Just wondering if anyone has travelled to any of the Nov/Dec half/full marathons in Spain or around Europe in recent years? I live in England and looking to combine one or two races with either a week's holiday or a long weekend.

Considering the three below (Seville is sold out); thought I'd ask here as don't think there is a Spain/Europe running subreddit: -

8 Nov - Great Mediterranean Race (starts in Alicante)

21 Nov - Benidorm half

6 Dec - Lanzarote half (there's also a full but only looking to do a half)

I could potentially do two of them, so curious if anyone has any direct experience of these runs. Really like the look of the Great Mediterranean Race and the course seems to be absolutely stunning, while what appeals about Benidorm is its uniqueness as an evening race. Then the Canaries in December is never a bad idea!

Looking for advice from people who've been in a similar situation.

I have a marathon in ~10 weeks and currently in the middle of my training plan. Our family has a road trip in the coming week, long driving days in different places, flexible schedules, with 2 kids in the car.

I think I may cut the runs a few times and keep several strength activities in the hotel. A few things I'm wondering:

• Will that affect the entire training plan? What's the best way to calibrate it?
• How did you adjust your plan in past similar experiences?
• Any tips I can follow during the trip?

Appreciate any real-world experience and suggestions!

How was your week, how far in the block and when's the next race? This will be a good Mega Thread to keep encouraging/analyze 4 hour crew throughout the year.

Post your weekly miles, breakthroughs, or if you need help with pace/fitness identification, questions here!

*new individual posts that's posted Thursdays re: 4 hour marathons/shape/predictions will be deleted/strongly recommended to move here!

I recently sprained my ankle on July 23rd by foolishly stepping on a rock during my cooldown run while dozing off.

I’m doing my hardest to make sure I can try to get the swelling down. Elevate, compression with tape, ice etc.

Thing is, I have the Chicago marathon on October 11, about 11 weeks away.

Any tips for cross training? I was planning to do stationary biking or swimming. I want to maintain fitness and my ankle is not severely impaired to the point where I can’t train.

My last long run before the injury was 10mil. My fitness level has been good to run longer long runs in the past but I just started marathon training for 4 weeks.

Hey all. As the title says, I (32,M) am wondering about which pace to target for my upcoming marathon (4.5 weeks away). I started running last year to train for a HM, ran a 1:39:00. Then started running properly in January of this year, maintaining 5x runs per week at a volume of 45-75km almost consistently - few weeks have deviated due to sickness or other reasons.

Since then, I ran a 1:32:00 HM in Delhi in March, super humid and hot for my scandinavian a**, and then more recently (3 weeks ago) I ran a local 10k race aiming for a sub-40, with a chip time of 38:10.

I got a Garmin watch in May, just before starting my marathon block, and my stats according to it are: Vo2 Max - 60, LT Pace - 3:54, LT HR - 169

Shoes are Novablast 5s for easy and recovery, Evo SL's for quality runs, long runs with MP, and races (like HM and the 10k). Picked up a pair of Megablasts this week that I intend to make my primary long run and marathon shoe.

I've attached pics of two of my most recent long runs (31 and 30km) as well as last week's 2x16 min threshold session. My original MP target was 4:25-4:30, but in all runs so far I've gone faster, just cruising 12km MP segments at 4:10-4:20 and feeling absolutely fine,

I've picked up a small hamstring strain, and am cooling off this week hoping it'll get better soon. This was my fault, as I've run 30km+ long runs three weeks in a row, with these long MP segments in them (4:10-4:20 ish).

My fitness is good, my volume has been consistent, and my main focus is to sharpen up and be FIT (emphasis there) by race day. Just wondering, what do you guys think my MP target should be? I'd love to run a sub 3:15, and eventually a sub 3 next year.

Cheers!
Edit: My pics didn't get posted, so here they are. Apologies for their size

Doing the novice 2 program and literally just started this week. The program has runs three days in a row (T,W,Th), long run Saturday, cross training Sunday. Has anyone played around with how the weekday runs are spaced out? I went ahead and did the first two runs of the week yesterday and Monday, but today and tomorrow (Thursday) are just too busy. So my plan is to do the third weekday run on Friday and then long run Sunday. Thoughts? Does this plan need to be spaced out the way it’s scheduled?

