Marathon training 2026: Weeks 1 to 4

I’m now training to run Newport marathon in April 2026, with the aim of securing myself a London marathon Good for Age qualifying time for 2027.

For the first time ever, I’m working to a bespoke training plan, with the support of a coach – Fi Barnes from Run Cotswolds. Fi says she has no doubt that I can make the qualifying time. In fact, she thinks I can beat it by a few minutes. She also said two things that I was very happy to hear – that I’m very strong and that I’ve trained myself well over the years. That was really lovely to hear!

I won’t be sharing the exact detail of my training plan, at my coach’s request. But every week will have a long run, a speed endurance session and a parkrun. Most weeks will include five runs. I will also be doing strength and conditioning work in the gym twice a week. My gym work is a combination of things I’ve found online and exercises my younger son advised me to do. My son is a very good athlete and also a big gym-goer, who knows a lot about the gym, sport and the human body! I totally trust his advice.

Alongside training my body, I’m experimenting with fuelling. Looking back, despite my best efforts, I think I ran my previous marathon slightly under-fuelled. This time I’m trying out different products and timings during the run, as well as taking carb loading and hydration beforehand more seriously.

I never run in my glasses, but I’ve ended up running in my glasses on some of my long training runs so I could see my watch properly to vary my pace!

My training started at the very end of December with a 33 mile week, ending with a 14 mile long run.

My second week of training was a deload week. It gives me chance to rest and repair before increasing the volume again. I’ve heard about people doing these before, but have never done one myself. That’s part of the difference it makes having an experienced and knowledgeable coach. So in my second week, I ran just 23 miles, with a 10 mile long run. I did four runs rather than five and lighter weights and fewer reps in the gym.

In my third week, I was back to 33 miles in the week, ending with a 15 mile long run, some of it at marathon pace. I really felt it in my legs afterwards, but was pleased with how it went mentally and physically.

Week 4 was a total of 35 miles, with a 16 mile long run on the Sunday, mixing marathon pace and easy pace. I couldn’t quite get myself as fast as marathon pace, but was pleased I at least managed a clear distinction between my easy running and my faster pace. My legs felt pretty awful afterwards again, but it’s all part of getting stronger!

You can read about my weeks 5 to 8 soon.