Run/Walk Marathon Training Schedule

This 20-week marathon training program is designed to help you run/walk to the finish line of your marathon (26.2 miles). To start this plan, you should have been run/walking for at least four to eight weeks and should have a base mileage of about 12 to 15 miles per week.

This beginner training schedule is a run/walk program, so your workout instructions will be displayed in run/walk intervals. The first number displayed will be the number of minutes to run and the second number is the amount to walk. So, for example, 3/1 means run for 3 minutes, then walk for 1 minute. If 3/1 intervals start to get too easy during early phase of your training, you can shoot for 4/1 (4 minutes running, 1 minute of walking) or 5/1 intervals (5 minutes running, 1 minute of walking). These intervals are incorporated in the later weeks of the plan.

You should start each run with a 5- to 10-minute warm-up walk. Finish up with a 5- to 10-minute cool-down walk. Your run intervals should be done at an easy, conversational pace. You should finish your runs with overall stretching.

Notes About the Schedule

You don't have to do your runs on specific days; however, you should try not to run/walk two days in a row. It's better to take a rest day or do cross-training on the days in between runs. Cross-training can be walking, biking, swimming, or any other activity (other than running) that you enjoy. You'll most likely want to do your long runs on Saturday or Sunday when you'll have more time.

Week 1

Day 1: 2 miles – 2/1 run/walk intervals
Day 2: 3 miles – 2/1 run/walk intervals
Day 3: 4 miles (long run) – 2/1 run/walk intervals
Day 4: 2 miles recovery walk

Week 2

Day 1: 3 miles – 2/1 run/walk intervals
Day 2: 3 miles – 2/1 run/walk intervals
Day 3: Cross-training or rest
Day 4: 4 miles (long run) – 2/1 run/walk intervals
Day 5: 2.5 miles (recovery walk)

Week 3

Day 1: 3 miles – 2/1 run/walk intervals
Day 2: Cross-training
Day 3: 3 miles – 2/1 run/walk intervals
Day 4: 5 miles (long run) – 2/1 run/walk intervals
Day 5: 2 miles (recovery walk)

Week 4

Day 1: 3 miles – 3/1 run/walk intervals
Day 2: Cross-training
Day 3: 3 miles – 3/1 run/walk intervals
Day 4: 6 miles (long run) – 3/1 run/walk intervals
Day 5: 2 miles (recovery walk)

Week 5

Day 1: 3 miles – 3/1 run/walk intervals
Day 2: Cross-training
Day 3: 3 miles – 3/1 run/walk intervals
Day 4: 7 miles (long run) – 3/1 run/walk intervals
Day 5: 3 miles (recovery walk)

Week 6

Day 1: 4 miles – 3/1 run/walk intervals
Day 2: Cross-training
Day 3: 4 miles – 3/1 run/walk intervals
Day 4: 8 miles (long run) – 3/1 run/walk intervals
Day 5: 3 miles (recovery walk)

Week 7

Day 1: 4 miles – 3/1 run/walk intervals
Day 2: Cross-training
Day 3: 4 miles – 3/1 run/walk intervals
Day 4: 9 miles (long run) – 3/1 run/walk intervals
Day 5: 3 miles (recovery walk)

Week 8

Day 1: 4 miles – 4/1 run/walk intervals
Day 2: Cross-training
Day 3: 3 miles – 4/1 run/walk intervals
Day 4: 10 miles (long run) – 4/1 run/walk intervals
Day 5: 3 miles (recovery walk)

Week 9

Day 1: 5 miles – 4/1 run/walk intervals
Day 2: Cross-training
Day 3: 4 miles – 4/1 run/walk intervals
Day 4: 12 miles (long run) – 4/1 run/walk intervals
Day 5: 3 miles (recovery walk)

Week 10

Day 1: 4 miles – 4/1 run/walk intervals
Day 2: 3 miles – 4/1 run/walk intervals
Day 3: Cross-training
Day 4: 8 miles (long run) – 4/1 run/walk intervals
Day 5: 3 miles (recovery walk)

Week 11

Day 1: Cross-training
Day 2: 3 miles – 4/1 run/walk intervals
Day 3: Cross-training
Day 4: 14 miles (long run) – 4/1 run/walk intervals
Day 5: 2.5 miles (recovery walk)

Week 12

Day 1: 4 miles – 5/1 run/walk intervals
Day 2: Cross-training
Day 3: 3 miles – 5/1 run/walk intervals
Day 4: 10 miles (long run) – 5/1 run/walk intervals
Day 5: 3 miles (recovery walk)

Week 13

Day 1: 4 miles – 5/1 run/walk intervals
Day 2: Cross-training
Day 3: 3 mile – 5/1 run/walk intervals
Day 4: 15 miles (long run) – 5/1 run/walk intervals
Day 5: 3 miles (recovery walk)

Week 14

Day 1: 4 miles – 5/1 run/walk intervals
Day 2: Cross-training
Day 3: 3 miles – 5/1 run/walk intervals
Day 4: 10 miles (long run) – 5/1 run/walk intervals
Day 5: 3 miles (recovery walk)

Week 15

Day 1: 4 miles – 5/1 run/walk intervals
Day 2: Cross-training
Day 3: 4 miles – 5/1 run/walk intervals
Day 4: 16 miles (long run) – 5/1 run/walk intervals
Day 5: 3 miles (recovery walk)

Week 16

Day 1: 4 miles – 6/1 run/walk intervals
Day 2: Cross-training
Day 3: 3 miles – 6/1 run/walk intervals
Day 4: 12 miles (long run) – 6/1 run/walk intervals
Day 5: 2.5 miles (recovery walk)

Week 17

Day 1: 4 miles – 6/1 run/walk intervals
Day 2: Cross-training
Day 3: 3 miles – 6/1 run/walk intervals
Day 4: 18-20 miles (long run) – 6/1 run/walk intervals
Day 5: 2.5 miles (recovery walk)

Week 18

Day 1: 4 miles – 6/1 run/walk intervals
Day 2: Cross-training
Day 3: 3 miles – 6/1 run/walk intervals
Day 4: 12 miles (long run) – 6/1 run/walk intervals
Day 5: 2.5 miles (recovery walk)

Week 19

Day 1: Cross-training
Day 2: 3 miles – 3/1 run/walk intervals
Day 3: Cross-training
Day 4: 6 miles (long run) – 3/1 run/walk intervals
Day 5: 2.5 miles (recovery walk)

Week 20

Day 1: 3 miles – 3/1 run/walk intervals
Day 2: 20 minutes – 3/1 run/walk intervals
Day 3 (day before race): Walk 20 minutes
Day 4: RACE!

Estimate your marathon pace below.