
Is it too late to train for my spring marathon?

I’m writing this at the end of January, with many spring marathons now only 12-14 weeks away.
If you have signed up to a spring marathon but your training hasn’t started, or hasn’t gone to plan, you may be wondering, is it too late to train for a marathon?
Well, the good news is although it’s not ideal, it’s not too late. As long as you start now you still have time to build up your endurance, get race day ready, and make it to that finish line feeling proud.
Forget the “should haves” and start fresh
The first thing you have to do is forget about what you should have done. Yes, we all know that training for a marathon takes longer than 12 weeks, and ideally you should have started at least a month ago. But you are where you are. You missed training, maybe you were ill, or maybe life just got in the way. Whatever the reason, don’t dwell on it. Stop wondering if it is too late to start training for your marathon, and just get going.
Be consistent
Now you have committed to starting your training you must now be consistent. With a shorter training plan, every run counts. So start planning your runs now. Add the runs to your diary, tell people the days you are running, what ever will keep you motivated and accountable.
You want to make sure nothing gets in the way of your runs from hereon in.
Focus on the key sessions
You don’t need to run every day, and you really don’t need to “catch up” on any missed runs. All you need to do is be consistent and get in your key sessions. If you’re asking yourself if it’s too late to train for a marathon, focusing on key sessions will help.
- The long run. Start at a distance you feel comfortable at and build from there. Remember the 10% rule to reduce the risk of injury – only increase your run by 10% each week.
- Easy recovery runs. These are all about time on your feet and building your aerobic base. With a shorter training window for your marathon, the easy runs become more important than the speedier ones. Especially if this is your first marathon or you haven’t run the distance for a while.
- Strength workouts. This is all about injury prevention. You don’t need to do long sessions at the gym, a short 15 minute home workout once a week is a good start. And if you want some guidance do check out my Fast Track to Easy Running strength programme for runners.
- Recovery. Rest and recovery is a vital part of marathon training. It’s when your body adapts to the training and the muscles can repair and build. So don’t skip this part. Take rest days.
Adjust your expectations
If your training hasn’t been ideal, if you are starting your marathon training later than you wanted, then it might be time to adjust your marathon goals. That might mean rather than aiming for a time, you focus on finishing strong. Or it might mean changing your race day plans to include a run/walk strategy to make sure you cross the finish line injury free.
Don’t go it alone
Training for a marathon can be tough, and motivation can dip at times even when your training has been perfect. So don’t go it alone. Find a running group to run some of your runs with. Or ask a friend to join you for part of your runs. Tell people you are running to give you some motivation. Or get coaching support to help guide you through these final weeks. Having support will be crucial if you are doubting and wondering, is it too late to train for a marathon?
I hope these tips have given you the motivation you need to get started. Just remember – act now, don’t leave it any longer.
And if you want help as you start training, then get in touch. I’d love to coach you through these weeks of marathon training and get you to that start line feeling strong and confident.
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