Marathon Weekend 2026

[camaker]

Does it make sense to increase my long run mileage too early when the plan starts at a lower level? Or should I work on increasing long run mileage early then jumping into the plan at a later date?

The beginner plan calls for 30min, 30min, and a longer weekend run-- I'm currently doing 3miles, 3 miles and a 3-4-5 mile weekend run (depending on whether I've changed my ratio that week). When changing ratio's I adjust in 15sec intervals and hold at the new ratio for 3 weeks to give myself time to adjust.

Should I factor additional time into the plan to account for time off due to injury, life, etc???

Others have given you a lot of good advice. I'll add that the idea is to be used to consistently running a higher number of miles overall per week. You do that through more consistent, longer mid-week and long runs. By having your body used to the higher mileage, it won't be as much of a strain to push it to the distances required for the marathon. It's fine, and really, desirable to be routinely putting more miles in than the start of the plan calls for. You can either start the plan from scratch when the time comes if you want to ease into it, but what I generally do is join my plans at the point where my routine mileage matches up with the plan mileage.

 

[flav]

SAFD: Yes please

 

[Naomeri]

to everyone who has responded so far-- THANK YOU!

Some additional fill-in info:
I have never been athletic, but always reasonably active. That said, I didn't start running until I was over 50 and my health was declining.
I have done all of the disney race weekends but only up to the half marathon distances and those beat me up pretty badly.
I did the SS challenge last year and loved it.

I thought that was it for me-- training in the summer here in SE Fla is truely terrible and (I thought) I had enough. Hell, it was 77 last evening when I did my run after dark!!! I hate the treadmill more than the heat tho!!!

Things change!

As a newly-minted marathon (and Dopey) finisher--just get the time in on your feet and get them used to the abuse. That's what was killing me out on the course, my feet hurt like the devil. The rest of me was in reasonably good shape, pain-wise, but my feet wanted me to quit somewhere around mile 17, and I forced them to keep going until somewhere after mile 20, and then @Herding_Cats and @The Expert took over on forcing my feet to keep going until we got to fun places where there were people and cameras to show off for

 

[sandam1]

I'm a dedicated Galloway runner and work with Chris Twiggs through the Galloway Customized Training program (CTP) so hopefully some semi-experienced/semi-educated answers

So, the question is: Between now and the start of the plan (around July1) where should I concentrate my efforts? Distance? Pace? Consistency?

I would definitely say consistency. Get into the routine of two short runs and one long run each week. Also, find some cross-training that you enjoy and can work in 2-3 times per week, preferably something that is NOT leg intensive (aqua jogging is the best!). So many people focus only on the 3 runs per week and ignore the cross-training that is actually an important part of the program.

I am currently doing 3x a week, but my "long" run is only about 5 miles. I have been focusing on incrementally altering my r/w ratios to try and get near a :30/:30.

So here's the mistake that most people make with run/walk/run - it is all about the pace (the pace, the pace - admit it, you're singing this in your head ), NOT the intervals. The Magic Mile is a tool to guide you to establish your race pace at your current level of fitness. It will also recommend specific intervals to get to that pace. However, then you should play around with the intervals that get YOU to that pace.

NOTE: Longer intervals do NOT necessarily make you faster. Back when I first started with CTP, my intervals were supposed to be 10-15 second run, 30 second walk. I went to do a race pace run, but I was determined to do the 30/30 that I had been doing. And I was just suffering! It was one of those bad days, bad runs and I hated all of my life choices. Finally, I was like "what do I have to lose? I'm going to cut back to the 15/30. It's either that or not finish the workout." Yeah, so the second half mile of the workout was 30 seconds faster than the first - and I felt 100 times better. Now, I put my ego aside and do the minimum amount of running necessary to comfortably get the desired pace. Lesson learned!

For building an appropriate base, what do you think about doing a half marathon in the spring? You should have time to do the half marathon training plan and then be ready to start the marathon program on schedule. If not, you really should be okay with your 5 mile long runs as your base.

I have a history of trying to do too much and getting hurt-- I'd like to break that cycle!!!

And I can tell you that Galloway will get you there - if you are patient and follow the program as designed. There are a lot of people (including some on this forum) that will argue about cumulative weekly miles and not going above 18-20 miles on the long run. But I see people all of the time that follow Jeff's plan and get to the start line much healthier - and finish much healthier - than other plans. I've suffered from overuse injuries in the past and, knock wood, have never run healthier than since I joined CTP - in spite of running more races and more miles.

