Marathon training schedule for beginners maybe its always been on your bucket list maybe all your friends are signing up but more important than why youre running your first marathon is how youre going to prepare solid prep is the only route to an enjoyable injury free marathon debut. You can do it though here are some tips for training and completing your first 262 your first marathon tips for training and completing your first 262 first steps build a running base before you start training most beginner marathon plans are about 16 weeks long sometimes 20 but you should have a decent running base of 18 20. Most marathon training plans for first time marathoners include a training period of 16 to 24 weeks hal higdons novice 1 program is an 18 week program that incorporates long runs shorter runs cross training and rest days weekly. Well first things first you need a plan a person who has been there and done it before a personal coach whether it be in person online or a written guide is good for you to follow most plans are geared around 16 20 weeks so the investment of training time is often the first hurdle to overcome the well structured plan will start out . To help you out ive taken my first timer experience and turned it into a 262 step guide to running your first marathon i hope it helps you in your own quest to master your body and mind 262 steps to running 262 miles 1 commit to running a marathon the words are easy to say but its not nearly as easy to live up to