Marathon FAQ

Question: How soon can I run another Marathon?

Answer: If you have paced yourself correctly and taken the appropriate run-walk-run ratio, the following recovery period applies.

If you ran 2 or more minutes per mile slower than you could have run on that day, most can run another marathon within 3-4 weeks. There is no need to do a long run in this case because the previous marathon provided the endurance needed.

If you ran 1-1.5 min/mi slower than you could have run in an all-out marathon race, and there are no extraordinary damage signs, most can run another marathon 6-8 weeks after the first one. In this case, one needs a long run of 26 miles, 3-4 weeks before your next one and 3-4 weeks after the first one.

If the first marathon was run at top capacity, then it’s best to wait 4-6 months before attempting another marathon. The long run would need to build back to 26-29 miles, 3-4 weeks before the next marathon.

NOTE: For more information, see my book RUNNING-A YEAR ROUND PLAN.

Jeff Galloway Resources: www.jeffgalloway.com. Visit the E-Shop where you will find RUNNING-A YEAR ROUND PLAN and other books.

Join us in Atlanta for the Jeff Galloway Race Weekend, December 11-13, 2015.  Find out more at:  www.jeffgalloway131.com

Jeff Galloway smiling near a lake with city skyline in the distance.
Jeff Galloway

Jeff Galloway, US Olympian and creator of the Run-Walk-Run method, has helped over 350,000 runners achieve their goals through his innovative training programs. As Runner's World's monthly columnist and author of North America's best-selling running book, Jeff has spent over 50 years sharing his expertise and continues to conduct running seminars worldwide as runDisney's Official Training Consultant.

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