As one size fits all programming goes, my unbiased review of the Peloton marathon program is this:
Five out of five stars, would recommend to beginners and experienced marathoners alike.
The Peloton marathon program, called “The Road to Your 26.2”, focuses on minutes over miles, meaning different runners with varying abilities can complete the same schedule.
The beginner runner will, by way of pace and miles, do less overall miles while the faster runner will have more.
Which is appropriate!
It also means a group of friends could follow this exact plan for social support but the workload will naturally adapt to individual paces and goals.
I used this schedule for the Richmond Marathon, my current personal record (PR). In hindsight, it was the best choice for me because:
- It forced me to warm up prior to hard effort workouts
- The strength training included a high amount of balance work (something I’d never focused on previously)
- It required zero mental energy for programming- I just opened the app, and there was my workout.
What it is
- 18 week cycle with runner specific strength training
- Outdoor audio guided runs
- Beginner friendly, can be adapted for experienced marathoners
- Minutes versus miles focused
- Volume depends on speed; maxes at 40-55 miles at week 15
- Gamified with badges, Peloton style. You can earn a Bronze badge for completing 24 classes, Silver badge for completing 34 classes, Gold badge for completing 44 classes out of the total 48 classes.
What it isn’t
- Traditional Peloton treadmill classes
- Flexible style- after completing day 1, day 2 is then unlocked, and so on. You cannot skip or rearrange and your long effort will be the last of the week.
- Easy. Seriously, it’s challenging at any fitness level.
Overview
Here’s a PDF of the full schedule, which is broken down on the app by three consecutive six week “blocks”.
You will have to go in app to see the actual workouts, but I have them linked. I plan to follow up with a post that breaks each speed workout down for those who want to use flexible training style.
There are five coaches in this program:
- Becs Gentry (running)
- Matt Wilpers (running)
- Robin Arzón (running)
- Andy Speer (strength)
- Rebecca Kennedy (strength)
Weekly runs are in a queue on your bike, tread, or app under “programs”. Note: you cannot access this program from the Peloton website.
I’m going to break it down in depth for you, so this is where my review ends and getting in the weeds begins. You could bookmark this page for later if you’re still researching a variety of plans.
Let’s look at a breakdown of each six week block:
Weeks 1-6
Week 1
Day 1 – rest
Day 2 Class 1 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 30 min Tempo Run
Day 3 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 4 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 30 min Marathon Race Prep
Day 5 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 6 – 20 min Pop Fun Run
Day 7 – 10 min Long Run Warm Up + 4 miles long
Week 2
Day 1 – rest
Day 2 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 30 min Tempo Run
Day 3 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 4 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 30 min Marathon Race Pre
Day 5 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 6 – 20 min EDM Fun Run with Andy Speer
Day 7 – 10 min Long Run Warm Up + 6 miles
Week 3
Day 1 – rest
Day 2 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 30 min Tempo Run
Day 3 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 4 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 30 min Marathon Race Prep
Day 5 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 6 – 20 min Soul Fun Run
Day 7 – 10 min Long Run Warm Up + 8 miles
Week 4
Day 1 – rest
Day 2 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 30 min Tempo Run
Day 3 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 4 Class 1 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 30 min Marathon Race Prep
Day 5 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 6 – 20 min Rock Fun Run
Day 7 – 10 min Long Run Warm Up + 4 miles
Week 5
Day 1 – rest
Day 2 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 30 min Tempo Run
Day 3 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 4 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 30 min Marathon Race Prep
Day 5 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 6 – 20 min EDM Fun Run
Day 7 – 10 min Long Run Warm Up + 8 miles
Week 6
Day 1 – rest
Day 2 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 30 min Tempo Run
Day 3 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 4 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 45 min Marathon Race Prep
Day 5 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 6 – 20 min Pop Fun Run
Day 7 – 10 min Long Run Warm Up + 10 miles
Weeks 7-12
Peloton marathon program Part 2 is also 6 weeks, as you continue to increase your long run, but also focus on race pace.
The longest run for these 6 weeks is 16 miles, which is the farthest I personally recommend experienced recreational marathoners run in a single bout.
Week 7
Coach note: if your body is screaming from last week’s 10 miles, split your long run into two (5+5, 4+6).
