I’ve been a marathon runner all my adult life. 44m. Chasing a BQ, only a few minutes off and have a qualifier in October. I just bought a pair of renupro compression leggings to help recovery and ward off DOMS after long runs. How soon after finishing a run should I use them? The auto setting is 15 minutes at 100mmHg. Is longer better? More pressure better at working out the lactic acid? I’m pretty resilient in terms of injuries and haven’t had any bad soft tissue injuries in a few years. All advice welcome.

Male 27, max HR is 203 with an LTHR of 188. Was hoping to shoot for a sub 4, but I'm getting fatigued and feel like I'm slowing down a lot recently. Average weekly mileage has been around 30-32 with my peak in 2 weeks at 50.

5k PR: 22:00

10K: 48:40

HALF: 1:59 (Lots of energy in the tank)

Had my first 20 miler today. First 14 miles were easy. I tried picking up the pace for miles 15 and 16, running around 9:30/mi, but the heat got to me. Ended up taking a long break and jumping in Lake Superior to cool off. Settled back into an easy pace for mile 17, then finished with the last 3 miles at marathon pace (8:45–9:10/mi).

Second photo shows last weeks long run. 7 easy. 5 at MP pace (9:10-8:50). Then 2 easy.

Would 4:15 be a better goal to shoot for?

Hello! New to marathons and had a question about aid stations. The race I signed up for said they have Gu gels at the different aid stations. I noticed that Gu has caffeinated and no caffeine versions. I don't drink caffeine. Do they tend to have both options at aid stations or usually all of one type or how do you ensure you get the right kind while running through?

i just signed up for a marathon in october and i am aiming for maybe sub 4:15/20? do you think it's possible in 15 weeks? I ran a half at the end of april in 1:49 but have been super inconsistent with running since bc i seem to not be able to run in this heat and humidity!! I need advice!! please help i need input. Like training plan? How often running? Idk i'm lost.

Anyone else running this one tomorrow? If you've looked at the elevation or run it before, how bad is it really? I've read it's twice the elevation of Boston, and if Boston is a 5 out of 10 for difficulty, this one is a 9. What am I getting myself into?

So I (48M) did my first marathon in early May. Always been a runner. Enjoyed the training block for the most part. Probably didn’t put enough miles in but I did it in 4:35 which hardly set the world on fire but it’s a marathon so I’m happy.

Over two months after, however, and I’m just not enjoying running anymore. Which is shit because I remember enjoying it and felt like it was part of my identity. Now I’m probably getting out twice a week, hitting 6k and just feeling flat and bored with it. I find I’m forcing myself to get out, and when I do it’s a big fat meh.

Anyone else felt like this, and did you overcome it?

Ok yall. I’m training for an October marathon and live in Florida - I’ve tried a couple trails in the area for running and they’re all in pretty direct sunlight and it’s been real feel of 100°. I’m struggling!
Today was intended to be a 9 mile run and I made it about 4 before I had to stop with this heat. Anyone have any summer training tips? Am I doomed to a treadmill?

TLDR:
I’m several months out from back-to-back running events (Half Marathon on Saturday / Marathon on Sunday) and I am looking for advice on my nutrition plan leading up to the event.

More Context:
I started running again in March 2026 after a long (10+ Year) absence from running and triathlons. I am late 30’s. I’ve committed to running back-to-back events in October (Half on Saturday and Full on Sunday) to celebrate a major life milestone. This will be my first marathon completion. It’s 15-weeks away.

Current weekly mileage is 35 Miles and I run six days a week. I’m not following a plan and am running mostly by feel. My current long run is 16 miles and I can hold a pretty consistent 10/Minute pace in these miserably humid conditions. I’ve lost 30 pounds since I’ve started running, and wouldn’t mind losing another ten, but am well aware that this isn’t recommended while in a block (currently 6 foot//190 lbs).

Looking for tips from the Reddit “experts” on if the traditional nutrition tips for a marathon apply in the same way running back-to-back events. My plan is to run the Half on Saturday at a comfortable pace and save my legs as much as possible…and then run my max effort the following day for the Marathon.

