NYC Marathon training plan for November 7, 2027

This is our 16-week intermediate marathon plan, the same weeks, dated to the race. It assumes a marathon behind you, a target time in mind and four running days a week.

• Base, weeks 1 to 3: 35 to 27 miles a week, with a long run of 16 to 12 miles.
• Cutbacks in weeks 4 and 8: the week drops to 30 and 24 miles so the training before it can land.
• Build and peak, weeks 5 to 12: up to 42 miles in weeks 11 and 12, with two 20-mile long runs.
• Taper, weeks 13 to 15: 44, then 30, then 12 miles. Race week has two short runs before race day.

Every week has one tempo run on Thursday until the taper. If four days is too many, the beginner version runs three days and peaks at 32 miles; the advanced plan runs five and peaks at 53 miles.

What NYRR and the course certificate tell you, and what it means for training:

• Five bridges, mostly in the second half. The Verrazzano-Narrows at the start, the Pulaski at mile 13.1, the Queensboro into Manhattan, then the Willis Avenue and Madison Avenue bridges in and out of the Bronx.
• Little net change. The USA Track and Field certificate for the 2022 course lists a drop of 0.12 m per km, about 5 m over the distance. NYRR changed the Bronx section for 2026.
• A late start. In 2026 the five waves started between 9:10 and 11:30 a.m. ET.
• Limited gels on course. NYRR has gel depots at miles 12 and 18 only and advises carrying your own.

Entry first: the 2027 drawing dates are to be announced, and NYRR's 9+1 program and time qualifiers give guaranteed places. See the NYC Marathon drawing and the NYC qualifying times.

This is Runsy's coaching advice, not NYRR's.

• Find a bridge or a long hill for your long runs. From week 5, put a climb or two in the second half of every long run, so your legs meet hills when they are already tired, the way they will after mile 13.
• Do some long runs late in the morning. If you are in a later wave, you may not start until after 10 a.m. Practise eating and running on that clock.
• Carry your fuel in training. With gels only at miles 12 and 18, you need a plan that works from your own pocket.
• Know your calendar. A July 19 start puts the peak weeks, 11 and 12, at September 27 to October 10, and the taper fills the rest of October.

Your goal pace per km and per mile is in the marathon pace chart.