Standfirst: The target for weeks 5-8 of your 15-week scheduleAuthor:Pics:Issue date: Feb-May01 / xref Ultimate schedsKeywords:--A time-targeted half-marathon (Week 10)Why: It will be good practice to take in the racing environment, but also useful

training runs and the highest-volume weeks of the schedules. They’re hard weeks, but you can do it.Don’t even think about giving up or easing off now (unless you’re injured). The work you put into the next five key weeks will pay dividends on race day

Standfirst: The focus of weeks 13-15 of your 15-week scheduleAuthor:Pics:Issue date: Feb-May01 / xref Ultimate schedsKeywords:uan126--In weeks 13-15... you taper… and race!You’ve done nearly all the hard work now – after your final long run in Week

of your training, the marathon is going to be a real struggle. If you want to race or you have other commitments on Sundays, try to rearrange your week so you still complete the long run.If you couldn’t run as fast as the schedules suggested: At this stage

Standfirst: The target for weeks 1-4 of your 15-week scheduleAuthor:Pics:Issue date: Feb-May01 / xref Ultimate schedsKeywords:uan120--A time-targetted 10K or 5-mile race (Week 4)Why: The marathon’s main requirement is stamina, but many of the world

Standfirst: The focus of weeks 1-4 of your 15-week scheduleAuthor:Pics:Issue date: Feb-May01 / xref Ultimate schedsKeywords:uan123--In Weeks 1-4... you build your baseThe overall aim of the first four weeks is to train consistently and get

race, but with longer aerobic runs and more repetition runs. This differs from half-marathon training in that the latter is often done as a prelude to the full marathon, and therefore involves more long, slow running.We have prepared training programmes

a long, two-and-a-half-hour run in Week 7. The schedules also suggest you finish Week 8 with a race. Race flat-out if you’re racing up to 10 miles, or run at your intended marathon pace if you’re running a half-marathon. If you race flat-out, try

check back regularly to enjoy expert advice, tried-and-tested schedules, marathon Q&As, race-day checklists and more.Build-up EventsThere's nothing like practice races to improve your fitness and your pacing skills. Our events listings are packed

when you should be easing off: a three-week taper will leave you in the best possible shape to run the race you want, and enjoy it.Marathon strides: Five next stepsSchedules and more; your complete training partner – our Big Marathon Index