Your first marathon roadmap
Plan backwards from the finish line, with time for a rehearsal.
Before entering
Read the event’s cutoff, aid-station list and entry conditions. Choose a training plan that starts from the running you actually do and fits your schedule. Compare the weekly pattern with your work and family commitments before paying for entry.
Rehearse the whole morning
On a suitable training day, use your intended socks, carry system and familiar breakfast. Record what time you ate, what you could comfortably carry, and what was awkward to open on the move. Use what you learn to edit your race plan.
Pick three outcomes
Write a target time, a finish-first fallback and a reason to stop or seek help. Decide how you’ll respond to a crowded start or a missed split before you’re under pressure.