Hansons training program is fine for most people. There may be better ones out there - but most people are going to improve no matter what they do. The main ones you can get from books are Hansons, Daniels, Lydiard, and Pfitz. Both Pfitz and Hansons seem aimed at those who want to run limited mileage but can probably be scaled or modified.
You can just do your own thing if you have a basic understanding too. Heck if you ran in college, you can just do 2 workouts a week - the same ones you did for track, easy mileage on 4 days, and a long run on the weekend that sometimes includes pacework. One paragraph training plan that will get some people to the trials.
As with every training program, Hansons can be just a starting block for scoping training. You don't think the prescribed workouts/workout ideas work for you - scale them to what you think will work better.
Everyone does this to some extent - otherwise no one who lives in flat area could follow Lydiard - since he prescribes a hill phase.
Their elite guys do not train by the Hanson's book whatsoever. It's for the masses. Sure, there might be some cross over in there, and similar philosophy with some workouts, but the Hanson's guys are running up to 140 mpw tailored to them.
If you want to train by a book in 2026. Advanced Marathoning, or Marathon Excellence For Everyone are pretty great. For shorter stuff half marathon and down, I'd go with Coogan's book, Personal Best Running.
If you're really serious about chasing a PR, get a coach you trust whole heartedly.
I have been running marathons for maybe 5-6 years. Peak around 70mpw.
One thing that has always seemed at odds with other common marathon training wisdom is the rest that Hansons prescribes in the strength phase.
6x1 mile, 400 jog rest
3x2 mile, 800 jog rest
2x3 mile, 1 mile jog rest
It all seems like...a lot? Especially for reps run just 10 seconds faster than marathon pace. Anyone familiar with the system care to opine? Do their elite and sub-elite guys like Panning, Sage, etc. take that much rest? Common wisdom around here would be maybe 60-90 seconds for the mile, maybe 2 mins for the 2 miles, 3-4 mins for the 3 mile repeats. Thoughts?
Hanson's definitely holds up. If you take Brian Sell, who I think was their breakout Marathoner, and put him in today's super shoes, I am sure his time is equivalent to a 2:09 or something...
American marathoners on the men's side must be worse than ever, minus Mantz and maybe a couple others. There were always a handful of 2:12 guys. We should have a handful of 2:08 guys now, by my thinking.
I have been running marathons for maybe 5-6 years. Peak around 70mpw.
One thing that has always seemed at odds with other common marathon training wisdom is the rest that Hansons prescribes in the strength phase.
6x1 mile, 400 jog rest
3x2 mile, 800 jog rest
2x3 mile, 1 mile jog rest
It all seems like...a lot? Especially for reps run just 10 seconds faster than marathon pace. Anyone familiar with the system care to opine? Do their elite and sub-elite guys like Panning, Sage, etc. take that much rest? Common wisdom around here would be maybe 60-90 seconds for the mile, maybe 2 mins for the 2 miles, 3-4 mins for the 3 mile repeats. Thoughts?
What they aren't telling us is they do a two hour run BEFORE and finish with any.combo above.
That episode was aired in 1977. Can you imagine getting that past network censors on a live midday broadcast almost half a century ago? The Gong Show was anarchic and thoroughly bad-taste genius.
I have been running marathons for maybe 5-6 years. Peak around 70mpw.
One thing that has always seemed at odds with other common marathon training wisdom is the rest that Hansons prescribes in the strength phase.
6x1 mile, 400 jog rest
3x2 mile, 800 jog rest
2x3 mile, 1 mile jog rest
It all seems like...a lot? Especially for reps run just 10 seconds faster than marathon pace. Anyone familiar with the system care to opine? Do their elite and sub-elite guys like Panning, Sage, etc. take that much rest? Common wisdom around here would be maybe 60-90 seconds for the mile, maybe 2 mins for the 2 miles, 3-4 mins for the 3 mile repeats. Thoughts?
Hanson's definitely holds up. If you take Brian Sell, who I think was their breakout Marathoner, and put him in today's super shoes, I am sure his time is equivalent to a 2:09 or something...
American marathoners on the men's side must be worse than ever, minus Mantz and maybe a couple others. There were always a handful of 2:12 guys. We should have a handful of 2:08 guys now, by my thinking.
That episode was aired in 1977. Can you imagine getting that past network censors on a live midday broadcast almost half a century ago? The Gong Show was anarchic and thoroughly bad-taste genius.
Interesting. As Chuck Barris claimed, and confirmed by the "experts", the Popsicle Twins received the only "0" in the show's history.
The idea of getting past today's network censors is absurd. Only recently they went nut's trying to ban "Baby It's Cold Outside"
4min seems a bit high, no? Elites have mostly fallen in the 60-90s improvement range, with some outliers around 2min. Sell wasn't a 4hr marathoner. He ran 2:10-high on huge mileage. Legend.
4min seems a bit high, no? Elites have mostly fallen in the 60-90s improvement range, with some outliers around 2min. Sell wasn't a 4hr marathoner. He ran 2:10-high on huge mileage. Legend.
Kipchoge never ran faster than 2,04 in traditional shoes.
Most of all have lost the plot. Not even Hanson team elites are taking a plan from a book written by Luke Humphrey. Sage has even elaborated on this in past threads.
Everyone in here conflating the book’s Everyman plans with the elite team training has lost their minds.
Most of all have lost the plot. Not even Hanson team elites are taking a plan from a book written by Luke Humphrey. Sage has even elaborated on this in past threads.
Everyone in here conflating the book’s Everyman plans with the elite team training has lost their minds.
I am sure that they don't train like non-elites, but how does Sage know as he's been gone for a long, long time-----things change;)
4min seems a bit high, no? Elites have mostly fallen in the 60-90s improvement range, with some outliers around 2min. Sell wasn't a 4hr marathoner. He ran 2:10-high on huge mileage. Legend.
I think the 5 sec per mile is about the most accurate conversion, plus or minus. So, 2 minutes or slightly over for your “average” elite marathoner. I can believe Sell would’ve been a 2:08-mid to high guy but probably no faster. It is what it is.
This post was edited 2 minutes after it was posted.
According to runner world's, a training plan that doesn't have a weekly 20mi run is simply not sufficient. You will feel it on the final 5 miles of the thon once you hit the "wall".
Secondly, lack of Jasso 800's means there is simply no way to tell what pace you can run it, setting yourself up for failure.
That episode was aired in 1977. Can you imagine getting that past network censors on a live midday broadcast almost half a century ago? The Gong Show was anarchic and thoroughly bad-taste genius.
Interesting. As Chuck Barris claimed, and confirmed by the "experts", the Popsicle Twins received the only "0" in the show's history.
I recall Chuck saying that the Popsicle Twins were the act brought in so the censors could reject them and then he could put on whatever he wanted and he doesn't know how the censors let them through.