How long should my plan be?
Short answer
Long enough for the goal and your starting point: a first 5K from scratch often takes around nine weeks, a marathon several months. Every plan ends on a date you choose, from two weeks to a year away.
Key points
- Every plan ends on a date you choose.
- Between two weeks and twelve months away.
- If the date is tight, the plan's summary says so.
It depends on the goal
Building a running base, settling a sleep routine and preparing for an exam all have different natural timescales. The guide for each plan explains what is realistic.
A short runway
If your date is close, the plan builds more cautiously and its summary tells you honestly whether the goal fits.
Long goals
For a target a long way off, a longer plan leaves room for gradual progress and lighter weeks.
Related questions
What makes a goal worth planning for?
A good goal is specific, a stretch but believable, and has a date. Decades of goal-setting research found that specific, challenging goals lead to better results than vague intentions to do your best.
Read the full answerHow many weeks do you need to train for each distance?
From a base of running a few times a week, allow about 6–8 weeks for a 5K, 8–10 for a 10K, 10–14 for a half marathon and 16–20 for a marathon. Starting from scratch, add several weeks.
Read the full answerWhat is in a plan?
A dated schedule from today to your target date, one entry per day, each saying what to do and what it is for. Rest days are part of it. Alongside it comes an honest read on whether your goal and date fit.
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