Smarter Marathon Training

AI coaching that balances running, strength, and recovery — whether you're chasing your first finish or a faster time.

Build Your Marathon Plan
From $12.99/monthAvailable on iOSNo watch needed
1stMarathon app showing adaptive training plan

A week with 1stMarathon

Running, strength & mobility all adapting to your life

Monday
Threshold Run

Monday

Clear effort zones and distance targets. No guessing — just follow the plan and nail your training.

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Marathon training is brutally hard

And that's before you factor in the rest of your life. Jobs, families, responsibilities — they don't pause for your training plan.

1 million+

steps during a training season

Every single one stresses your body

100+ million

kilos of force on your joints

2-3× your body weight, per step

50%

of first-timers get injured

That’s why preparation matters

200+

muscles used in every stride

Strength training targets the ones that fail first

15+

common running injuries

Most caused by training mistakes

300+

training sessions in a typical season

Running, strength, mobility, drills — all need to fit together

You don't need to figure this all out alone

A coach that guides your entire season — from first easy run to race day.

Your journey, mapped out

Start whenever you’re ready — even without a race on the calendar. We build your aerobic base first, then progressively sharpen towards race day. Every run, strength session, and recovery day is periodized across your entire season.

Your journey, mapped out

Coach’s notes at every turn

Personalized notes at key moments in your season explain what’s happening and why. Phase transitions, recovery weeks, taper adjustments — your coach keeps you informed so nothing feels random.

Coach’s notes at every turn

Ask anything, anytime

Wondering why your easy pace changed? Dealing with a niggle? Just ask. Get answers tailored to your history, your phase, and where you are in your journey.

Ask anything, anytime
Your GoalStep 1 of 3

Have you signed up for a marathon yet?

Either way works — we'll build a plan that fits.

3 steps · ~5 minutes to Build Your Personalized Marathon System

Real Journey, Real Training

I'm Proving This Works on My First Marathon

Nico, Founder of 1st Marathon

Nico

Founder, 1st Marathon

Ironman 70.3 FinisherFirst Marathon: May 2026

I used to train - a lot. Then life happened, I started a family and the training mostly stopped. But my dream of finishing a marathon stayed alive.

Now it's time. But I know myself. I tend to overtrain and do workouts that are fun rather than what actually supports marathon performance. I needed something to keep me balanced and accountable.

So I built an AI coach that actually adapts to real life. One that handles the planning so I can focus on showing up.

Now I'm proving it works by using it myself.

Training Progress

Start

Oct 5, 2025

Race Day

May 16, 2026

Week 22 of 32

71% complete

On October 5, 2025, I started training for my first marathon. Fully documented. Same AI coach you'll use.

Weekly Training Updates

View all

Questions & Answers

If You're Wondering…

Do I really need a coach? Can't I just follow a plan?

A static plan can't adapt when life happens. When you miss a workout, get sick, or have a busy week, a fixed plan just keeps marching forward—leaving you to guess how to catch up (which often leads to overtraining or injury). An adaptive coach recalibrates in real-time, keeping you on track without the guesswork.

What happens if I get sick or injured during training?

Just report it in the app. If you're sick, your plan immediately adjusts—reducing intensity and volume while you recover, then gradually building back up. If you feel pain or a tweak, the system modifies workouts to protect that area while keeping you moving. No guessing, no panic.

Do I really need strength and mobility work?

50% of first-time marathoners get injured before race day. Most running injuries don't come from running itself—they come from weak glutes, tight hip flexors, poor mobility, and muscular imbalances. By integrating strength and mobility from day one, you build the resilience that keeps you running.

Is the app available on Android?

Not yet—we're iOS only for now. We're focused on making the iOS experience great first before considering other platforms.

Do I need a smartwatch or heart rate monitor?

No. The training plans are built around perceived effort and your feedback, so no extra gear is required to get started.

How far out from my marathon should I start?

We require a minimum of 14 weeks for experienced runners, and longer for beginners. We won't create a plan that's unrealistic or sets you up for injury. If you don't have a race yet, you can start with our base building plan and enroll in a race when you're ready.

What if I'm a complete beginner who's never run before?

We support runners planning their first marathon. If you don't have a race date yet, you can start with our base building plan to develop your fitness, then enroll in a race when you're ready. We create training seasons up to 52 weeks—plenty of time to take a complete beginner to the finish line.

Is the founder a beginner too?

Yes! I'm training for my first marathon right now using the same AI coach you'll use. I've done endurance events before (Ironman 70.3, trail runs), but never a full marathon. Building this while training for it means I'm constantly finding and fixing what doesn't work in real life.

Train Like The Pros

Become a CompleteMarathon Athlete

Elite marathoners don't just run — they train all the systems that make running possible. We bring that same approach to every runner chasing 26.2.

Personalized AI training plans
Weekly adaptive regeneration
Running, strength & recovery
Save 30% with season pass

Monthly

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$12.99/month
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Season Pass

One-time payment

$9.09/month

Billed once for your training season

Example totals

4 months$36.37
5 months$45.47
6 months$54.56
Get Season Pass

Available on iOS · Download from the App Store

Open Source

Here's the research your coach is built on

You can access everything for free, but you don't need to. Focus on running and let our AI coach you with the same knowledge.

We believe knowledge belongs to everyone. We welcome contributions from coaches, exercise scientists, and experienced runners.

40+

Research-Backed Articles

Running Workouts & Training Plans
Training Fundamentals & Phases
Injury Prevention & Recovery
Common Mistakes to Avoid
100% Free & Open