Advanced Beginner Marathon Training Schedule

By

Updated on April 02, 2020

Reviewed by

Woman running in city — recep-bg / Getty Images

So you've already run at least one half-marathon (13.1 miles) road race, and you're ready to take on the challenge of the marathon. Use this 20-week advanced beginner marathon schedule to train for your marathon.

Is This the Right Marathon Training Plan for You?

This schedule is geared toward runners who can run four miles comfortably and run four to five days per week. If you're not up to that, try the beginner runner marathon schedule.

If this plan doesn't seem challenging enough, try the intermediate marathon schedule.

Advanced Beginner Marathon Training Schedule

Week	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
1	Rest	3 mi	Rest	3 mi	Rest	4 mi	3 mi EZ
2	Rest	3 mi	2 mi	3 mi	CT or Rest	5 mi	3 mi EZ
3	Rest	3 mi	2 mi RP	4 mi	CT or Rest	6 mi	3 mi EZ
4	Rest	3 mi	2 mi RP	4 mi	CT or Rest	7 mi	3 mi EZ
5	Rest	4 mi	2.5 mi RP	4 mi	CT or Rest	6 mi	3 mi EZ
6	Rest	4 mil	2.5 mi RP	4 mi	CT or Rest	8 mi	3 mi EZ
7	Rest	4 mi	3 mi RP	4 mi	CT or Rest	10 mi	3 mi EZ
8	Rest	4 mi	3 mi RP	5 mi	CT or Rest	8 mi	3 mi EZ
9	Rest	4 mi	3 mi RP	4 mi	CT or Rest	12 mi	Rest
10	Rest	4 mi	3 mi RP	5 mi	CT or Rest	14 mi	3 mi EZ
11	Rest	4 mi	3.5 mi RP	4 mi	CT or Rest	16 mi	3 mi EZ
12	Rest	5 mi	4 mi RP	5 mi	CT or Rest	10 mi	3 mi EZ
13	Rest	5 mi	4 mi RP	5 mi	CT or Rest	18 mi	3 mi EZ
14	Rest	4 mi	4 mi RP	5 mi	CT or Rest	12 mi	3 mi EZ
15	Rest	4 mi	4.5 mi RP	5 mi	CT or Rest	18 mi	Rest
16	3 mi EZ	5 mi	4.5 mi RP	6 mi	CT or Rest	14 mi	3 mi EZ
17	Rest	4 mi	5 mi RP	6 mi	CT or Rest	20 mi	3 mi EZ
18	Rest	4 mi	CT	4 mi	CT or Rest	12 mi	3 mi EZ
19	Rest	3 mi	30 minutes RP	3 mi	CT or Rest	8 mi	3 mi EZ
20	Rest	2 mi	20 minutes	Rest Day	20 minutes	Race Day!	Rest Day!

Abbreviations

mi = miles
RP = marathon race pace
CT = cross-training
EZ = easy, comfortable pace

Details of the Advanced Beginner Marathon Training Plan

Mondays: Mondays are usually rest days. Don't ignore rest days — they're essential to your recovery and injury prevention efforts. Your muscles build and repair themselves during your rest days. You're not going to gain much strength, and you're increasing your risk of injury if you don't take some rest days.
Tuesdays and Thursdays: After you warm up, run at a comfortable pace for the designated mileage.
Wednesdays: After running a 10-minute warm-up, run the designated mileage at your "marathon race pace" (RP). Follow that with a 10-minute cool-down. If you're unsure what your marathon race pace is, add 30-45 seconds per mile to your half-marathon pace.
Fridays: Do a cross-training (CT) activity (biking, swimming, elliptical trainer, etc.) at an easy-to-moderate effort for 30 to 45 minutes. If you're feeling very sluggish or sore on Friday, take a rest day. It's vital that you're feeling strong for your Saturday long run.
Saturdays: This is the day for your long slow distance run. Run the designated mileage at an easy, conversational pace. Use your breathing as your guide. You should be able to breathe easily and talk in complete sentences comfortably during your run.

Sundays: Sundays are active recovery days. Run at an easy (EZ), comfortable pace to help loosen up your muscles.

Switching Days

You can switch days to accommodate your schedule. So, if you prefer to workout on a Monday or Friday, it's fine to swap a rest day for a run day.

A Word From Verywell

Congratulations on committing to train for your marathon. It will take dedication, but along the way, you will improve your fitness and learn much about your mental toughness. Stick with it and the finish line is in your future.