Just my opinion - take it for what it's worth!

 

[sandam1]

As a newly-minted marathon (and Dopey) finisher--just get the time in on your feet and get them used to the abuse. That's what was killing me out on the course, my feet hurt like the devil. The rest of me was in reasonably good shape, pain-wise, but my feet wanted me to quit somewhere around mile 17, and I forced them to keep going until somewhere after mile 20, and then @Herding_Cats and @The Expert took over on forcing my feet to keep going until we got to fun places where there were people and cameras to show off for

Say what you will about different training plans, but this is why I subscribe to the Galloway long runs.

For my first marathon, every time I upped my mileage, those "new miles" always made my feet hurt something fierce. But the good news was that on race day, there were no "new miles."

This year, having walked a marathon in October (taking over an hour + longer than my MW marathon), my feet were better during the race and recovered faster than I can have imagined.

 

[Ronski]

NOTE: Longer intervals do NOT necessarily make you faster. Back when I first started with CTP, my intervals were supposed to be 10-15 second run, 30 second walk. I went to do a race pace run, but I was determined to do the 30/30 that I had been doing. And I was just suffering! It was one of those bad days, bad runs and I hated all of my life choices. Finally, I was like "what do I have to lose? I'm going to cut back to the 15/30. It's either that or not finish the workout." Yeah, so the second half mile of the workout was 30 seconds faster than the first - and I felt 100 times better. Now, I put my ego aside and do the minimum amount of running necessary to comfortably get the desired pace. Lesson learned!

Good point! The last race I did was last year's SS challenge. I think I was doing 2min/1min ratio. I've avoided shorter ratios because seems like I'm always speeding up/slowing down. I have been experimenting with shorter intervals lately and am currently at :30/:45.

My first 1/2 was Oct. 2017 and I was trying a 5min/1min ratio. Boy was THAT a mistake!!! I was dead afterwards!

 

[Dopey 2020]

SAFD yes, please and thank you

 

[RunDisney Matriarch]

Hi, all. I was excited to find this thread after my first not-quite-successful Dopey challenge last week (the balloon ladies caught me after Mile 18 of the full). 'Looking forward to learning from you in the coming year!

 

[sandam1]

Good point! The last race I did was last year's SS challenge. I think I was doing 2min/1min ratio. I've avoided shorter ratios because seems like I'm always speeding up/slowing down. I have been experimenting with shorter intervals lately and am currently at :30/:45.

The shorter intervals and quicker transitions may take some time to get used to, but it is worth the effort. If you look around the Internet and/or get a copy of one of Jeff's books, try to find a description of his acceleration glider drills. They are a great way to learn how to transition.

Looking at the 12:45 pace that you mentioned, that would be a 30/30 interval (or 20/20 or 15/15). The no more than 30 second walk break is recommend because Jeff has found that, over the course of longer distances, runners start to slow significantly in their walking when the walk break is more than 30 seconds. But if you simply cannot stand the short turnover, maybe aim for equal intervals? Again, that is a place to start, then you can tweak as necessary to get your pace. I use an interval timer on my phone and I have over 20 different intervals that I use, depending on the circumstances, the pace I'm aiming for, and how I feel on any given day.

 

[Ronski]

The shorter intervals and quicker transitions may take some time to get used to, but it is worth the effort. If you look around the Internet and/or get a copy of one of Jeff's books, try to find a description of his acceleration glider drills. They are a great way to learn how to transition.

I actually had Jeff show me that in person once at a race expo once. Such a nice guy!!!

 

[sandam1]

I actually had Jeff show me that in person once at a race expo once. Such a nice guy!!!

That he is!!!

One of my most memorable moments from last weekend was getting to see him at the end of the marathon. I hadn't gotten to do that on my first marathon/Dopey (I don't know if he wasn't there at the time or if I was so exhausted that I missed him). When I came around the corner and saw Jeff on Sunday, there were a lot of ugly tears.

 

[FFigawi]

SAFD: let’s definitely keep it going. There are plenty of us willing to jump in to help with the questions so you don’t have to do them all.

 

[HarborBlvd]

Oof. March registration is rough. I’m guessing they bumped it up to March so April can be for Disneyland registration?

I’m hoping for redemption Dopey in 2026. Considering pushing it off to 2027 to allow for more time to get in better shape and distance train. But feel like I’m going to give it the same amount of time regardless.

This would be my first solo race weekend, which makes me nervous. Those early wake ups are easier when someone in the same room as you is commiserating in your misery.