PACEPLOTTER

Preparing a marathon

marathon plan for 4:00:00

Running 4:00:00 over the marathon means holding 5:40/km from start to finish. It's a regular runner's goal: this plan structures 4 weekly sessions around threshold and interval work.

What this time implies

Equivalent times (Riegel formula); if your current times are far off, pick an intermediate goal:

  • 5k 25:01
  • 10k 52:10
  • Half marathon 1:55:07

The plan, week by week

Complete 14-week example, calibrated for a 4:00:00 goal (4 sessions/week). For a plan at YOUR paces aligned with YOUR race date: Personalize this plan

Training paces for this plan

01 Base 38 km
  • Tuesday 8 × 400 m at 5K pace (5:00/km), 1:15 jog recovery, 15 min warm-up and cool-down
  • Wednesday Easy run 8 km (6:45/km)
  • Thursday 2 × 8 min at threshold (5:25/km), 3 min recovery, 15 min warm-up and cool-down
  • Sunday Long run 14 km (6:45/km)
02 Base 42 km
  • Tuesday 10 × 400 m at 5K pace (5:00/km), 1:15 jog recovery, 15 min warm-up and cool-down
  • Wednesday Easy run 8 km (6:45/km)
  • Thursday 20 min at threshold (5:25/km), 15 min warm-up and cool-down
  • Sunday Long run 16 km (6:45/km)
03 Base 42 km
  • Tuesday 6 × 600 m at 5K pace (5:00/km), 1:30 jog recovery, 15 min warm-up and cool-down
  • Wednesday Easy run 8 km (6:45/km)
  • Thursday 2 × 10 min at threshold (5:25/km), 3 min recovery, 15 min warm-up and cool-down
  • Sunday Long run 17 km (6:45/km)
04 Base · recovery 36 km
  • Tuesday 8 × 400 m at 5K pace (5:00/km), 1:15 jog recovery, 15 min warm-up and cool-down
  • Wednesday Easy run 6 km (6:45/km)
  • Thursday 2 × 8 min at threshold (5:25/km), 3 min recovery, 15 min warm-up and cool-down
  • Sunday Long run 14 km (6:45/km)
05 Build 48 km
  • Tuesday 6 × 800 m at 5K pace (5:00/km), 1:45 jog recovery, 15 min warm-up and cool-down
  • Wednesday Easy run 8 km (6:45/km)
  • Thursday 2 × 15 min at threshold (5:25/km), 3 min recovery, 15 min warm-up and cool-down
  • Sunday Long run 20 km with 4 km at marathon pace (5:40/km)
06 Build 48 km
  • Tuesday 5 × 1000 m at 5K pace (5:00/km), 2:00 jog recovery, 15 min warm-up and cool-down
  • Wednesday Easy run 8 km (6:45/km)
  • Thursday 2 × 12 min at threshold (5:25/km), 3 min recovery, 15 min warm-up and cool-down
  • Sunday Long run 22 km with 6 km at marathon pace (5:40/km)
07 Build 51 km
  • Tuesday 8 × 600 m at 5K pace (5:00/km), 1:30 jog recovery, 15 min warm-up and cool-down
  • Wednesday Easy run 8 km (6:45/km)
  • Thursday 25 min at threshold (5:25/km), 15 min warm-up and cool-down
  • Sunday Long run 24 km with 8 km at marathon pace (5:40/km)
08 Build · recovery 46 km
  • Tuesday 6 × 1000 m at 5K pace (5:00/km), 2:00 jog recovery, 15 min warm-up and cool-down
  • Wednesday Easy run 6 km (6:45/km)
  • Thursday 3 × 10 min at threshold (5:25/km), 3 min recovery, 15 min warm-up and cool-down
  • Sunday Long run 19 km (6:45/km)
09 Build 54 km
  • Tuesday 6 × 800 m at 5K pace (5:00/km), 1:45 jog recovery, 15 min warm-up and cool-down
  • Wednesday Easy run 8 km (6:45/km)
  • Thursday 30 min at threshold (5:25/km), 15 min warm-up and cool-down
  • Sunday Long run 27 km with 10 km at marathon pace (5:40/km)
10 Build 56 km
  • Tuesday 5 × 1000 m at 5K pace (5:00/km), 2:00 jog recovery, 15 min warm-up and cool-down
  • Wednesday Easy run 8 km (6:45/km)
  • Thursday 2 × 15 min at threshold (5:25/km), 3 min recovery, 15 min warm-up and cool-down
  • Sunday Long run 28 km with 4 km at marathon pace (5:40/km)
11 Build 57 km
  • Tuesday 8 × 600 m at 5K pace (5:00/km), 1:30 jog recovery, 15 min warm-up and cool-down
  • Wednesday Easy run 8 km (6:45/km)
  • Thursday 2 × 12 min at threshold (5:25/km), 3 min recovery, 15 min warm-up and cool-down
  • Sunday Long run 30 km with 6 km at marathon pace (5:40/km)
12 Taper 39 km
  • Tuesday 4 × 400 m at 5K pace (5:00/km), 1:15 jog recovery, 15 min warm-up and cool-down
  • Wednesday Easy run 8 km (6:45/km)
  • Thursday 15 min at threshold (5:25/km), 15 min warm-up and cool-down
  • Sunday Long run 18 km (6:45/km)
13 Taper 36 km
  • Tuesday 6 × 400 m at 5K pace (5:00/km), 1:15 jog recovery, 15 min warm-up and cool-down
  • Wednesday Easy run 8 km (6:45/km)
  • Thursday 15 min at threshold (5:25/km), 15 min warm-up and cool-down
  • Sunday Long run 14 km (6:45/km)
14 Taper 52 km
  • Tuesday 4 × 300 m at 5K pace (5:00/km), 1:15 jog recovery, 15 min warm-up and cool-down
  • Friday Easy run 4 km (6:45/km)
  • Sunday RACE DAY: 42.2 km. Enjoy it!

This plan is generated by a published method from the information you provided. It is not medical advice: see a doctor before (re)starting running, listen to your body, and skip a session if something hurts.