For marathoners and mountain racers
Training guides
Workouts and systems for runners already logging consistent mileage. No beginner plans, no magic sessions — just the training that moves race times.
Guides
Tool
Race pace calculator
Enter a goal or recent finish time to get pace per mile, pace per kilometer and even halfway split.
Training intensities, defined
The terms we use across every guide. Exact paces vary by athlete; use effort and recent race results as your anchor.
| Intensity | What it feels like | What it's for | Typical sessions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | Fully conversational | Aerobic base, recovery, volume | Most weekly mileage, recovery runs |
| Marathon pace | Controlled, sustainable for hours | Race-specific endurance and fueling practice | Long-run segments at goal pace |
| Threshold | Comfortably hard; a few words at a time | Raising the pace you can hold before fatigue builds quickly | Tempo runs, cruise intervals |
| VO2max | Hard; breathing heavily | Aerobic ceiling | 3–5 minute repeats |
| Strides | Fast but relaxed, not a sprint | Running economy and form | Short accelerations after easy runs |
Train by goal
Boston qualifier
Threshold volume plus marathon-pace long runs. Start with our threshold guide, then the Boston course guide.
First mountain race
Build vert, learn to hike and train the descent. Read vert training and the Pikes Peak guide.
Race-day shoes
Train in your racers before race day. Compare options in our racing shoe rankings.