I've found a local 3 mile loop to train on, have the Philly marathon in 4 months. Wanted to know if this elevation change is good for training?

Edit: the measurement is in feet

My current plan is for an international marathon in October, but my plans might be changing. Do not want my training to go to waste. Still have plans for travel in October, which will eliminate the possibility to train for a November marathon. Or hold off for December (Honolulu?) after a month off?

Based in SoCal and looking for a marathon in the second half of September (potentially first week of October) in the western half of the US (can be tempted elsewhere).

• Flat (yeah, I know, so does everyone else. I do my climbing with bikes, but aim low while running). Some hills are fine (my runs are rarely flat).
• No majors or anything that is very busy and already sold out
• Easy public transportation next to an airport. Might be traveling solo and do not want to rent a car for a distant marathon.
• No silly $200+ entry fee (unless it is truly awesome)

Have an eye for Florianópolis in Brazil (yes, not the US), but that trip would have to be solo and my partner will hate me! 😂

My training is going well despite the heat. Past two marathons were not under the best conditions, and was hoping this one would be better.

I’ve turned 50 this year and have set myself the goal of running a marathon in under 200 minutes—3:19:59 or faster.

With about 12 weeks to go until 18 October, it feels like a good time to find some other runners pursuing the same oddly specific goal.

That date includes the inaugural Nelson Mandela Marathon in Cape Town, as well as the Amsterdam, Toronto Waterfront, Yorkshire, Beijing, Detroit and Great Zimbabwe marathons—so there may be quite a few of us entering the final training block at the same time.

I’ve started a Strava club called Sub200@50 for runners who:

- turn 50 during 2026; and

- are aiming to run a marathon in under 200 minutes.

You definitely don’t need to have broken 200 minutes already. The idea is to share training, planned races, progress, setbacks and encouragement—not to create a hyper-competitive leaderboard.

Is anyone else chasing sub-200 at 50 this year? Which marathon are you targeting?

I’ll add the Strava club link in the comments if there’s interest.

Curious if anyone has used the Endorphins Training App for a marathon. How did it go? Did the plan work?
The mileage seems appropriate having looked at many other plans but I see it relies slightly more on cumulative load than a lot of 18-20 mile long runs. I like the interface and sync-ing to the watch. It also seems less aggressive than Runna which I abandoned last yr due to overtraining. But liking the UX isn’t sufficient — want to know the training plan works too!

Thanks for any feedback before I get too deep into this training block and it becomes too late to switch.

(I’m not sure why it’s flagging for spam when I try to post— genuinely trying to get people’s real reviews on a plan).

I wanted to start a 15-week Runna marathon training plan aiming for a sub-3h50 finish after my trail running season, but I realised I needed to recover first. So I’m going to follow a 12-week plan instead. I’m torn between Runna and Molly Seidel’s 12-week marathon plan built in Coros.

Andy advice?

The BAA just announced that they'll have an additional random selection component for 1,000 qualifiers who meet the standard.

What are your thoughts?

Running NYC and really overthinking it. Does this plan look ok?

I’m a pretty experienced runner I’ve done halves as recently as May coming off a nagging injury on my left side. I don’t want to hurt myself but also don’t want to under train. Idk a little stuck and would love a co-sign on this approach

I'm thinking about signing up for the Tucson Marathon which is exactly 4 weeks before I run the Disneyworld Marathon.

I plan to race the Tuscon Marathon, which is entirely a gentle downhill course, about 1.5% grade throughout. My goal pace is 3:45.

My goal for the Disneyworld marathon is to try to do all of the character meet and greets and finish. It'll basically entail running 0.5-2 mile segments, then waiting in line 2-5 minutes for a character photo op. The faster I run, better I can stay ahead of the slower runners/walkers to avoid progressively denser congestion and longer character lines. I'll ultimately need to stay ahead of the sweepers at a 16:00/mile.

My current mileage is 50 mpw. 17 mile long runs are comfortable and 22 mile long runs have been doable with effort.

I can't train on roads between the two marathons due to winter ice so I'm planning to do only treadmill recovery runs in between.

