Marathon Training Guides
The methodology Smart Runner runs on, in plain English. Start with the basics or jump straight to the deep cuts.
How long is a marathon?
26.2 miles, 42.195 km, and the 1908 London Olympics quirk that fixed those exact numbers in place forever.
BeginnerHow long should I train for a marathon?
The realistic timeline by starting point: brand new to running (9-12 months), already running (16-22 weeks), or coming back (12-16 weeks).
Training ScienceHeart rate zones for marathon training
The three systems coaches actually use, Karvonen, Daniels, and Maffetone. How to calculate yours, and which to pick.
MethodologyWhat is VDOT?
Jack Daniels' single number for fitness. How it's calculated from one race, why the tables work, and how Smart Runner derives your training paces from it.
ToolVDOT calculator
Interactive Jack Daniels VDOT calculator. Enter one race, get your Easy, Marathon, Threshold, Interval and Repetition paces, plus predicted times from 1500m to the marathon. Works in km or miles.
Training ScienceTraining load: ATL, CTL, TSB
The three numbers under every adaptive plan. Where they came from (cycling, then running), what they actually measure, and the form curve that tells you when to push.
MethodologyPfitzinger vs Daniels vs Canova
Three names you'll hear if you read marathon training seriously. How their philosophies differ, who each one is best for, and which assumptions Smart Runner takes from each.
Apple WatchMarathon training on Apple Watch
What's actually realistic if you want to train for a marathon on Apple Watch alone. Where it shines, where it struggles, and how to set it up so you can leave your phone home.
PrivacyWhy training data shouldn't live in the cloud
A short read on what happens to your runs when they leave your phone, what you give up when the service shuts down, and why on-device storage is a feature, not a bug.
Ready to put it into practice?
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