You will recieve a program overview before the start of the program which is a general overview. Depending on your goal, your program will be individualised through the Training Peaks platform to ensure you are running the right duration, intensity and terrain for your ability and event. The long run is based on duration, and for the second half of the program will be based around a percentage of the duration you expect to be running on race day.

Absolutely! You will still receive an 18 week marathon program but you don't need to do this event, or you might be training for a different event and that's fine too!

You can mix and match your face-to-face sessions to suit your lifestyle. See the group training timetable to see session times and locations.

As many as you like! You will receive your full 7 day a week training program (including rest days and mobility) through training peaks. You can attend every single session face-to-face or do some at home.

In general your weekly program will include:

1. Intervals OR Hills OR cross training

2. Tempo run

3. Strength/stRUNgth (home program also provided)

4. Recovery Run

5. Long Run

6. Mobility (home program)

The ones you choose to do in person depends what suits your needs and your schedule. Here's a bit more info about each session:

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Intervals = Either Threshold or V02max intervals designed to rapidly increase your V02max and push your lactate threshold so you can increase the HR you can run at in your aerobic zone (i.e. delay time to fatigue)

Hills = whether you like it or not, the Sydney Marathon goes 365m UP and 405m down! Learning to control your heart rate, change your technique, use less energy up and utilise gravity down is an underrated part of marathon training!

X Training = aka cross training low impact strength and conditioning class for those who need to do Zone 4/5 training but their body needs to avoid pounding the pavement at that speed.

Tempo = a sustained effort run that builds up your body’s ability to run faster (or at race intensity) for longer periods of time. This will increase in duration as the program develops

Strength = whether outdoors or indoors, we focus on mobility, stability, form, function and strength in the key running related movement patterns. These sessions are crucial to increase your tissue capacity, muscular endurance and power which not only reduces likelihood of injury but enhances your running economy. Win/Win!

stRUNgth = strength training for those of you who HATE strength training. We include some running to keep you interested ;-)

Recovery = low intensity (zone 2) run designed to flush the legs out and warm them up ready for the weekends long run

Long Run = low intensity endurance session (zone 2), periodized distance/duration depending on your goal and your ability/experience in the marathon distance

The face-to-face program comes with unlimited face-to-face sessions, but you will have enough info in your individual program to do it in your own time or while you travel - including strength programs!

The online program only includes the on course face-to-face training sessions.

Yes! Whilst you are likely to work harder at the face to face sessions, and you have the opportunity for a coach to check technique, and modify or advance your session, there is plenty of information in the program for you to go it alone and check off each session as you go. Most of our runners mix and match sessions each week to suit their lifestyle and other commitments.

Yes! That's the best thing about an individual approach! The program is tailored to suit our first time marathoners who just want to cross that line, through to our speedy runners looking for a PB.

Training for your first endurance event can be a daunting task. As a beginner you are heading into the unknown. You know that both training and the event itself will be hard, but how hard? With Andys running experience and Claire's science background, combined with their coaching experience working with endurance runners, we have all experience levels covered.

Anyone who's done an endurance event will tell you that the real race begins in the last 10km of the marathon! Most of our carbohydrate stores are gone, physical and mental fatigue kicks in, and we're close, but not close enough!

So how does this program help you finish strong??

Physically, we run long, we do proper warmups and we back it up with strength training and technique tune ups!

80% of our running low intensity. We want to concentrate on duration, not distance, building up to a similar time on legs that you will experience on race day. Running slow enhances physiological adaptations that lead to better running economy, and reduces the chance of injury.

Attend our nutrition workshop to find out how fuel and water can help you push through the wall.

Mentally, we'll give you all the psychological skills training and race tips you need to ensure you power over the finish line, arms in the air!

Absolutely not! We pride ourselves in making every session challenging but achievable for every fitness and experience levels!

If you truly prefer training alone (plenty of people do) then opt for the online program, same quality and individualisation, you just do the training in your own time.

Making it to the start line uninjured can be the biggest challenge for some runners. This program will help avoid running injuries by providing you with:

- a periodized program that increases the training load (volume) slowly, and balances the hard workouts with the easy

- accountability: we will make sure you are training consistently, and if life gets in the way and you skip some sessions, we will guide you back on track and ensure you're listening to your body and not falling into the trap of becoming a slave to your training schedule

- workshops & weekly emails: we will educate you about shoes, nutrition, recovery techniques, hydration, & training tips to ensure you avoid overuse injuries and burnout

- complete training plan: your 7 day program includes cross-training, mobility & strength training that can be done face to face or at home

Over the last 11 years, we have found that this two week period is CRUCIAL for recovery and returning to running both physically and psychologically. These two weeks are about nourishing your body, flushing out toxins and getting you back to running so as not to compromise your immune system or tissue capacity.