If I'm treating the second marathon as a fun run, would it be safe for me to race the first 4 weeks before for a PR?

Thank you!

Hi all, has anyone run this race before? Mid December, quite tempted as it seems a relatively flat course. Could keep me motivated through the autumn and help me be disciplined in the Christmas build up as well. 🫄

I've read mixed reviews online, mainly people are saying the course is boring but that doesn't bother me too much. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Hi everyone! I started my running journey about 2.5 years ago (25F) and have run a few 10ks, a 5k, and 2 half marathons since. Now, I am on my third week of marathon training and am signed up to run the Indianapolis marathon November 7.

I did quite a bit of research and compared plans to help me create one that I think will work for my body. My Tuesdays are interval runs with a warm up and cooldown, I just haven’t programmed all of those yet. I also plan on adding in some MP work on my long runs. I lift 4x per week but that’ll probably drop down a bit in Sept or Oct depending on how i feel.

Would love any feedback and advice!!

I'm looking at running my first marathon in Eugene April 25 2027.

I'm considering starting Running Explained's Aerobic Base plan that build you from five miles a week to 20 miles a week over the course of 16 weeks.

I would then follow it up with Running Explained's Finish Strong Level 1 marathon plan.

Any thoughts on this approach? I had planned on using Hal Higdon but most of the running podcasts Iv listened to advise newer runners against plans that have 20 mile long runs.

Hi,

Im currently training for my first marathon, ive been doing a solid 60km+/weekly for almost 6 months now, and the last 4 weeks were all 70km+

Last week my wife and i felt like we needed a holiday, so last friday we went on a 7 day holiday.

That meant that last week i ran 37k while my plan was to do 78k.

This week i ran two high intensity short runs, its 30 degree celcius here with alot of hills, when im home ill do a 14k easy and a 28km long run, and that will bring my mileage to around 55km.

Im not sure what to do next week.

If i follow my plan, i should do 86km.

Im pretty sure my body will be ready to do that 86km, but my head says it might be to much of a jump considering last 2 weeks.

On the other hand im fully rested, well trained and highly motivated to push forward.

Any advice will be welcome🙏

And what is your time?

Mine is:

34km Total with

14km Easy

6km MP

2km Easy

6km MP

6km Easy

For a goal of 3:45 finish.

Does this seem reasonable or not aggressive enough?

hi! i'm a slow marathon runner, I ran Paris twice... It was awesome and terrible :)

> I've been thinking about quitting and self-doubt for marathon runners.

So, I went down a rabbit hole...

I read tons of old reddit posts. Mostly the ones about missing a week of training, coming back from a niggle, or the "am I too slow to even attempt this" spiral. I expected the anxiety to be about the training itself. It mostly wasn't.

The thing that came up over and over wasn't "what workout should I do." It was some version of did I already ruin this, and can I still finish.

People seemed to have the plan handled. Strava, PDF training plan or other apps...

What they didn't have was any way to tell whether they were still okay?

Few patterns I noticed:

• Missing a single week felt WAY worse than it actually was. A lot of "I've blown the whole block" over what was (objectively) a minor gap.
• Almost nobody worried about pace for its own sake. It was always pace as evidence of whether they belonged out there at all. In other words, "can I DO it?"
• The fear peaked at weird times. Not the hardest weeks: taper, and race week, when fitness is highest BUT there's suddenly nothing to do but think.

What I'm actually curious about, and that's why I'm posting:

When you hit one of those low patches, like a missed week, a bad long run, the taper anxiety... where did that go?

did you tell someone, write it somewhere, post here, or just sit with it alone until it passed?

I ask because it seems like there's a whole emotional side of training that every tracking app ignores completely, and I'm trying to understand whether people handle it some way I'm not seeing, or whether it just goes… nowhere.

really want to hear about that.. including if you think the premise is wrong and the anxiety stuff is overblown? we're all different :)

Thanks!

I am a returning marathoner. About 3 road and multiple trail maras/50Ks under my belt with a PB of about 3h57 (set during the 50K trail ultra). However, I had a major injury (broken leg, metalwork inserted) a couple of years ago and Loch Ness marathon at the end of September will be my first big event back.

