Marathon Training App Recommendations: Triathlon Forum: Slowtwitch Forums

Marathon Training App Recommendations

Oct 24, 19 12:53

Post #1 of 6 (1834 views)

So I recently decided to run the Chicago Marathon next year. This will be my fifth marathon and I would love to shave a few minutes off my PB (3:22) and thus, qualify for Boston. I have never really followed a structured marathon training program and generally have run ridiculously low mileage (like 30-35/week) due to injury issues (and yes, I know I will have to and am planning to ramp that up this time). Anyway, I am planning to use a marathon training app to help me train. I do not necessarily need one that is GPS-enabled, as I do a lot of treadmill running and prefer to leave the phone at home when I run outdoors. I do not mind paying for an app, but I am not really looking for a coach--just an app that includes a training program and allows me to log my runs.

Any recommendations? Thank you in advance for your assistance!

http://achukumba.blogspot.com/

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Re: Marathon Training App Recommendations [achukumba] [ In reply to ]

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2wheels

Oct 24, 19 16:16

Post #2 of 6 (1788 views)

So after several failed attempts at Boston (too slow or got injured during training) I paid for a McMillan running training plan and it was worth every penny. Qualified with plenty of time to spare this time. You can use the Final Surge app to view/log your workouts that the McMillan plan puts on your schedule. I hated to pay for a plan with so many free ones but I think the structured training plus the core and mobility work were the keys.

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achukumba

Oct 25, 19 5:50

Post #3 of 6 (1712 views)

Thank you for the reply--will check out the McMillan running training plan.

http://achukumba.blogspot.com/

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AlyraD

Oct 25, 19 10:38

Post #4 of 6 (1651 views)

I haven't paid for a plan, but I have PRed and BQed using a free plan off garmin connect. If you have a watch then whats cool is all the workouts can be imported over and you can use your watch as a more interactive training tool. I have had good luck with their marathon III plan

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schubydooo

Oct 25, 19 13:36

Post #5 of 6 (1594 views)

In addition to McMillan (quite like his pace zone/calculator), you could check out Hal Higdon, which is basically the same offering as McMillan but a different coach. Additionally, sounds like Hal just released a new app, Run With Hal, in partnership with TrainingPeaks, which offers adaptive plans. So if you miss a workout it'll reschedule it according to Hal's methodology to simulate having a coach (i.e. if you missed an interval workout vs the easy run - what to do). From TP it sounds like this is the first stab of this type of adaptive coaching tech where they hope to learn on a simpler single-sport like running before moving onto cycling & multisport as well as broadening to open up to more coaches as it gets more refined. Downside is it is a standalone app and workouts from watches/devices won't upload so you'll have to manually add time/dist.

So at-worst you have Hal's running plans and at-best you get to experiment on the forefront of adaptive coaching tech.

Or if you want to overload yourself with choices, TrainingPeaks' plan store has plenty of options from a multitude of coaches.

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achukumba

Oct 25, 19 13:58

Post #6 of 6 (1579 views)

Thank you for your reply. I have a Forerunner 205–will check out Garmin Connect.

http://achukumba.blogspot.com/

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