Personalized Marathon Training Plan Guide
Preparing for a marathon requires a systematic training plan. RunBox AI coach creates a customized 16-20 week marathon training plan based on your fitness level, goal time, and available training time.
Why Choose an AI-Customized Marathon Training Plan?
- Personalized Assessment: Based on your running experience and fitness condition
- Smart Adjustments: Training intensity optimizes automatically with progress
- Scientific Pacing: Based on your target finish time
- Injury Prevention: Reasonable intensity progression to avoid injuries
what is the life of a marathon organizer like
Since 2015, marathons have ignited a wildfire of enthusiasm across the country, giving rise to a large number of professionals dedicated to serving these events. We call them 'marathon operators.'
Organizing a marathon is an extremely complex mega-project. There's a saying in the industry: 'To run a successful marathon, you need to do ten thousand things right.' These 'ten thousand things' can't be done by a single person. A marathon event typically involves a team of dozens of marathon operators, including departments like the office, marketing, volunteer coordination, logistics, media promotion, medical aid, and security, each responsible for different tasks. These tasks include, but are not limited to, registration, course measurement, procurement, sponsorship, promotion, volunteer training, referee coordination, security deployment, vehicle dispatch, logistical support, environmental management, design, and hospitality.
Although everyone has their own roles, as the event approaches and the workload skyrockets, everyone ends up doing a bit of everything. If the work isn't finished during the day, they continue into the night. In the days leading up to the event, if things get too hectic, additional personnel are called in from headquarters for support.
I recall a saying that perfectly describes marathon operators: 'Women are treated like men, and men are treated like beasts of burden.' Many male marathon operators, although born in the '90s or even '95, appear much more mature and experienced than their actual age. Some marathon operators younger than me look as mature as I do, if not more so. The women are all 'tough girls,' handling not only mental tasks but also physical labor that even I find challenging.
Years ago, the group known as marathon operators didn't exist, or if it did, it was a very small group. With only a dozen or so events a year, the sports bureau could handle them on its own. Now, with over 1,500 running events annually in the country, marathon operators have become a massive group. This large group didn't just appear out of nowhere; many of them were runners who loved running even before they started organizing marathons.
I suspect many of them were lured by the 'perfect combination of career and hobby' mantra. They loved running and fell in love with marathons, so they decided to combine their careers with marathons. They jumped into the marathon operator pit one after another. Some left after struggling for a few years, but most, possessing the resilient qualities of marathon runners, continue to forge ahead in this challenging field.
I completely understand those who leave the marathon operator circle, and I deeply admire those who continue to strive in it.
Why do I understand? And why do I admire? Once you understand what they have to sacrifice for a marathon, how exhausting and grueling it is, you will understand and admire them just as I do.
The first stage: Bidding for the event three to six months in advance
Typically, an event's bidding process starts three to six months in advance, sometimes even earlier. Event companies interested in the marathon follow up and participate in the bidding. At this stage, marathon operators begin their work, drafting thick bid proposals based on the bidding requirements and the city's characteristics, including but not limited to its geography, natural scenery, history, culture, notable figures, landmarks, and cuisine.
Once the bid proposal is completed, it is submitted to the bidding company. All participating event companies then gather for the 'bid presentation.' After everyone has presented, they wait anxiously for the results. The waiting period, though short, is quite agonizing. If they don't win the bid, all their previous efforts are wasted, and the team might have no work and face financial difficulties. If they win, it's great, but it's just the first step of a long journey, and the real challenges are just beginning.
The second stage: Preparation begins two to three months in advance
Once they secure the event, marathon operators roll up their sleeves and get to work. They typically leave their company or warm homes two to three months in advance, or even earlier for major events, to join the project team and start preparations.
During this stage, they mainly interact with local personnel, building good relationships. Many aspects of a marathon require local cooperation. If the local personnel cooperate well, half the battle is won. A colleague told me that to blend in with the local personnel, they often have to drink together. Once the drinks are flowing, relationships become harmonious, and things get done more smoothly.