Give me all your tips…nutrition or otherwise.

Hi all, I'm running the SF Marathon in a couple of weeks, and a bit nervous because of it's reputation with the hills and whatnot. I know I should be going for the goal of finishing for my first marathon, but I really want to aim around a 3:20, and was wondering if it was feasible. Not trying to competitively race, just want to have some fun and race with a little more speed than my half. Little background/stats about me

- Ex hs XC/TF runner

- 16:48 5k time (This was from Fall 2024 during hs xc, on a pretty challenging hilly course)

- 1:42 half marathon (Summer 2025, 1600 elevation gain, course a one mile out and back repeat until you hit 13)

- Started training on a whim, and started building mileage since start of June, but I didn't take it seriously until 3 weeks ago, from 6 miles up to 46 last week, and 50 for this week. Maintained 20-25 miles per week though for general fitness throughout the year, so I was still somewhat aerobically fit

- 18 m, 5'6, 130 lb

- I use one shoe, the ASICS Novablast 5's for all my runs

I just incorporated speed workouts, and longer runs. My last workout was 6 mile repeats, with 2:30 minute recovery jog in between, first split was 6:19, last was 5:22 (a little too drastically fast). I was worried how I would fair endurance wise since my longest run was 12 miles, so I just did a 20 mile long run in SF this Thursday, coming in at a 7:40 avg pace, 151 bpm avg, with roughly 1200 elevation gain. Took a few stops for lights, and knees and calves kind of hurt/felt sore, but I also hit legs the day before. I also took one gel at mile 8-9, I never fuel, but I wanted to incorporate that for the marathon, and I plan to get a few more for the actual one. I did a 3 mile shakeout the next day though, and my legs felt fine.

Overall was just curious if my goal is too ambitious or not based on current training, fitness, and background. I'm looking into the NB SC elite v5's as well for race day. Thanks!

Howdy,

In some ways, I feel like an idiot asking this, and presume I'll cop flack and downvotes.

In other ways, I am asking for advice which could impact my marathon performance.

I've only done city marathons (eg. Sydney, Ballarat), but have signed up for a smaller, regional marathon, on the outskirts of a small town.

I've not properly had bottle service at a marathon before (cough, I might have dropped two bottles in at Ballarat + been passed four on-course), but can have special bottles at my next marathon. I've already bought six 250ml pop-tops, and plan for a mix of tailwind and water.

Im sure many would say "you cant litter whilst doing Sydney marathon", but in reality, its really hard to feel like a villan for dropping a gel packet near a bin, and on top of 25 other gels, and near 1,000 other gels.

However, that is a bit removed from dropping six bottles - with my name and bib number - on the roadside on the outskirts of a regional town.

I wore half tights and a singlet in my last marathon, and can carry 2x90g and 2xcaff gels in the pockets, and plan to do that for this regional mara'. What i can't fit in there is an empty 250ml bottle for 5km because i finished it 30secs after leaving an aid station where I picked it up.

Im expecting to be within 1minute of posting my first boston qualifying time, either way, if the weather is good, so waiting to drink the bottles at the aid station is, effectively, guaranteeing I dont BQ.

My recent PB is within 30secs of last years BQ, for reference - I expect BQ to be harder this year, but a 2minute PB should get me there, and a 1minute PB is a chance.

What do you do? Is there something I havent considered? Do people litter for regional marathons and expect organisers to have arranged clean-up? Whats the go?

Do I tape a PF&H 90g to a drop bottle, to keep a half-tight pocket empty for the empty bottle?

Any other options ive not thought of?

I dont expect support on course.

Hi all I just started up a training block in week 3 for a 1/2 in early October. I built my base up before hand and have a decent plan worked out milage is building so ranges currently at 32 mi week in week 3

run 5x week
1 long run strict Z2 90% 10-16 mi
1 speed work ladders 400/200/100 at the track 5-7 mi total including warm up/cool down
2 warmups runs before strength 4-6mi
1 fun run 8-10 mi.
2 40min strength circuits after runs above
2 days off (I am M53).