Day 1 – rest
Day 2 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 30 min Tempo Run
Day 3 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 4 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 45 min Marathon Race Prep
Day 5 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 6 – 20 min Rock Fun Run
Day 7 – 10 min Long Run Warm Up + 12 miles
Week 8
Day 1 – rest
Day 2 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 45 min Tempo Run
Day 3 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 4 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 45 min Marathon Race Prep
Day 5 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 6 – 20 min EDM Fun Run (side note: not even Peloton can make me enjoy EDM)
Day 7 – 10 min Long Run Warm Up + 8 miles
Week 9
Day 1 – rest
Day 2 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 45 min Tempo Run
Day 3 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 4 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 45 min Marathon Race Prep
Day 5 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 6 – 20 min Soul Fun Run
Day 7 – 10 min Long Run Warm Up + 12 miles
Week 10
Day 1 – rest
Day 2 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 45 min Tempo Run
Day 3 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 4 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 45 min Marathon Race Prep
Day 5 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 6 – 20 min EDM Fun Run (spoiler alert: it’s the same run from week 8. You can sub with something else!)
Day 7 – 10 min Long Run Warm Up + 14 miles
Week 11
Coach note: if your body is screaming from last week’s 14 miles, split your long run into two (8+8, 10+6).
Day 1 – rest
Day 2 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 45 min Tempo Run
Day 3 – 30 min Strength for Runners with Rebecca Kennedy – 2019/06/05 @ 5:00am
Day 4 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 60 min Marathon Race Prep
Day 5 – 30 min Strength for Runners with Andy Speer – 2019/06/05 @ 9:00am
Day 6 – 20 min Soul Fun Run with Rebecca Kennedy – 2019/04/11 @ 11:00am
Day 7 – 10 min Long Run Warm Up + 16 miles
Week 12
Day 1 – rest
Day 2 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 45 min Tempo Run
Day 3 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 4 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 60 min Marathon Race Prep
Day 5 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 6 – 20 min Soul Fun Run with Rebecca Kennedy
Day 7 – 10 min Long Run Warm Up + 12 miles
Weeks 13-18
Part 3 of the Peloton marathon program is also 6 weeks, sharpening your marathon race pace and maxing out mileage volume.
The longest run is 20 miles- if you’re a first time marathoner or have a confidence challenge, you should do it.
Not in those categories? Physically, you are better off splitting the run into 16+4 or 18+2, with a minimum of four hours between the two.
Week 13
Day 1 – rest
Day 2 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 45 min Tempo Run
Day 3 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 4 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 60 min Marathon Race Prep
Day 5 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 6 – 20 min Rock Fun Run
Day 7 – 10 min Long Run Warm Up + 16 miles
Week 14
Day 1 – rest
Day 2 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 45 min Tempo Run
Day 3 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 4 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 60 min Marathon Race Prep
Day 5 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 6 – 20 min Pop Fun Run
Day 7 – 10 min Long Run Warm Up + 18 miles
Week 15
Day 1 – rest
Day 2 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 45 min Tempo Run
Day 3 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 4 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 60 min Marathon Race Prep
Day 5 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 6 – 20 min Pop Fun Run
Day 7 – 10 min Long Run Warm Up + 20 miles (first timers and confidence seekers only, see note at top of block)
Week 16
Day 1 – rest
Day 2 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 45 min Tempo Run
Day 3 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 4 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 60 min Marathon Race Prep
Day 5 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 6 – 20 min Pop Fun Run
Day 7 – 10 min Long Run Warm Up + 16 miles
Week 17
Day 1 – rest
Day 2 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 30 min Tempo Run
Day 3 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 4 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up + 45 min Marathon Race Prep
Day 5 – 30 min Strength for Runners
Day 6 – 20 min Soul Fun Run
Day 7 – 10 min Long Run Warm Up + 8 or 10 miles (choice based on energy level)
Week 18
Day 1 – rest
Day 2 Class 1 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up
Day 2 Class 2 – 30 min Tempo Run
Day 4 Class 1 – 10 min Pre-Run Warm Up
Day 4 Class 2 – 30 min Marathon Race Prep
Day 6 – 20 min Shake Out Run
Day 7 – 10 min Marathon Warm Up – it’s race day!
Let’s hang out
Have a question about this schedule? Let’s connect and chat about it! Click below to ask your question anonomously:
When I’m not running, lifting, and momming, I work full time in the wellness space.
Instagram (and this podcast!) are my creative outlets to share the passion. Click on an image below to connect there:
