
Some races also have minimum qualifying times. In general, you need to be able to run a total of 15 to 25 miles (24 to 40 km) per week and have previously run 5K and 10K races.

Marathon training plans generally assume you already run 3 times per week and can run for around 10 miles (16 km) at a time.

Even for experienced athletes, running a marathon requires lots of preparation, and proper training is a key part of injury prevention. Register for the marathon and start training at least 6 months before race day.

Begin training at least 16-24 weeks before the marathon.
