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 six months and should have a base mileage of about 12-15 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 your training, you can shoot for 4/1 (4 minutes running, 1 minute walking) or 5/1 intervals (5 minutes running, 1 minute walking).

You should start each run with a 5-10 minute warm-up walk. Finish up with a 5-10 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.

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

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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 EZ (recovery walk)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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!