Is 12 Weeks Enough To Train For A Marathon
In short - Yes, 12 weeks of training is enough to run a marathon.
Having a good running base is important and is recommended if you choose a 12 week marathon training plan. If you can run 10km without stopping, 12 weeks would give you enough time to prepare.
For runners who have started running recently and have not yet built up to that 10km non-stop run or have taken a nice break from running, a 16-20 week marathon training programme may be better and more enjoyable. Some runners even like 24 weeks to prepare for a marathon.
Training for a marathon in 12 weeks compared to training for a marathon in 16-20 weeks, means you have 4-8 less weeks to train. Therefore, you may need to be stricter on attending your training and completing the sessions. Whereas with a 16 - 20 week programme you can afford to miss a session here and there.
Running Coach/ Training Plan
If you are training for a marathon in 12 weeks, it is crucial to have a great coach and/or training plan. A good coach will have the knowledge and expertise to get you from where you are to where you want to be in time for your Marathon, in a safe way. A training plan will be created by experts, trialed and tested for your desired outcome. Having these resources available to you will enable you to just focus on the hard bit, actually running and not worry if you are doing the correct sessions and mileage to lead you to achieving your goals.
Weekly mileage increases gradually and your long runs will slowly get longer and longer week by week until a few weeks out when you will start decreasing your mileage to ensure your body is rested and ready for the 42.2km that lay ahead. Your coach/ training plan will have this all planned out for you.
Depending on your goal, the training will vary considerably. You would not be doing the same training as someone who wants to run their fastest marathon time if your goal is to complete the marathon distance. If this is your first marathon, you may not be ready to run your fastest marathon in just 12 weeks but you would be able to complete a marathon. Having a coach who expertise lies in this area, ensures you you are doing the right sessions for your intended outcomes.
A great coach and/or training plan will also incorporate strength and conditioning sessions and yoga/pilates classes to contemplate your running training. This will make you a stronger runner and less likely to get injured.
There are an array of running coaches near me to choose from, just search on google or you may have an athletics club near you which you can join, or you may fancy trying online coaching. There are also many different types of coaching and some are more suitable for some than others, depending on price, location, method of delivery, style of coaching, etc.
Coopah, Your Digital Running Coach
Coopah can help you train for your next marathon anytime from 12 weeks out from your race day! Coopah will provide you with a personalised marathon training plan so you can focus on the run. There is also the opportunity to meet and chat to fellow runners and marathon runners training for a marathon at the same time as you depending on the event or where you live near.
Our training plans are specific to your running experience, event date and goal time. Strength and conditioning sessions and yoga classes are incorporated as well as recovery days. On top of this, if you need to miss a few sessions, your training plan will be updated for you so you can stay on track. This plan is instantly available on our app, Coopah, and is accessible 24/7.
Download Coopah and start training for your marathon today! There is a wide community waiting to welcome you!
Best of luck!
The Coopah app is supported on both Android and iOS devices.
You can download the Coopah app for Android devices from the Google Play Store. Users of iOS devices can find it in the App Store.
References
Marathon Handbook, 2022. 12 Week Marathon Training Plan. Marathon Handbook. [online]. Available at: https://marathonhandbook.com/trainingplans/12-week-marathon-training-plan/#:~:text=Yes%20%E2%80%93%2012%20weeks%20is%20sufficient,a%20foundation%20of%20running%20experience [Accessed 4th July 2022]
Asics, 2022. How long does it take to train for a marathon? Asics [online]. Available at: https://www.asics.com/gb/en-gb/running-advice/how-long-does-it-take-to-train-for-a-marathon/ [Accessed 4th July 2022]
Runner’s World Editors, 2021. When to train for spring marathons. Runner’s World [online] Available at: https://www.runnersworld.com/training/a20863452/when-to-train-for-spring-marathons/ [Accessed 4th July 2022]