 30 secs |
8M steady |
6M - warm up, then 12 x 90 secs fast (or 400m), with 90 secs (or 200m) slow) |
Rest |
4M easy |
21M slow |
| Week 14 (38-42M) |
Rest or 4M easy |
6M fartlek, inc sustained bursts of up to 400m |
7M easy |
6M - warm up, then 5 x 3 mins fast, 2 mins slow (or 5 x 800m on track, with 400m jog recoveries) | Rest |
4M easy, with a few strides or parkrun |
15M steady, or half-marathon race |
| Week 15 (30-34M) |
Rest or 4M easy |
5M - hill running, 10 x 30 secs |
6M steady |
5M with middle 3M at marathon pace | Rest |
4M easy, with a few strides or parkrun | 10M steady |
| Week 16 (39M) | Rest |
4M - warm up, then 1M at race pace plus 5 x 200m. Warm down |
4M easy, with a few strides |
3M easy | Rest |
2M easy, with easy strides | RACE DAY |
Discuss this article
hey guys, this isn't a reply really, i am new to this,but it relates to the 16 week program. i am an aussie coming to london in a few weeks, missed london so intend to do a marathon later in the year, possibly new york??
i have run 90 mins for a half and can do 10k's in about 40 mins. according to a calculator on the us runners world site, i should be able to complete a marathon in 3:09-3:21 (seems a bit quick to me).
i only run 4-5 times a week as i cross-train, i make them count though, but this prog has 6-7 runs/week which is too many for my legs (old rugby injuries)
i haven't done a marathon before, am i kidding myself? do i have any idea what i am getting myself into? and if i do new york, do i just work on my fitness base betwen now and may, then start the 16 week prog? or do a half program?
this is too long, sorry.
Posted: 05/01/2004 at 12:08
Im using it for Edinburgh this year, first week of the plan this week. Used a 'beginners' get me round for the last marathon (which was my first) and that worked great. Introduced 2/3 weekly heavy cv kettle bell workouts also for improved strength and core stability - i can feel the benefits after only a few weeks of using it to i recommend it to anyone. Im a little confused with the 'with strides' comment on some of the sessions - if anyone can clarify that would be great. Im aiming for sub 4hrs using this schedule, my LSR pace is around 8.30min/mi so ill let you know how it works out. Cheers
Posted: 02/02/2011 at 08:44
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