MARATHON
26.2
AUG 22, 2026
Target: Sub 5:30
3 days/week Β· 17 weeks
Start: Apr 23 Β· πŸ‡»πŸ‡³ Jun 18 – Jul 29
Start base 10 KM
Goal pace ~7:48
Zone 2 pace 9:00/km
Weeks left 17
Zone 2 Easy Run
Long Run
Cross-train (football/bike)
Rest / Recovery
Race Day
πŸ‡»πŸ‡³ In Vietnam β€” run by HR, before 6:30am
πŸ€’
πŸ‡»πŸ‡³
Phase 1 β€” Return & Base Weeks 1–5 Β· Apr 23 – May 24

Shake off illness and rebuild rhythm. W1 is intentionally easy β€” just get moving again. Ramp picks up from W2. All runs at 9:00–9:30/km.

W1 ← NOWApr 23
Z2 Easy 6km Football / Bike Long Run 8km
Post-illness return β€” 14 km Β· easy does it
W2Apr 30
Z2 Easy 8km Football / Bike Long Run 12km
Weekly run: 20 km
W3May 7
Z2 Easy 10km Football / Bike Long Run 16km
Weekly run: 26 km
W4May 14 ↓
Z2 Easy 8km Football / Bike Long Run 12km
Recovery week β€” 20 km
W5May 21
Z2 Easy 10km Football / Bike Long Run 18km
Weekly run: 28 km
Phase 2 β€” Build & Extend Weeks 6–12 Β· May 28 – Jul 12

Push long runs toward 30km. W8 onward in Vietnam β€” same distances, run by HR only, morning runs. Heat training is a bonus.

W6May 28
Z2 Easy 10km Football / Bike Long Run 20km
Weekly run: 30 km
W7Jun 4 ↓
Z2 Easy 8km Football / Bike Long Run 14km
Recovery week β€” 22 km Β· last easy week before VN
W8Jun 11
Z2 Easy 12km Football / Bike Long Run 22km
Weekly run: 34 km Β· final home week
W9Jun 18 πŸ‡»πŸ‡³βœˆοΈ
Z2 Easy 6km Travel / Rest Easy 10km
Arrival week β€” 16 km Β· settle in, sleep first
W10Jun 25 πŸ‡»πŸ‡³ ↓
Z2 Easy 10km Walk / Swim Long Run 16km
Recovery week β€” 26 km
W11Jul 2 πŸ‡»πŸ‡³
Z2 Easy 12km Walk / Swim Long Run 28km
Weekly run: 40 km
W12Jul 9 πŸ‡»πŸ‡³
Z2 Easy 12km Walk / Swim Long Run 30km
Weekly run: 42 km Β· Peak week
Phase 3 β€” Peak & Taper Weeks 13–17 Β· Jul 16 – Aug 22

W13–W15 still in Vietnam. One final big push at W14, then taper home. Heat adaptation pays off on race day.

W13Jul 16 πŸ‡»πŸ‡³ ↓
Z2 Easy 10km Walk / Swim Long Run 20km
Recovery week β€” 30 km
W14Jul 23 πŸ‡»πŸ‡³
Z2 Easy 12km Walk / Swim Long Run 32km
Weekly run: 44 km Β· Final big week
W15Jul 30 ✈️ ↓
Z2 Easy 6km Fly Home Jetlag Rest
Return week β€” 6 km Β· sleep is the priority
W16Aug 6 ↓
Z2 Easy 8km Easy walk / stretch Easy 12km
Taper β€” 20 km
W17Aug 13 ↓
Z2 Easy 5km Rest 🏁 RACE DAY Aug 22
Race week β€” stay loose, carb load Wed–Fri, sleep well
Post-Illness Rule

W1 is gentle by design. Don't try to make up for lost time β€” your aerobic fitness is still largely intact after 2 weeks. Patience now saves your race.

Zone 2 Rule

If you can't hold a conversation, you're going too fast. 9:00–9:30/km on all easy runs. Never sacrifice this for ego.

10% Rule

Never increase weekly mileage more than 10% between weeks. Built into this plan. Don't add extra runs on good-feeling weeks.

Recovery Weeks

Every 3rd week drops volume ~30%. Not optional β€” this is when your body adapts and gets stronger.

πŸ‡»πŸ‡³ Run by HR

In Vietnam, ignore pace entirely. Zone 2 HR is your only guide. 11:00/km in 34Β°C heat is still great training.

πŸ‡»πŸ‡³ Morning Only

Run before 6:30am without exception. Midday running in 33Β°C + 85% humidity is dangerous, not heroic.

Long Run Fuel

From 16km onwards, fuel every 45 min. Use gels, dates, or banana. Train your gut now β€” don't experiment on race day.

Taper Trust

W15–17 you'll feel sluggish and undertrained. That's normal. Your legs are storing energy. Do not add extra runs.