Running Round Up · Marathoners 35+

John Hill

4d • 🖊️General discussion🖊️

Running Round Up

If you're planning to run an autumn marathon this year, one question matters more than any other:

Have you started training yet?

Most runners need around 16 weeks of structured training to prepare properly for a marathon.

Some need longer, especially if they're returning from injury, building consistency, or tackling their first marathon.

Here are some of the biggest autumn marathons and the date a 16-week training plan would begin:

• Berlin Marathon – 27 September 2026Training starts: 7 June 2026

• Chester Marathon – 4 October 2026Training starts: 14 June 2026

• Chicago Marathon – 11 October 2026Training starts: 21 June 2026

• Amsterdam Marathon – 18 October 2026Training starts: 28 June 2026

• Dublin Marathon – 25 October 2026Training starts: 5 July 2026

• New York City Marathon – 1 November 2026Training starts: 12 July 2026

As you can see, if you're targeting Berlin, Chester, or Chicago, your training cycle is either already underway or about to begin.

The mistake many runners make is assuming marathon training starts when the race feels close In reality, the best marathon experiences are built months before race day through consistent training, sensible progression, and proper recovery.

This becomes even more important if you're over 35. You can't simply cram fitness into the final few weeks and expect your body to respond well.

The runners who arrive on the start line feeling confident this autumn won't necessarily be the most talented runners.

They'll be the ones who started early, followed a plan, and stayed consistent.

If you're targeting an autumn marathon and want help building a structured plan around your lifestyle, reply to this email and let me know which race you're training for.

The sooner you start, the more options you have.

Drop me a reply and let's chat.

Until next time.

John

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