Boston Marathon Training Plans

customized for you and the race.

get started | $19.99
  • Smarter Training Plans Smarter Plans
  • Safe Training Plans Fewer Injuries
  • Successful Training Plans Better Results

Boston Marathon
Training Plans

Custom Training Plans are designed around you and the Boston Marathon course. We take into account variables that no other training plans can match because we know how important it is to achieve your specific Boston Marathon goals.

  • Expert Training Plans

    expert plans

    Developed by certified coaches with time-tested results.

  • Runner Specific Training Plans

    Runner Specific

    We know you’re unique. Your training plan should match.

  • Race Specific Training Plans

    race Specific

    Race profile, time of year, and altitude all factor into our plans.

  • Affordable Training Plans

    affordable

    Custom plans shouldn’t cost more than the race itself.

ABOUT BOSTON MARATHON TRAINING PLANS

First run in 1897, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon and one of six World Marathon Majors. The crown jewel of American road racing, the Boston Marathon is run on a course that's considered to be one of the world's most difficult marathon routes. It is an extremely selective race, and prospective entrants must prove their mettle by submitting a previous marathon finishing time that meets the Boston Marathon qualifying standards. Despite the stringent requirements, the field fills fast - sometimes within just a few hours. If you're lucky enough to gain entry, make the most of it by following a customized Boston Marathon training plan. At Custom Training Plans, our comprehensive Boston Marathon training program is designed to increase your fitness safely while simultaneously preparing you for all of the course-specific challenges this legendary race has in store.

Boston Marathon Training Plan

The running of the marathon is preceded by the Boston Marathon 5K, held two days before the big race. It’s run on a flat, fast course that takes runners on a mini-tour of the Back Bay area, starting and finishing in the Boston Public Garden. The route heads east on Commonwealth Avenue and returns to the 5K finish via Boylston Street, which offers runners a chance to cross the Boston Marathon finish line in Copley Square. The 5K is a great chance for those who aren’t quite ready for the full marathon distance to get in on the fun, and it’s just as important to train for! CTP can help you put your best foot forward with a Boston Marathon 5K training plan that’s customized to your current fitness level and your race-day goals.

The Boston Marathon is traditionally run on Patriots’ Day, the third Monday of April. The point-to-point course begins in suburban Hopkinton and ends at Copley Square in downtown Boston, passing through eight different towns in total. At the start line in Hopkinton, runners immediately head downhill for the first 5K, a trend interrupted by just a handful of small elevation upticks on the way to Ashland. From there to Wellesley, the road is flat and fast.

The Boston Marathon’s spectator situation is second to none. Over half a million spectators line every inch of the route, offering encouragement, water, and snacks to the racers. One of the most famous examples comes a little over a mile shy of the halfway mark. Runners will begin to hear the famous Wellesley College Scream Tunnel well before the students come into view. For a full quarter-mile, Wellesley students line the course, offering kisses and high-volume cheers as the runners finish off the comparatively mellow first half. Because the second half of the race is so difficult, Boston Marathon training plans from CTP include interval workouts and cross-training. Along with regular mileage, workouts like these can help you drop your average marathon time by increasing your cardiovascular fitness and overall strength.

While the Boston Marathon is run on a net downhill route, it is still considered to be one of the most difficult marathon courses, due partially to the hilly roads within the last third of the course. The section begins with the climb from the Charles River crossing on Washington Street. Though Heartbreak Hill is more famous, the director of the Boston Marathon views this as the course’s most difficult climb. The section of the race between the Charles River crossing and Heartbreak Hill is known as the Newton Hills. As any successful Boston Marathon finisher knows, hill training is a must. Unfortunately, following a generic marathon training plan doesn’t prepare you for course-specific challenges like these, leaving you high and dry come race day. At CTP, we tailor every one of our training plans to address the unique nature of each race, including hill repeats, pace training, and interval workouts that can help you conquer the climbs.

After Heartbreak Hill, runners enjoy a downhill plane to the finish. Training with a CTP Boston Marathon training plan can help you learn how to take advantage of the terrain so you can enter Kenmore Square with a smile. Every year on Marathon Monday, the Red Sox play an early game. It’s scheduled to end in enough time for all of the baseball fans to exit Fenway Park and cheer on the runners during the last mile before the finish line in front of the Boston Public Library.

There are many people around the world who complete marathons each year, but only 35,000 of them will cross the finish line on Boylston Street. Custom Training Plans can help athletes of all abilities with our Boston Marathon training plans and our Boston Marathon 5K training plans. We worked with experts to create training schedules that are appropriate for runners at every level, whether you’re starting your first 5K or aiming for a new personal best on the Boston course. Get started with a customized Boston Marathon training plan or a Boston Marathon 5K training plan today and experience the many advantages Custom Training Plans offer.

Here’s what you’ll receive in your plan package:

  • Daily Plans

    DETAILED DAILY PLAN

  • Pace Chart

    Pace chart

  • Lift Workouts

    Lift workouts

  • Coaching Letter

    Letter from your coach

  • Mobility Workouts

    Mobility workouts

  • RPE Chart

    RPE chart

  • Running Podcast

    Podcast

  • Motivational Emails

    Weekly motivation email

How Training Plans Work

How it works

  1. Complete our proprietary runner questionnaire so we can get to know you better.
  2. Your custom Boston Marathon plan is built based on advanced analytics with expert coaching oversight.
  3. Receive your custom Boston Marathon training plan, lifting + mobility guide, a letter from our coaches, and more within 24 hours.
  4. Finish the Boston Marathon with confidence.

Our method

  1. Certified Coaches

    With the expertise of USATF certified coaches and physical therapists, we built an advanced model to weigh the effects of runner-specific variables on training outcomes.

  2. Custom Race Profile

    We analyzed unique characteristics of hundreds of races across the country to build a “race profile” into our model that accounts for elevation gain, altitude, time of year, and more.

  3. Training Plan Model

    Our model generates a unique training plan for you and your race, and all plans are reviewed by a coach and hand-tweaked before they make their way to you.