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

lock door guide run through distance endure through time full marathon back to back

Dreaming back to the Tang Dynasty, with an unwavering heart, grateful to Huipao for once again creating a zero-complaint service, atmosphere, and experience at the Xi'an Marathon. Since last year's Xi'an Marathon became an instant hit, participating in it will show you how well a marathon event can be organized in China.

The selection of pacers (rabbits) for the Xi'an Marathon is quite stringent. One needs to have previously served as a pacer for Asics events. For example, the only Asics-sponsored race in China this year was the 2018 Wuxi Marathon. So, with the 'Courage' from Liang Jingru and 'Little Luck' from Hebe Tien, I once again served as a pacer for the 6-hour group despite not getting a spot in the Xi'an Marathon. (I mistakenly registered for the 6:15 closing time 😛)

I was happy to see our warm-hearted pacer Chen Chen again. The sponsor Asics provided pacers with the 'Dark Challenge Series' full black gear, which received unanimous praise from fellow runners for its slimming effect. To meet everyone in Xi'an and enjoy some food and drinks, I lost 4KG 😁.

(Who says the best way to understand a city is by walking? Clearly, it's by running and enjoying food and drinks!)

Regarding back-to-back marathons, I have tried running a half marathon and a full marathon back-to-back twice, quitting once and collapsing once, both ending in failure. Since the Maoming Marathon was postponed from April to October 21, I, who had already been selected as the Maoming closing pacer, checked flight tickets and travel plans. With a try-it-out attitude, I asked the Maoming organizing committee if I could do something bold.

As it turns out, many times your decisions may not be supported by anyone, but you can try to achieve them alone. Once someone supports you, then go for it without hesitation, young man.

'Nothing can stop your longing for running.' Here, I want to thank Blue Rabbit Sports for always giving me the warmth of an ex.

'Grant me a flying charm, and I will descend in Chang'an in two hours.' I'm back in my beloved Xi'an!!! I'm obsessed with the city walls; every time I pass by them, I feel a mysterious force making me stop and think about where I came from and where I'm going.

'Why do you want to run?' and 'Why do you like the city walls?' are questions that don't make sense, so let's not ask them 🤫.

The Xi'an Marathon packet pickup process includes: security check, ID verification, race wristband attachment, bib number collection, and clothing collection. What I love most about Huipao's humanized approach is that they provide sample clothing sizes and full-length mirrors on-site, so I was already featured in my friends' circle 20 times before even collecting my race outfit.

(Showing off my Xi'an Marathon wealth)

(The rabbit wall is still as intriguing as ever. Never mind, I'll follow the trend and take a look at the cuttlefish)

(I sincerely want to show some love to this wall, so we can have a colorful world)

Every marathon is a large-scale live meet-up for online friends. When you think about why someone would spend money to run and suffer in another city, remember that there are thousands of other 'fools' like them who are running happily together 🤣 (Don't think runners are foolish; they don't know what makes running not foolish either).

On the morning of October 20, 2018, the weather was cloudy. After sleeping for only 3 hours due to insomnia, I got up at 5 AM for the day's race. Oh, wait, it's actually two days.

According to international practice, a fixed makeup photo is needed at this time to satisfy the relay in the friends' circle (I know putting a cuttlefish can increase the reading volume).

The South Gate Square of my great Xi'an city was lit up like a large concert, marking another year of runner's carnival. Despite the low temperature, it did not dampen everyone's enthusiasm.

Huipao's mature start area setup ensures that runners won't complain about not finding the bag drop, the entrance to their start zone, or the restrooms.

To meet the needs of more runners, pacers started in staggered times. For example, I, the 6-hour pacer, actually started at 7:45 AM, allowing me to guide more runners from the back as an effective moving time reference.

At 7:30 AM sharp, the starting gun fired. Hundreds of runners crossed the timing mats, passed through the city walls, forming a colorful ribbon in Chang'an city. The ancient capital of 13 dynasties once again witnessed the charm of the marathon!

With last year's experience and the pre-race sharing from sports photographers Tommy, Circle, and Chubby, I knew the best spots for photos. A perfect race is not just about the results but also about having a memorable photo. Only photos can capture time.

Xi'an Marathon photo standards: City Wall/Bell Tower, both are a must!

Along the way, the enthusiastic and bold citizens of Xi'an:

Jiayou! (Keep it up!)

Kuai xian! (Go faster!)

The organizing committee equipped pacers with Beidou WeChat locators, allowing runners to track the pacing segments in real-time. At the 3-hour mark, when I saw the 3-hour pacer had already reached the finish line, I still had half the distance to go, and I felt utterly defeated.

When the half-marathon split occurred, I encountered a struggling lady who grabbed me. She said only she and another runner from her running group were left, and she had to finish to surpass them.

The well-known 'Qujiang Soul-breaking Slope' saw the first wave of runners boarding the sweep bus. I wish them better luck in getting a spot and finishing the Xi'an Marathon next year.

For uphill sections, the best approach is to 'look down at the road beneath your feet, not at the slope ahead.'

From around the 35km mark, more and more runners joined our 6-hour pacing group, moving slowly. Welcome to the second-to-last bus heading to the 2018 Xi'an Marathon finish line. Join us for a safe finish.

