New York City Marathon Training Plans

The New York City Marathon weaves through all five boroughs, and it demands more careful preparation than typical marathon training plans can provide. The race starts on Staten Island, and runners immediately face the climb up the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, the first of five bridges on the course. Once runners descend from the bridge, the course remains fairly flat as it travels through Brooklyn for approximately 11 miles. Our New York City Marathon training plan prepares you to pace yourself as you wind through Brooklyn’s neighborhoods during the first half of the race, helping to conserve energy for what’s to come.

At the halfway point, runners cross into Queens via the Pulaski Bridge. The route visits Queens for just 2.5 miles before runners cross into Manhattan over the East River on the Queensboro Bridge. The climb up the Queensboro Bridge is considered the most difficult point in the race, but free marathon training programs typically don’t prepare you for race-specific course features like these. A New York City Marathon training plan from CTP addresses these challenges during preparation with workouts specifically designed to build endurance on hills, leaving your legs fresher for the quick detour over the Willis Avenue Bridge into the Bronx.

After just one mile, the race turns back toward Manhattan over the Madison Avenue Bridge and runners are in the home stretch. All along Fifth Avenue and Central Park South, thousands of spectators cheer runners toward the finish at 67th Street – a not-to-be-missed experience. Whether you’re a marathon training beginner or already a dedicated runner, our NYC Marathon training plans can get you to the finish line with customized marathon training developed by experts.

Free marathon training plans are geared toward an average runner on an average course, but the NYC Marathon route is anything but average. At Custom Training Plans, our NYC Marathon training plans take into account your current level of fitness, previous marathon experience, and the route of the marathon itself – something that free marathon training schedules just don’t offer. Customized plans give you a more accurate path toward race day, helping novice runners to build fitness and avoid injury and giving long-distance enthusiasts the opportunity to increase their speed and endurance. Whether your goal is to go from couch to marathon in 24 weeks or you’re a seasoned racer seeking a new personal best, we’ve got a custom plan that’s right for you. When you’re ready, get your New York City Marathon training plan here.