Phases

A marathon season has a shape. Base, build, peak, taper, race week, transition. Knowing where you are tells you what work earns its place and what doesn't.

Base, build, peak, taper, race week, and the transition back. How a marathon season is shaped from first run to finish line.

Race Week: The Final Countdown

Race week is about arriving at the start line sharp, confident, and ready to execute. No fitness gains — only sharpness, rest, and logistics.

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Base Phase: Building the Aerobic Foundation for Marathon Success

Master the base-building phase through aerobic development, durability training, high-frequency low-intensity running, and technique drills that create the foundation for marathon performance.

15 min read
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Build Phase: Adding Intensity and Marathon-Specific Fitness

Develop marathon-specific fitness through tempo runs, threshold work, race-specific strength training, and progressive volume increases while maintaining the aerobic base built in the foundation phase.

16 min read
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Peak Phase: Maximum Load and Race-Specific Sharpening

Execute the highest-volume, most race-specific training through marathon-pace workouts, sharpening efforts, simulation runs, and fine-tuned nutrition strategies in the final preparation before taper.

17 min read
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Taper Phase: Reducing Fatigue, Maintaining Fitness, and Arriving Fresh

Master the art of tapering to reduce accumulated fatigue while maintaining fitness, optimize psychological readiness, and execute final nutrition strategies for peak race-day performance.

16 min read
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Transition Phase: Post-Race Recovery and Preparing for the Next Cycle

Navigate the critical post-marathon recovery period through strategic rest, active recovery, movement pattern restoration, and thoughtful planning for your next training cycle.

14 min read
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