Thinking about running a spring marathon? Whether it’s your first or you’re aiming for a personal best, starting early is the secret to feeling confident on race day. Autumn is actually the perfect time to lay the groundwork for your spring marathon – while others are just thinking about New Year’s resolutions, you can be quietly ticking off base miles and building momentum.
Start With Base Training
You don’t need to dive straight into a full-on marathon plan. Right now, the goal is simple: get moving regularly. Base training is all about building a running habit, strengthening your muscles, and preparing your mind for the weeks ahead.
- Run consistently, even just a few miles at a time.
- Add some gentle strength work to protect knees, hips, and core.
- Keep the focus on easy-paced running, not speed.
If you want a structured approach, Runna has excellent base training and full marathon plans that make it easy to start now and progress safely.
Winter Running Tips
Training over winter comes with its own challenges – freezing temps, rain, maybe even snow. A good running jacket, a base layer, gloves and some reflective kit for darker mornings and evenings will make life easier. If the cold really isn’t your thing, don’t worry – your treadmill is your friend.
Unlike autumn marathon training, spring marathoners have Christmas and New Year to navigate so it’s worth thinking ahead. One trick is to start your training a week or two earlier so you have a little buffer in December. Then if everything goes smoothly, you can simply repeat a week of training – easy win!
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Short Races to Prep for Your Marathon
Spring marathon prep often lines up nicely with shorter races in February and March. Training races are a great for trying out gear and testing nutrition strategies. It can also give you a feel for pacing with other runners. Just remember not to get carried away – run them at a comfortable pace and use them as practice.
The Power of Easy-Paced Running
Marathon training is all about aerobic, easy-paced miles. A marathon is long, and you’ll mostly be relying on your aerobic energy system to get around. Slowing down isn’t just easier mentally – it’s doing big work in your body. Easy running helps your cells grow more mitochondria, improves oxygen delivery, boosts your VO2 max, and even makes your running economy better.
So even if your pace feels slow, every mile is working toward race day.
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Extra Tips to Get Ahead
- Test your nutrition early: Figure out gels, drinks and snacks that work for you.
- Mindset prep: Visualise finishing, set mini-goals along the route, and celebrate milestones in training.
- Recovery matters: Stretch, foam-roll, and prioritise sleep. The stronger and fresher you are, the more consistent you’ll be.
- Think about Race logistics: Know how you’ll get to the race, what you’ll wear, and where you’ll meet friends or family.
Ready to Get Started?
If you need a structured plan to guide you, Runna has a range of marathon training plans for every type of runner – from complete beginners to those chasing a new PB.
You can use my code RWR2 to get 2 weeks free when you sign up. Perfect for getting your spring marathon prep off to the right start!