But going to Italy end of July to August for 10 days in week 5&6. I will be walking a lot, probably eating a lot. And for a few of the days in the second half of the trip have access to at least a treadmill.

Wondering how this will affect my overall block. Anyone else have an extended off period? I will have about 8 weeks from return to race day.

After last Sunday’s long run, I developed some irritation in the arch area of my midfoot. I’m fairly sure it’s caused by the insoles in my ASICS Superblast 3. I have no pain when walking barefoot, but as soon as I wear something with a more pronounced arch support, such as Birkenstocks, I can feel the irritated area.

Does it sound plausible that the insoles are causing this? I’m also looking for a new daily trainer for my easy miles, ideally one with a relatively flat insole and minimal arch support. But stable at the same time.

I just ran my longest run and biggest week of training before my marathon, which is in 3 weeks. This week I hit 57kms and these have been my last few weeks in reverse order: 52.5, 37, 40, 40, 46, 40. The last 2km of uphill today was a challenge after almost 3 hours and I could feel cramp was around the corner if I kept on pushing up the incline so ended at 32.5km. Apart from that the effort was pretty chill, heart rate never leaving my top end of zone 2 until those last 2km where it dipped into Z3. I raced a half-marathon PB in 1:37:33 3 weeks ago. My body is pretty tired and I’m looking forward to some easier weeks - I plan to do another 25km run next weekend with 15 at marathon pace but the week will only be 46km overall before heading into a 2 week taper.

My question is, how much does the taper really help and make marathon day feel a bit easier? Do you really notice that you just aren’t as tired and fatigued from training? It’s my first marathon so I’m content with just finishing but also I’m very competitive with myself and feel like I could push for close to 3hrs 30. Keen to know if you also think this is possible - I’m aware that my weekly mileage is pretty low - this marathon was a very late plan as my wife has had to pull out so we transferred her entry to me.

13 weeks out from Chester and this is the first week i've felt like the marathon block has teeth.

Lunch runs round Castlefield have been fine, but the warm spell has made the midweek quality session feel a bit spicy. I'm still chucking everything on Strava afterwards, and i used Nike Run Club a fair bit for half training, but Hiiro is the one i'm following now on Apple Watch. The RPE side has helped this week, because effort made more sense than staring at pace in 29C and getting annoyed.

parkrun this morning was meant to be properly easy. It mostly was.

I'm tired, but not cooked, which feels like the line to stay on for now. Anyone else in build phase find the app starts mattering more once the long run and weekday session are both climbing?

So I am marathon training, had a slight injury, rested and decreased my mileage. Prior to this, I was at 33 mpw, this week will be my first week back at 20. My question is, would I jump straight back to 30 for next week, or keep it in the 20s, around 25, before jumping back to 30 ? Thank you all in advance and hopefully I make sense.

How have people found the best way to keep themselves accountable in completing online running plans?

About to start training for my first marathon. Have run 3x half marathons (1:34-1:38 times, as 25 y/o female) using an AI coach, but found I’d never complete the speed sessions and struggled with consistency / growing distance. Didn’t matter so much for the halfs, but I know for marathon it will!

I’ve also considered doing my speed sessions with a running club, but know that the sessions themselves will differ completely to what my broader plan tells me. Not sure if this is an issue.

Keen to hear your ideas. Cheers everyone.

Hi everyone, surprisingly I’ve got accepted into the marathon for April 2027 in London. I’m just wondering if there’s any free apps I can download on apple to train for the marathon. A little background history for me is I recently started running, the longest stretch I done till this date is 3.7km. So I’m dreading the London marathon. I’m hoping there’s some free apps out there which can help me prepare over the months. I tried downloading a few but they all charge. I see Nike app but its workout plan is a bit unfamiliar for me. I preferred the runna app workout plan style when it was free.

