Finishing a marathon is a specific time or running at a specific pace requres precision training. You can accomplish your marathon pace goal, but to reach your goal successfully and safely, you need guidance. It is important that a competitive marathon runner train all of their bodies energy producing systems in the proper proportion and at the right time. It is just as important to schedule appropriate rest periods to avoid overtraining syndrome. Your personal coach will design a custom marathon training program, just for you, that meets all of those requirements. This is a customized program that is designed specifically for you by a real running coach, not a computer program.

Coach Qualifications

Your training program will be designed and written by Running Planet president and founder, Rick Morris. A competitive runner for 35 years, Rick has been a professional running coach for over 20 years. He has trained hundreds of runners of all abilities from beginners to competitive athletes. Rick is certified by the American Council on Exercise as a personal trainer and a weight loss & lifestyle consultant.

Coaching Philosophy

We believe that all runners are individuals with their own specific needs, goals, abilities and experiences. In order to meet the needs of each unique client, all of our training programs are designed, from the ground up, for each and every runner. We will never use computer generated programs or formulas that spit out the same generic workouts for each person.

Our marathon training program, with a goal of finishing in a specific time, incorporates gradual increases in running mileage, lactate threshold runs, VO2 max training, vVO2 max workouts, long runs, goal pace training runs, general strength training, running specific strength training and plyometrics. The proper combination of those workouts will get you the finish line at your goal pace. Of course, your goal pace must be realistic for you. Your coach will work with you to determine an appropriate, realistic, but challenging goal pace for you.

What's Included?

Your training package is a complete educational game plan that includes a program overview, a custom 24 week training schedule designed specifically for you, detailed workout descriptions and additional educational materials. All of your training and support materials will be delivered via e-mail in Adobe PDF format. You have the option of purchasing the custom program only or selecting the additional benefit of personal coaching. If you choose the personal coaching option, you will also have full access to your coach, via e-mail, for the duration of your training schedule.

How it Works

After signing up, you will receive a link on your confirmation screen to download your athlete questionnaire. Please fill out the questionnaire, sign and return. The questionaire will provide your coach with the information needed to design a custom program that will be of maximum benefit to you. After receiving your completed, signed questionaire and waiver, your coach will design your program and send all of your training materials to you via e-mail in Adobe PDF format. There are no long term or multi-month contracts that you must sign or commit to. You receive the entire 24 week marathon training program with all of the appropriate educational materials and, if you choose the personal coaching option, unlimited access to your coach for the full 24 weeks of your program.

Who is this program for?

This is an intermediate marathon training program for runners with a goal of finishing a marathon in a specific amount of time or at a specific pace. Runners participating in this program should be able to run at least 6 miles and should have been running for a year or more before beginning this program. While it is possible to run a first marathon in a specific time, we suggest that only experienced marathon runners attempt to run a marathon in a specific amount of time. All participants must be healthy with no physical or psychological conditions that would prohibit their engaging in strenuous physical activity.

What is the difference between the standard program and the personal coaching option?

The standard coaching program is for runners that are comfortable with training on their own and are able to make their own changes to the program as needed. The personal coaching option includes full coaching support, unlimited e-mail contact with your coach and any adjustments that are needed for the duration of your training program.