If you had 44 weeks to train for a 2:35-2:40 marathon how would you structure it

Step one: get a couple giant poster boards and some magic markers

That might be too much work. Can you recommend an easier workout?

I would never suggest that time for someone "starting from scratch" but if they had the stats that you listed I would have them build up for a couple of weeks and hit some good workouts then race a Half Marathon to determine a real Marathon finish time.

34k 10k is equal to 2:37 on Daniel’s calculator and 2:37.08 on Tinman calculator.

34:30 10k 2:39 per Tinman

so I guess the question is why would you not suggest that race goal?

???

Starting at 70 miles per week, add 5 miles per week for base phase which will be the first 40 weeks building up to a peak mileage week of 270 miles. Taper and do 4 weeks of speed training. Run 1:58:30

Finally the answer I was looking for. 🙏

Generically I'd train for 20 weeks for a peak half marathon with some ~10k races along the way, workouts are LT and 5k-10k pace type workouts. Take a week off. Then build up 23 weeks for the goal marathon. You won't lose much of anything on the week off, and start the marathon build fresh. The last 8 weeks would be extra high mileage until a couple weeks before the marathon. More really long fartleks and a few long runs near marathon pace for 10-18 miles gradually getting longer once every few weeks

I said I wouldn't give that race goal to anyone "starting from scratch". But for anyone I coach I wouldn't throw them into a Marathon without ever having race a Half before. Well at least someone at that level. If someone were just trying to finish a Marathon who really cares what races they have done prior. A Half Marathon tells me a lot more about what the goals for the Marathon should be then a 10K does.

I would get those 60-70 mile weeks to 70-80, peak @ 85-90. Spend the first half of the 44 weeks targeting 5k-half marathon -- even something like a 25k to 20 miler at the end of it. Then go to work on a marathon specific block, having touched on some speed + with increased mileage.

I agree with the above poster. You do not want to train for that long without a 1-2 week break in between. If I was coaching this athlete I’d probably break it up into two 20 week cycles. If you train for 44 weeks straight with no time off and you’re constantly just building you’re bound to get burned out. Mark Wetmore of Colorado has his athletes take 2 weeks off from running every 6 months, many of the pros do this as well. I’m aware Jakob trains year round but this does not work for most athletes.

It being Florida and possibly running CIM, in December, 22 weeks out is middle of July, so it’s hard to run any type of hood 10k, HM as you’ll never be within a min or 2 mins of your actual 10k shape with the heat and humidity. Having said that, as a masters runner I thought of doing 10k specific training from now till July and race 10k track in Greensboro in July, take a week off and have 22 weeks till CIM. No room for a half in the summer.

I did however wander how many weeks out of a marathon you’d race a HM, and at what pace? Goal M pace, date HM shape.

If someone is already in 34-35 shape, you could get them to 2:40 in 6 months or less.

Honestly the first half of your reply sounds like a bunch of excuses, especially "No room for a half in the summer". Train in the heat, race in the heat. If you are training for the longer range goal of marathon, then the training is the valuable part, not the races in the first half of the training cycle.

10k race instead of half marathon in the first part of the cycle is short-sighted. If a fast marathon is your goal, you should optimize for that. Otherwise, just train/race for 10ks.

If you're going all out in a half, I wouldn't do it any closer that 6 weeks before a marathon. Others my have different opinions.

44 weeks is way too long to train for one race. At a minimum break that up in to two seasons with another race in the middle, like a half. Could be three seasons. Ideally put a bunch of other races on the schedule so you can focus on shorter term goals along the way. This also keeps the success of an entire year from hinging on a single race.

22 weeks for a block is an awful long time, let alone considering specific training 44 weeks out. I'd focus on general training training with 2 good workouts and a LR for most of the year. Find some races where and when you can.

I'm similar fitness as you, 16:17, 33:56, 56:30, was averaging 70-75 miles consistently for the year prior. I started focusing about focusing on CIM about 14 weeks out, increasing from 80 mpw to 101 mpw peak week, holding between 95-100 for 4 weeks until I started my taper 3 weeks out.

I ran a half 10 weeks out (75 mid), a half 4 weeks out (74 mid), both untapered, and a 5k 1 week out (16:17), then 2:35 on race day. Training through the fall was a mix of specific marathon workouts and xc.

32 weeks to get fit, 12 to do a marathon block (give or take).
what you do in the marathon block depends on how fit you get in the preceding weeks.

Sorry you won't be ready to run under 2:40.

Why is that?