The marathon is the pinnacle of all road races. Thus, to train for it, you need to build strenuous resistance as well as boost both physical and mental agility.
In general, marathon training is a combination of running and strength training sessions with a gradually increasing workload. This serves the purpose of getting your body more acquainted with the extensive running volume and cutting down on injury risks.
Then, in particular, what makes Peloton Marathon Training programs stand out from others offered in the field? Let’s find out with us through this article!
Peloton Marathon Training – An Overview
Cover of road to your 26.2 program
By utilizing various kinds of training, namely strength, running, and even recovery, Peloton Marathon Training programs steadily enhance your stamina and aerobic fitness by increasing class lengths every six weeks.
The “Road To Your 26.2” program series is an 18-week program of three small parts designed for Peloton Tread. Its sessions are mixtures of diverse workouts, upbeat playlists, and useful tips for long-distance running.
What is special about this Marathon Training program of Peloton is that it exploits the 10-percent rule. This means that 10% more mileage will be added to the sessions every week to gradually make you stronger while still avoiding injury risks.
What Benefits Can You Gain From Peloton Marathon Training?
A woman practicing running
Marathon Training programs of Peloton can inspire and motivate you throughout the process: from your first training session to the finish line. Their classes promise to not only strengthen your muscles but prevent their fatigue as well.
Besides, running frequently bumps your endorphin level, thereby uplifting your mood and bettering your capillaries to the brain and the extremities. Marathon training may also prompt healthier habits and break bad ones.
How to Access Peloton Marathon Training Programs?
For the “Road To Your 26.2” programs:
Step 1: Go to the “Programs” section
Choosing programs
Step 2: Choose “Browse”
Choosing browse
Step 3: Scroll to find the “Road To Your 26.2” programs
Road to your 26.2 part 1
Road to your 26.2 part 2&3
Peloton Marathon Training Programs
Becs Gentry
With gentle progression witnessed in each program, the Peloton Marathon Training series moderately develops your adaptations and protects you from potential injuries.
Generally, the schedules planned for 18 weeks are quite similar.
Day 1 is used for resting and reflecting by noting down the total number of miles and the average pace you run at. Then, for day 2 and day 4, there are two warm-up sessions that demand weekly practice.
Besides these two pre-runs, the regular routine should be as follows:
- Day 2: Tempo Run
- Day 3: Strength for Runners
- Day 4: Marathon Race Preparation
- Day 5: Strength for Runners
- Day 6: Recovery Fun Run
- Day 7: Long Run
By incorporating five types of classes: tempo runs, race prep runs, strength training sessions, recovery fun runs, and long runs, Peloton Marathon Training programs get you ready both physically and mentally for the race day.
The durations of these training sessions are slowly extended with little change in the plans so that you can easily track your performance. Besides, the teachers in charge also take turns across the 18 weeks of the program.
As a whole, five instructors are responsible for these classes and their names are
- Matt Wilpers
- Andy Speer
- Becs Gentry
- Rebecca Kennedy
- Robin Arzon
If it is still too confusing for you to fully imagine how the classes are distributed and delivered, seek their specific plans in the next part.
Peloton Marathon Training Plan
Below is the complete marathon training calendar of Peloton’s “Road To Your 26.2” program.
You can also download them here to take notes more conveniently.
Equipment For Peloton Marathon Training
Besides the treadmill used for running sessions, you have to prepare the following things for two strength training days in a week:
- 2 – 3 pairs of Peloton compatible running shoes (choose those which are most fit for your feet)
- Weights (medium and heavy ones are recommended by Peloton)
- Peloton yoga mat for warm-ups and strength training sessions
- Gels or Fuel for long runs
- Water bottle or Hydration vest
Besides, though not added as an official part of Peloton Marathon Training program, participating in classes with foam rollers is worth being on the list as they can effectively recover your muscles after high-intensity workouts.
Peloton Marathon Training vs. Run-Walk-Run Method
Walk breaks
Jeff Galloway, an American Olympian athlete in the 10,000 meters, introduced and popularized the Run-Walk-Run approach. Though both serve the objective of training for marathon races, they are still different from each other.
The most significant distinction between these two is the walking breaks.
In Jeff Galloway’s Run-Walk-Run method, there is a walking break for every two miles and one break lasts for 45 seconds in both training and racing. By doing so, runners can cut down the pressure on their body, correct their posture to lessen injury risks, and regain adequate energy to continue the race.
In Peloton Marathon Training programs, there are no walking breaks. Still, you may find something similar in its “You Can Run” series.
Hence, opting for which one is all down to your personal preference.
Peloton Marathon Training vs. Hal Higdon Training
Hal Higdon is famous for his running training plans. His program and Peloton’s program are based on the same concept: training with slow progression, but they are basically poles apart.
| Peloton Marathon Training | Hal Higdon Training |
| Being suitable for everyone | Being customized in accordance with runners’ fitness levels |
| Offering one fixed series of courses | Offering more diverse courses
(5K, 10K, half marathon, post-marathon) |
The fitness levels that Hal Higdon programs are derived from include:
- novice
- novice supreme
- intermediate
- advanced
- personal best
- senior
- multiple marathons
Thus, for those who want their training plans designed especially for themselves, the Hal Higdon program is a better option. Yet, for those who want something more challenging and extensive, then the Peloton Marathon Training program will work better.
