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Tier I

Tier I · Your first marathon

Twelve weeks, from three days of running to the start line.

Your first marathon, or your first time on a real plan. Week 1 is three days of running. By the end you’ll run 16 miles and finish at marathon pace.

$247.00 USD 14 videos · 12 weeks

Start Tier I
  • A 12-week plan in Kajabi, from three days of running in Week 1 to a 16-mile long run finished at marathon pace
  • 14 videos: an intro, one for each week, and a post-race video
  • Easy running, cross-training, fueling, recovery and your first threshold workouts, in the week you need them
  • A fueling and carb-load plan you test before race day, and race weekend planned down to the bag drop
  • A weekly email once your block starts

The first 250 orders get the Founder’s Edition journal, mailed to you.

Tier I

The 12 weeks

  • Intro Pick your race, count back 12 weeks
  • Week 1 Easy running is your volume
  • Week 2 Cross-training
  • Week 3 Fueling
  • Week 4 Recovery and a 5K time trial
  • Week 5 Pacing
  • Week 6 First threshold workout
  • Week 7 Long-run workout and carb load
  • Week 8 Race weekend planning
  • Week 9 The first half of the marathon
  • Week 10 The second half of the marathon
  • Week 11 Taper
  • Week 12 Race week
  • After Post-race

How it works

  1. Pick a race.

    First one? Find a flat course, under 400 feet of climbing. Count back 12 weeks from race day and mark that Monday on your calendar NOW. That’s Week 1.

  2. Watch Sunday, run Monday.

    Each week’s video drops the Sunday before. Fueling, pacing, workouts, recovery and race planning show up in the week you need them.

  3. Run the week.

    Your plan lives in Kajabi, and we’ll email you every week to keep you on it. The days are a suggestion. Move things around, just keep two days between your Wednesday workout and your Saturday long run.

  4. Race.

    You’ll show up with a pacing plan, a fueling plan you’ve already tested, and your whole race weekend mapped out down to the bag drop.

  5. Rest.

    The post-race video covers recovery and how to build back up for the next one. Please listen to it.

Marathons are not easy.

I can’t promise you a PB, and nobody honest can. Heat, a bad night of sleep, a gel that sits wrong at mile 16: all of it shows up on race day.

Here’s what I do know. A marathon can be completely lost in the first 5K if you pace it wrong, and we spend real time making sure that isn’t you. Do the work, trust your training, and go suffer well.

For you if:

  • this is your first marathon, or your first time on a real plan
  • you’re running 1–3 days a week right now
  • you’ve got a job and a family and still want to run a real marathon
  • you’ll run your easy days EASY, even when it feels too slow

Not for you if:

  • you’re not running yet (grab the free Base Build first)
  • you’ve done one and want a big PB (that’s Tier II)
  • you want someone adjusting your plan every day (that’s coaching, and it’s separate)
  • you plan to skip the long runs

My Receipts

  1. First marathon 3:59
  2. Chicago ’22 2:57
  3. Carmel ’23 2:48
  4. Boston ’26 2:29

Questions

Is Tier I the right one?

Tier I is your first marathon, or your first real plan. Tier II is for runners who’ve done one and want a big PB. Tier III is for a BQ or faster. Between two? Go with the lower one.

I’ve only run a half. Where do I start?

Tier I. A half is a great base.

I’m slow. Is this for me?

Yes. My first marathon was a 3:59. All your paces come from your own time trial, so the plan fits the runner you are right now.

Is this a plan or a video course?

Both. Your 12-week plan lives in Kajabi, and there’s a video for every week. Watch it Sunday, run the week. Once your block starts, we’ll email you every week to keep you on track.

How many days a week will I run?

Tier I starts at three.

Can I move runs around?

Yes. The week is a suggestion. Keep two days between your Wednesday workout and your Saturday long run, and put the long run on the same day as your race if you can.

What if I miss a run?

Target at least 85% of your total volume across the block. In Tier I, don’t go making up missed miles.

Do I need a heart rate monitor?

Not for Tier I. Easy is a FEELING.

Does it cover fueling?

A lot. What to eat during the block, gels on long runs (about 25g every 25–30 minutes), carb loading, and race breakfast. EAT ENOUGH CALORIES PLEASE!! I would rather you over eat than under-eat.

If not now, when?

Pick your race. Mark your Week 1 Monday. Commit now. Let’s go run a marathon!!

Start Tier I $247 Or get all three $494

Terms and Conditions

Not medical advice

Marathon Courses is educational content: training plans, videos and emails about running. It is not medical advice, and it doesn’t replace a doctor, a physiotherapist or a coach who knows you. Check with your doctor before you start a training program, and stop and get help if something hurts or feels wrong.

Your health, your call

Training for and running a marathon carries a real risk of injury and illness. You take part at your own risk, and you choose the paces, distances and days that suit your health.

No promised result

We can’t promise a finish time, a PB or a BQ, and nobody honest can. Heat, sleep, illness and race day all play their part.

Your course is yours

Buying a tier gives you personal access to it. Please don’t share your login, or copy, record, resell or pass on the videos, plans or emails.

Payment

Payment is taken at checkout by Kajabi and its payment providers; we never see your card details. Questions about a payment or a refund: hello@marathoncourses.com.

Liability

As far as the law allows, we aren’t liable for any injury, loss or damage that comes from following the course. Nothing here limits a liability the law doesn’t let us limit.

Changes

We may improve the course, and these terms, from time to time. The terms you agreed to at checkout are the ones that apply to your purchase.