The Xi'an Marathon finish line was still at Daming Palace. Finally, seeing the palace walls again, with just a little distance left, I encouraged the runners around me to hold on, hold on, hold on!

The 6-hour pacing group completed the task, successfully clocking in at the 2018 Xi'an Marathon.

I got the legendary 4D medal! Without having time to examine its 4D features, I took a taxi straight to Xianyang Airport for my 4 PM flight to Guangzhou.

Arriving at the airport around 3 PM, I was probably the only one running in shorts and a short-sleeved shirt in the 11°C temperature at Xianyang Airport. I collected my boarding pass, which showed boarding at 3:20 PM.

The airport security was very understanding, allowing me to use the fast-track security lane after I told them I was running a marathon. Finally, I boarded the plane and even had time to change out of my race outfit in the restroom.

At this moment, the bowl of ramen I had at 6 AM could no longer provide energy. I was both hungry and tired, and I fell asleep after boarding.

I had booked the 8:30 PM high-speed train from Guangzhou to Maoming. Fortunately, my flight landed 30 minutes early at Baiyun Airport. Heaven was on my side!

With a 5-minute pace, I dashed into the subway, expecting to reach Guangzhou South Station in an hour. I ran again to collect my ticket, pass security, and enter the waiting room.

I arrived in Maoming at 11 PM, where thoughtful fellow pacers had already collected my race materials. Special thanks to Jia Ge, Panda, and the Kenyan Elf for their help. As mentioned earlier, many things you decide on your own won't work without others' help.

I was so exhausted that I forgot to take the customary fixed makeup photo.

On the morning of the 21st, the alarm woke me from my sleep at 5 AM. With only 5 hours of sleep and sore muscles, I looked at myself in the mirror and asked, 'Why am I torturing myself?'

Surprise, surprise, excitement, excitement, unexpectedness, 24 hours later, I found myself in another city 2000 km away, starting a new 42.195 km race.

The pacers gathered.

Not yet recovered from the 10°C temperature in Xi'an to the high temperature in Maoming, I saw that the course had almost no shade. It was going to be a tough race. As soon as the gun fired, I ran 200 meters to find my rhythm.

The scenery around the ecological lake was indeed beautiful, but running and strolling are two different things.

As everyone saw on social media yesterday, 'Asia's most brutal course' has now moved to Maoming. It was too brutal, too brutal, too brutal. High temperature, high temperature, high temperature. As the closing pacer, I witnessed various runners collapsing, exploding, and quitting along the way.

At the 20km mark, I was exhausted and sat by the roadside. I thought about taking a photo and calling it quits. After all, a pacer who hasn't collapsed once isn't complete, just like a runner who hasn't taken the sweep bus isn't a true runner.

I had already posted on my friends' circle, but I couldn't go on. I told myself never to pretend to be tough and run back-to-back marathons again.

However, heaven never closes all doors. The hardest thing to give up wasn't the race but the look in my teammates' eyes urging me to keep going.

Alright, alright, stop rolling your eyes at me. I'm a gold medal closing pacer; enduring is my specialty.

Let me recommend a sunscreen.

The scenery is beautiful, but don't give up!

Thanks to my closing teammates: Cola, Sister Cui, Jia Ge, and the Kenyan Elf. Without you, I would have gone back to eat and sleep long ago!

Throughout the journey, I pondered life. Indeed, we all need a race that pushes us to the brink of not wanting to run anymore to truly understand the love-hate relationship with marathons.

My dad once said: 'I didn't give you the talent for running, but you must learn to persevere.'

Even if perseverance only means posting a bragging status on social media at the finish line.

Oh, and most importantly, I have 160,000 followers on the Codoon app waiting to see the power of my example!

In the last 8km, I picked up a junior from Shenzhen Polytechnic's I Run club. Since I was struggling too, I wouldn't let him have an easy time either. I coaxed and persuaded him to the finish line.

As a closing pacer, it's not about the distance but the time.

As I often say: 'A marathon is not just about the distance but also the time.' It includes the time you've trained, sweated, given up, despaired, persevered, invested, and gained.

Right on the dot at 6 hours and 15 minutes, our closing group crossed the finish line, bringing the Maoming International Ecological Marathon to a perfect conclusion.

At this moment, there's no feeling of being moved or daring to move. I just collapsed on the ground, holding the medal, the longest-lasting confession.

'At this moment, I suddenly miss you.'

Two days, two cities, 12 hours and 15 minutes, 84.39 kilometers. If you still don't want to give up, then continue to be the one who perseveres.

Breaking 100 kilometers in a week, pretending to be a serious runner once.

Finally, let me share some tips on back-to-back marathons:

1. Don't run back-to-back marathons.

2. Don't run back-to-back marathons.

3. If you really can't let go of two races, then your gear can provide the most support at this time. I prepared two sets of compression gear (remember, it's compression wear, not quick-dry or tight-fitting clothes): 2XU compression long sleeves, SKINS DNA long sleeves, and A400 long pants.

As the saying goes: 'When ability is lacking, gear makes up for it.'