I'm using a Garmin coach adaptive plan for the first time and I'm struggling a bit. I’m 15 weeks into a 25-week plan, I’m completing all set runs around the set pace (I live in a hilly area so base runs are sometimes a bit slower to keep in Zone 2) but I'm still averaging under 30 miles a week.

I’d be happy just to get round in my predicted time of 4h20, but I’m nervous that I'm not even getting enough miles in to finish comfortably. As I said, I’m new to adaptive plans and I’ve definitely made some mistakes. For the first 10 weeks I kept up 5*runs plus 3*medium-heavy gym sessions, with the mindset that I’d cut back the gym when the running got harder. Similarly, my old mantra was always ‘time on feet’ so I’d run and then make an effort to get out and about later in the day. I realise now that while I was expecting to cut back other things as the running got harder, Garmin has been cutting back the running to accommodate my other activities. I’m now down to two easy gym sessions a week and more focused recovery.

‘Out of my hands’ issues are that it’s been hot (so heart rate has been up even at easy effort’ and my first week of the build phase I had a small bug so missed some runs and had an even higher heart rate.

I’m now in the build phase, but with the adaptive plans you only see a week in advance, and runs can change up until their scheduled day, so I can’t see what Garmin has planned for me in terms of peak week/longest long run. Do I stick with the adaptive plan, or make the leap to a tried-and-true Hal Higdon before it’s too late? I feel like I have the capacity to run more than is being asked of me, and I have a really solid S&C base, but I'm also now nervous I've left it too late for a proper build.

Hi everyone,

I'll be racing Sydney Marathon in less than 6 weeks and I'm aiming for an ambitious goal of sub-3.

Last Sunday I raced Run Melbourne Half Marathon and came away with a new PB of 1:24:21 on what I'd consider a fairly hilly course. I felt strong throughout and finished feeling like I still had more to give.

Training has gone well overall. I've been averaging around 100 km per week and have stayed pretty consistent throughout the block. Some of my key sessions have included 35 km long runs with 12–16 km at marathon pace towards the end, where my average HR sat in the mid-160s despite the accumulated fatigue.

For a bit of context, I've had previous marathon disappointments where things didn't quite come together on race day, so I'm trying to gauge whether this training block is pointing towards a realistic shot at sub-3.

My questions are:

• Based on these numbers, does sub-3 look achievable?
• What key sessions would you want to see in the final 5–6 weeks to build confidence?
• Are there any indicators you'd look for that suggest marathon fitness is there beyond a half marathon PB?

Appreciate any thoughts or experiences from those who've made a similar jump.

I am training for the Melbourne Marathon and trying to work out how to approach marathon pace during the build.

Current stats:
5’11”, 84 kg. Dropped from around 100 kg since Christmas.
35 Male
5 km PB: 19:57, run last week during a 75 km week.
10 km: 42:59, although I ran it with a head cold two weeks ago.

Current long runs are up to 28 km. I ran a half marathon within one of these at 1:51.

Half marathon next week. I am not planning to race it, but I would expect to run under 1:40. The plan is to hold around 4:45/km for 14 km and then push the final few kilometres.

Long runs in Zone 2 are currently around 140 bpm at approximately 5:40/km.

Weekly threshold work, currently 3 × 12 minutes, progressing towards a continuous 40-minute threshold effort. Working HR is roughly 160 to 170 bpm.

VO2 max session every 10 to 14 days.
I also cycle for cross-training and have recently added gym work.
I expect to exceed 100 km per week twice during the marathon build.

I am starting to introduce marathon-pace work into some of my long runs soon.

My main question is how people would approach determining marathon pace from here. I am trying to find the balance between not overcooking the training and not being overly conservative.
At this stage, I am thinking somewhere around 4:35 to 4:45/km, but I am not sure whether that is too aggressive or too conservative based on the current numbers.

Does marathon pace tend to reveal itself naturally later in the training block, particularly once you have completed some longer marathon-pace efforts? Or is there a good way to establish a realistic target earlier?

Any advice from people with similar 5 km, 10 km and half marathon performances would be appreciated.