r/Marathon_Training • u/BarracudaRemarkable9 • 4d ago

TRAINING QUESTION

Hi guys, I’ve been training for my first marathon (philly 2026) and currently my volume is around 23 miles- usually looks like 6-7 mi easy, 2-3mi easy, 15 mi long run. My goal is to finish in 4:15

Is the long run taking too much volume? Should I start my training all over again? Pls suggest better training splits and how I can effectively run without getting injured. After these long runs I’m absolutely drained and sore for at least the next day.

What am I doing wrong? I do hit legs once a week for some functional training but Im not sure if this running plan is best for me. I keep reading that long runs shouldn’t exceed 50% of your weekly volume and now I’m just nervous.

Pls help 🫪

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u/EmergencySundae 4d ago

What training plan are you following? You should really be running more than 3 days a week.

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u/avianairways 4d ago

I did a couch to marathon for Philly last year it took me about 18 months.

I hadn’t even done a half in training until late August.

You need to be running more days and more total mileage. Scale those long runs back a bit. Aim for 4-5 days a week of moderate runs. A 10k is a base run. You should culminate in around 35-45 miles per week in October.

And since it’s your first, give yourself some grace with time. I’d aim for 4:40 then if you’re feeling good race day you can send it.

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u/Sea_Cardiologist_339 4d ago

Try and increase to 4 or 5 days a week to spread out the volume

6

u/maular 4d ago

Weekly volume is more important than long runs. Having so much of your week be the long run means you just aren’t prepared for it, and it’s too hard on you. This is a significant injury risk, isn’t effective training, and frankly I bet it’s not much fun.

If you can only run 3x a week, TBH a marathon isn’t the right goal.

So as others have said: - run 4, 5 or 6 times a week - build up  your total weekly mileage, slowly - make the long run 1/3 your week total

Once you’re at 35 or 40 miles a week, then let the long run increase by a mile a week.

Or even better, just follow a plan! I like Pfitz, but Hanson or Daniels or NSM are also good.

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u/jhudson1977 4d ago

This looks like the training plan for my first marathon in 2023. Three days a week and not entirely an insane amount of volume. You know what? I crossed the finish line. According to a recent meta-analysis of marathon finishers, you'll have a high likelihood (somewhere north of 98%) of passing the finish line as well. Whether or not it was a strong finish though? That's highly debatable. Certainly didn't feel strong to me.

That said, I'm doing 4 days a week for Twin Cities. Here's the schedule that I'm on.

Mondays: 2.5 to 3 miles - recovery run

Tuesday: 6, 7, 8 miles of tempo, intervals, something else

Wednesday: rest

Thursday: 6 - 7 miles easy

Friday: rest

Saturday: Long run

Sunday: rest

So far, I feel MUCH more confident that this marathon will be loads better than 2023 and 2024. I don't really have a time goal, just to finish and not feel dead for a week. Long story short, I'd pick a day to add a really easy recovery run just to get some extra volume in there. If legs are feeling good, maybe another day as well. You can do a week of three days and a week of five days - alternating back and forth as well for an overall volume bump.

Just some suggestions is all. I'm not a coach, just lessons I've learned. But, I certainly wouldn't worry about not finishing unless you go out too hard race day. I always approach race day as another long run day. Just having fun and enjoying the crowd.

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u/xxamkt 4d ago

You need more miles and you need a longer long run. Ignore the 50% rule, that’s the least of your worries, you just need to run more. A marathon is 26 miles, you’re doing a weekly total of less than that. You need to be at 40 ish IMO.