Welcome to weeks 1-4 of our FIRST MARATHON programme!

This programme is designed for people who have been running 2-3 times a week for at least 3-4 months. As well as running schedules, the programme includes strength training sessions to improve tissue tolerance, running speed and form.

 

BEFORE YOU START

Running is a repetitive, high impact physical activity, and training for long distances requires excellent cardiovascular and musculoskeletal fitness, so it’s important to evaluate this before you start. This will lower your risk of injury and give you the confidence to take on our FIRST MARATHON programme.

Follow this simple test for your muscles and joints:

  • Jump from one leg to the other for 1 min
  • Repeat 3 times with a 1 min rest in between
  • Perform a single leg jump on the spot for 1 min. Switch sides
  • Repeat 3 times on both legs

If you completed these tasks without any joint pain, you’re ready for the programme.

To ensure you can complete the programme without getting injured, it is important to follow the steps set out for you. The programme is designed with walk/run intervals and plenty of rest days – so don’t be tempted to run more “because you feel like you can” or miss out on your rest days. 

ACTIVATION & STRETCHING
Preparing your muscles and cardiovascular system before a run minimises injury and improves your performance, so don’t forget to warm up by activating and stretching your muscles. This is especially important if you spend many hours sitting down, because key running muscles get shortened in that position. Try to set aside 5-10 minutes for your warm up – Here is a great routine to get you ready for your run.

It is also very important to cool down and stretch after your run. This will allow your heart rate to fall gradually and restore the range of movement in those muscles that were heavily used. Finish every running session with an easy 5-10 mins walk and stretching. Here are our top five post run stretches.

TERMINOLOGY

If any of the words or phrases used in the programme aren’t familiar to you, just go to our terminology page where they will all be explained. 

TYPES OF RUN

The programme references 5 different types of runs: EASY, TEMPO, HARD, FLAT-OUT and HILL. Here is a quick explanation of what each type means, with some hill running tips.

EASY: This pace uses aerobic effort, and you should be able to maintain a conversation without losing your breath. Running at this pace allows you to run for a long time, improves your fat-burning enzymes, and minimises stress on the body. It is used for long and recovery runs.

TEMPO: This pace uses moderately challenging effort and hovers around the lactate threshold. Energy consumption shifts from fat to using more glycogen. It is slightly above your comfort zone and talking is more difficult. This pace is used during long interval runs to raise the threshold, and help you run faster at easier efforts.

HARD: This pace sits between tempo and flat-out. It is well above your comfort zone, but not a full sprint. This pace is used during medium-length interval runs.

FLAT-OUT: This pace is very challenging and well outside your comfort zone. It is used for sprints, short intervals and hill repeats. Training at this pace will improve fitness and speed and boost your metabolism for hours post-workout. You should not be able to talk during these runs be able to talk during these runs.

HILL

Hill training is brilliant for improving your running fitness but it’s important to do it right. Here are a few tips to help.

Hill training is brilliant for improving your running fitness but it’s important to do it right. Here are a few tips to help.
  • Don’t start hill training until you have 6-8 weeks of base running experience – at least 3 days per week and a distance average of 25k per week.
  • Find a hill that is 100-200 metres long. You want the incline to be enough to test you, but not so tough that you won’t be able to maintain good running form.
  • Don’t look down at your feet, or up to the top of the hill – especially if it’s very long or steep. Focus on the ground about 5 metres ahead of you. This will help your form and keep you mentally focused.
  • Start running up the hill at a flat-out pace. Push yourself, but don’t lose your form too significantly. Try to keep a consistent effort up the hill.
  • Keep your elbows at a 90o angle and move your arms forward and back (rotating at the shoulder) not side to side. Drive your arms back to help power you up the hill.
  • Keep your back straight and upright. You can lean in very slightly from the hips, but don’t hunch over.
  • When you reach the top of the hill, you should be out of breath and your legs feel heavy. Turn around and recover by easy jogging or walking down the hill.

Don’t worry if there are no hills near you, use the same times but sprint on the flat surface.

WEEK ONE

60 min walk

30 min easy run STRENGTH SESSION

5-10 min warm-up
5 min
fast walk
20 x 1 min run/ 2 min walk
REST DAY
5-10 min warm up
10 x 1 min run/ 1 min walk
10 min
easy run
REST DAY
5-10 min warm-up
20 min
easy run
20 x 2 min run/ 2 min walk

WEEK TWO

60 min walk

30 min easy run STRENGTH SESSION

45 min walk
30 min
easy run
5-10 min warm-up
10 min
easy run
10 x 1 min run/ 2 min walk
10 min
easy run

REST DAY

or spin

5-10 min warm up
5 min
fast walk
5K TEST RUN

WEEK THREE

45 min walk

30 min easy run STRENGTH SESSION

REST DAY
or spin
5-10 min warm-up
5 min fast walk
10 min easy run
10 min tempo run 10 min easy run
REST DAY
or spin
REST DAY
5-10 min warm-up
10 min easy run
6 x 1 min hard run/ 2 min easy run
12 min easy run
5-10 min warm up
40 min
easy run

WEEK FOUR

30 min easy run

STRENGTH SESSION
(VIDEO 4 x 800m tempo run

5-10 min warm-up
5 min fast walk
10 min easy run
15 min tempo run 10 min
easy run

REST DAY
or spin

5-10 min warm-up
10 min easy run
4 x 2 min hard run/ 3 min easy run
10 min easy run
30 min
easy run
5-10 min warm-up
5 min fast walk
10 min easy run
5K TEST RUN