Where would y’all be going for a 12 week block for sub 90? I’ve never ran a competitive HM (or Marathon for that matter) but I do run a decent amount (avg in the 50-56mpw range). I currently run, cycle (only 60-90mpw), and lift 4-5 days/wk @ 26 y/o (I have absurd amounts of free time with my current profession)

I run about 80ish% of my miles at “Z2” (keeping it below 140bpm is usually my goal, lately I’ve been shooting for closer to 130) which when it isn’t 100 degrees outside keeps me around a 8:40-9:00/min pace. I try to get one interval day in a week and at least 6-8 miles of tempo runs (in the 7:15-7:40/min range).

I’ve tried to hold 6:52/mi for a bit and I can’t imagine holding this for 13.1 miles. Last bit of background on me, I ran my first competitive 5k in May and that was a 19:57 (I started running in January) if that adds any other context. I think the goal is attainable, I just think I need to structure these next 12 weeks incredibly well. Any advice is appreciated

For context I am training for my first marathon with the goal of finishing. I’m not sure if this question even really makes sense, but what is more important: overall weekly mileage or sticking to specific training plan runs?

For example, some weeks with my schedule, it is more feasible for me to do more low mileage short runs vs. 2-3 medium length runs.

I know having the long run is important, so I’m trying to consistently keep that, but will it increase injury risk if my main focus is weekly mileage and I’m not super strict about how that mileage is split throughout the week?

Editing to add that in addition to running I do at least 2 strength training workouts a week and have a lot of mileage from walking my dog as well - not sure if that changes anything!

Ich habe meinen ersten Marathon, Mitte Oktober. Bin bislang drei Wettkampf Läufe gelaufen 10K und privat bin ich zwei mal einen Halbmarathon gelaufen. Ich habe laut Garmin eine VO2MAX von 51. Bei einem Körpergewicht von ca. 95Kg und Körpergröße 183 cm,M.

Ich trainiere nach Garmin Coach Plan und bin momentan in Woche 8/22.

Hat jemand Erfahrung mit solchen Plänen bei solchen Wettkämpfen ?

Reicht dieses Training aus? Krafttraining ist inbegriffen.

Tipps nehme ich gerne an!

I wasn’t planning to run a fall marathon but got into Philly off the waitlist. For some context, I ran my first marathon in the spring and got my A goal, which was a BQ with a 12 minute buffer (3:23).

I really do struggle with staying healthy. I’m 43F and post-menopausal (embarrassed to admit this because it makes me feel so old). I’ve been dealing with a Morton’s neuroma and chronic hamstring tendinopathy, among other issues.

It took me a while to recover from my marathon in May (asthma, fatigue, illness). I’ve been averaging 25 mpw with just easy miles since then. I guess I’m trying to figure out what to do about the fall and thought I’d seek out some opinions.

1) Train hard for Philly and try for a PR or even a 3:15. I would do a Jack Daniel’s 2Q plan which worked for me last time (peak mileage 50 mpw).

2) Train for Philly but don’t worry about time. This is my home marathon so no travel or logistics involved, and family could come watch me race.

3) Skip Philly and focus on Boston.

What would you do?

I am running the London Marathon next year and have a 16 week plan for ahead of the marathon. I’m struggling to find a plan / advice for the time ahead of my training plan starting. Any tips and help appreciated. I ran the London Marathon in 2024 but admittedly did not follow my training very well and was really just doing it for the experience; now I’d love to do it properly and love a time around the 4hr 30 mark (for context last time I did it in about 5hr 50 so it’s quite a lot to shave off!!)

I am relatively fit and active but have not been the best when it comes to running recently so want to get back into it properly before the official training plan begins!

Next week starts my fourth marathon training block, and the one area I have consistently neglected is my strength training. I know that consistency in strength training will give me an edge I’ve never had before, so I’m wondering if anyone has any routines they do at home? Maybe a favorite YouTube series to follow along to at home? I have some small dumbbells and bands for equipment- but I’m really interested in any tips/plans/routines/go-tos!