Most marathon training programs run 12 to 16 weeks. If you are going from zero fitness straight into marathon training (which I do not recommend) or aiming for a Boston Marathon qualifying time (which I do recommend), choose the full 16 weeks. Use the four weeks before training officially starts to build your base by running three to five days per week and gradually increasing your mileage.
This early preparation pays off. You will thank yourself when you are squeezing in a run before morning calls or after evening board presentations. Think of it like doing the research before a major client meeting. The heavy lifting comes later, but the prep work makes it far smoother.
The goal for our series is flexibility. You can adjust mileage, workouts, and frequency to fit your calendar. When I am training for a personal best, I might run seven days a week, peaking at 80 to 90 miles. For my first marathon, I topped out at 40 miles a week. Both approaches work. I believe peaking at about 40 miles per week is the minimum to run a strong race. That usually means one speed‑focused workout and one long run each week with easy runs sprinkled in.
For this series, we will use a 12‑week plan. You decide the mileage and pace that match your work and life.
How This Works
Sundays
You will receive a weekly running plan with mileage targets, workout ideas, and suggestions for managing business travel, client dinners, and late‑night deadlines.
Thursdays
You will receive a deeper look at a relevant training topic that connects to the stage of training you are in. The advice will be practical enough to apply immediately and concise enough to read between meetings.
Training While Working
If you are in a demanding job, your calendar will be as much of a challenge as your mileage. Some mornings, the greatest victory is getting your run in before your first meeting. Other days, you may end a long day with a tempo run because it is the only available window.
I have done intervals at 5 a.m. in 10‑degree weather so I could make an 8 a.m. client breakfast. I have changed into running shoes in an office bathroom to squeeze in a quick run before a dinner meeting. I have flown into a city, dropped my bag at the hotel, and immediately headed out for a run before diving into calls.
It is all part of the process.
Final Thought
Race day is the celebration. It is the parade honoring months of hard work. The daily grind receives no applause. It can be lonely, exhausting, and tempting to skip. But there is no growth without challenge. Whatever motivated you to sign up for a marathon, you will find it and most likely more in your daily runs.
The marathon is one of the rare sporting events where everyone competes on the same course, on the same day, at the same time as the professionals. It’s also a rare sport where anyone who finishes earns a medal. And deservingly so. Simply put, there are no losers in marathon running. That can’t be said in most other competitions.
Enjoy the journey. If you can survive peak training while closing a deal, presenting to a client, or preparing for quarterly earnings, the finish line will feel like the easiest part.