This stage involves a lot of work, including recruitment, sponsorship, and determining the necessary supplies. They often work until eight or nine in the evening and have no weekends off. Last Sunday, I visited the Jingma office, and many people were still working.
'Bringing warmth to the city,' can you believe the guy on the right is five years younger than me?
The third stage: Finalizing tasks three weeks before the event
Three weeks before the event, all tasks are in full swing, and many things need to be finalized. All the materials needed for the event must be in place, and the nerves of marathon operators start to tighten.
During this stage, it's normal to work until nine or ten at night, and sometimes meetings last until the early hours of the morning.
The fourth stage: Entering '007' mode a week before the event
A week before the event, tasks come flooding in. Sponsors start arriving, and they need assistance with their activities. A large wave of participants is approaching to collect their race packs. All the supplies for the event must be ready. Volunteer training enters the final sprint, and major construction projects begin.
During this week, marathon operators transform into 'superhumans,' entering '007' mode, meaning they work seven days a week and usually don't finish until midnight, which is much tougher than the '996' schedule of internet workers.
At this stage, you'll see them constantly on their phones, either answering or making calls, all moving hurriedly with tense nerves.
The fifth stage: On standby the day before the event
To ensure a perfect event, marathon operators usually don't sleep the night before. They transport all materials to the course, inspect the course repeatedly, and confirm everything multiple times to ensure nothing goes wrong. Organizing a marathon is challenging because it must be 'foolproof'; otherwise, a single mistake can ruin everything.
When the starting gun fires, their tense nerves can relax a bit, but not completely. They must keep an eye on the course to handle any issues promptly. Only after all participants have finished can they truly relax. At this point, the physical and mental exhaustion hits them like a tidal wave, and they often fall asleep wherever they can.
Kobe Bryant has seen Los Angeles at 4 a.m.; marathon operators often see a city at various early hours, from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. On the last day, they can witness a city's transition from sunrise to sunset and back to sunrise again.
The sixth stage: Post-event relaxation
After the event, the workload decreases significantly. The main tasks are issuing completion certificates to participants and wrapping up various tasks, sorting and distributing materials as needed.
Once the wrap-up is complete, they move on to the next project site, starting another cycle. They typically go through two to three cycles a year, sometimes more.
Comparing Chen's execution before, during, and after the event, you can see how exhausting it is for her.
In organizing a marathon, physical exhaustion is secondary; the immense mental pressure is the real challenge. With tens of thousands of participants, even a small issue can have significant repercussions, leading to complaints from runners, criticism from media, and even public opinion crises. Organizing a marathon is like dancing on the edge of a cliff; one misstep can lead to disaster. Unfortunately, the current public opinion environment in the domestic marathon scene is quite harsh. When problems arise, the media pounce, blowing things out of proportion and harshly criticizing the event.
The mental pressure they endure is immense, and their bodies are often exhausted. Some of my marathon operator friends undergo full-body check-ups after each event to ensure their health. They even buy 'sudden death insurance,' which is quite sobering.
I often ask my marathon operator friends, especially the women, 'Why did you choose this demanding job?' Many of them say, 'Back then, we were passionate and wanted to combine our hobby with our career.'
This combination means they often leave home for two to three months at a time, spending eight to nine months a year away from home. During these periods, they can't see their families or enjoy their usual meals. In unfamiliar cities, they pour all their energy and effort into creating a perfect event for the city and its runners. If the event goes smoothly, they can collapse in relief. If there are any issues, they face criticism from the government, runners, and media. If possible, I urge everyone to show 'more kindness, understanding, tolerance, and encouragement' to our marathons and marathon operators.
When I left my previous company, I had an opportunity to become a marathon operator, but I didn't take it. In hindsight, I'm secretly relieved. There's nothing more satisfying than this. If I had another chance, I would say four words to that job: 'I don't want it.' And if I had to add a time limit to this refusal, it would be 'ten thousand years.'
Start Your Marathon Training Journey
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- GPT-4o powered personalized training plans
- Daily training guidance and feedback
- Nutrition and recovery advice
- Real-time progress tracking
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