How To Train for Marathon with Peloton Bike
A woman practicing with peloton bike
As a whole, the Peloton bikes are beneficial for running training sessions. They enable exercises in various power zones at greater intensities without overworking your tendons and ligaments. Moreover, cycling indoors helps sustain your training volume even under bad weather conditions.
Exploiting the Peloton bikes also enhances runners’, especially the beginners’, aerobic capacity and performance as well as minimizes harmful impacts on their joints.
So, how can you actually use them for your marathon training programs?
You can add Peloton cycling sessions with the Peloton bikes into the marathon race preparation. There are two ways to do so:
- Replacing Power Zone classes for Tempo Runs
- Taking Recovery and Low-Impact Rides to optimize lactate elimination
Therefore, if you do not possess a Peloton treadmill, don’t worry! Just substitute running sessions with cycling ones as the suggested schedule below.
| Days | Class |
| Day 1 | – |
| Day 2 | 10 min Warm Up Ride
30 min Intervals Ride |
| Day 3 | 30 min Strength for Runners |
| Day 4 | 10 min Warm Up Ride
30 min Pro Cyclist Ride |
| Day 5 | 30 min Strength for Runners |
| Day 6 | 20 min Walk + Run (Outdoor) |
| Day 7 | 20 min Power Walk |
By substituting tread sessions with outdoor running or walking and cycling, you can easily make use of the Peloton bikes for your Marathon Training program. In this way, slow progression can also be applied with 15 more minutes added every 5-6 weeks.
Peloton Half Marathon Training
The most evident difference between a Marathon Training program and a Half Marathon Training one is the session lengths. To put it in another way, Half Marathon preparation involves fewer miles and a shorter training period.
In general, Peloton has yet to produce an official Half Marathon Training program. It does, however, provide a running series to train you for a half marathon, which consists of recovery and low-impact workouts to aid in your recovery.
Which Peloton Class Is Good For Half Marathon Training?
Tempo runs and endurance runs are the most highly recommended Peloton classes for Half Marathon preparation. These courses require you to undergo training at 60 – 80% of your maximum heart rate, which is just below the OBLA threshold.
What Is The OBLA Threshold?
OBLA is the abbreviation of onset blood lactate accumulation. OBLA is when the intensity is so high that the body generates more lactate than it can get rid of.
Therefore, you need to maintain your highest heart rate below this metric. With Peloton running classes asking you to practice at 60 – 80% of your maximum heart rate, you will be able to run as fast as you can without overexertion.
Can You Run A Half Marathon With 3 Months Of Training?
The answer is: POSSIBLY.
As a whole, it is up to your fitness level. For newbies, you may need to spend 4 – 6 months practicing with a slow progression of less than 10% every week to eventually be familiar with the race. Yet, for advanced runners, 3 – 4 months are long enough for them to get ready.
Peloton 5K Training
Cover of 5k training program
The 5K Training program of Peloton entails a series of workouts. With more than twice the number of classes in the “You Can Run” program, Peloton 5K Training challenges and enables you to complete your first 5k in the shortest possible time.
How long does training for a 5K take?
By integrating multiple training sessions, such as: intervals, recovery, running, walking, bodyweight and core strength, Peloton 5K Training remarkably enhances your strength and endurance within about 6 weeks.
Intensity is what distinguishes 5K Training from Marathon Training. While Marathon Training offers low-intensity, high-mileage endurance sessions, 5K Training requires runners to practice additional threshold exercises.
This means that the session intensity will constantly be increasing throughout 6 weeks of the program, making the lessons both more challenging and lengthier.
Can beginners participate in Peloton 5K training?
As explained above, the 5K Training program of Peloton is tough and intense. Although it is stated to be designed for everyone, beginners who have not been introduced to marathon before will have some difficulties.
Thus, if you are totally new and want to take things slow, the “You Can Run” program is a better choice.
Conclusion
With 18 weeks practicing various classes like weight lifting, cardio workouts, or speedwork, Peloton “Road To Your 26.2” program guarantees to build up your training adaptations and aerobic fitness without causing muscle fatigue.
This program is cut out for everyone, even for beginners. So, just feel free to warm up your body and get into it before taking part in a marathon or whenever you feel like running.
FAQs
1. When should I start joining Peloton Marathon Training programs?
If you are experienced and planning for a marathon, then the most ideal point of time to start this program is at least 18 weeks before the race day.
Yet, if you are completely new to long-distance running, you should get yourself familiar with running in one extra month before entering into the program.
2. Who can join Peloton Marathon Training programs?
Everyone can join this program as Peloton claimed to design it for both novice and seasoned runners.
Besides, the program is built to be flexibly tailored for your needs, whether you just want to join for recreational purposes or have a specific time goal in mind. Still, before starting the program, you need to get used to running consistently for 3 – 4 kilometers.
3. Does Peloton really help with Marathon Training?
The answer is: YES.
As the “Road To Your 26.2” program provides diverse running and cycling sessions that add mileage to your weekly training volume. Moreover, Peloton also offers “Strength For Runners” classes to boost muscular endurance.
4. Does the peloton have a learn-to-run program?
The answer is: YES.
The program is named “You Can Run”. In this program, you are taught about proper skills, valuable tips, and the fundamentals for longer runs. All lessons last for 20 minutes during the first four weeks. Then, in the last week, they are 45 and 60 minutes long.
