Carmel, CA · April
Big Sur Marathon Training Plan
A free 5k and marathon plan for the Big Sur International Marathon, built around the course and your current fitness. Answer four questions and you will see every week of it. No account, no email, no card.
- Distances
- 5K, Marathon
- Course
- Hilly
- Usually held
- Each April
The Big Sur Marathon course
Run along Highway 1 on the California coast, widely considered one of the most scenic marathons anywhere. It is also genuinely hard: the two mile climb to Hurricane Point in the middle of the race, followed by the Bixby Bridge, breaks a lot of time goals.
Weather on race day
Coastal and unpredictable. Wind off the Pacific is the defining condition and it is often a headwind.
What to train for
Sustained climbing, not short hill repeats. Hurricane Point is a long grind, so train long continuous ascents and plan to race this one on effort rather than pace.
Registration and official details: Big Sur Marathon official site
Big Sur Marathon training questions
How long should I train for the Big Sur Marathon?
Most runners give a marathon sixteen to twenty weeks of focused training on top of an existing base. The plan above counts back from your actual race date, so if you have less time than that it builds the best plan the remaining weeks allow rather than pretending you have longer.
Is the Big Sur Marathon course hilly?
Hilly. Run along Highway 1 on the California coast, widely considered one of the most scenic marathons anywhere. It is also genuinely hard: the two mile climb to Hurricane Point in the middle of the race, followed by the Bixby Bridge, breaks a lot of time goals.
What is the weather usually like at the Big Sur Marathon?
Coastal and unpredictable. Wind off the Pacific is the defining condition and it is often a headwind.
Do I need an account to get a Big Sur Marathon training plan?
No. The plan above builds in your browser with no account, no email, and no card. Make a free account only if you want to keep it, log your runs against it, and have the coach keep adapting it as your training goes.
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