Boston and Hopkinton, Massachusetts, USA · 42.195 km road marathon
Boston Marathon 2027 training plan
Race day Monday 19 April 2027 · 28 full weeks away
16-week plan: Mon 4 Jan 2027 → race Mon 19 Apr 2027
Starts in 13 weeks. What to do until then
Assumes a runner now at: 55 km a week, longest recent run 26 km, 4 run days, has raced the marathon before. Not you? Change it
Opens at 54.9 km a week and builds to 66.3 km; the long run grows to 31 km. Every few weeks is an easier one, and the last weeks taper.
A typical week: week 9, from Mon 1 Mar
- TueCruise intervals · 14.2 km
- ThuEasy run · 14.2 km
- SatLong run, last 8 km at marathon pace · 30.8 km
- SunRecovery run or hike · 7.1 km
Other days rest.
Keep it, print it or add it to your calendar — no account needed.
Your goal
Same starting point for each; change it under “Adjust this plan”.Your 16-week strong finish plan
The plan starts Monday 4 January 2027, 13 weeks from now. Until then: base weeks from this week or a half marathon on the way.
Which one?
Base weeks: mostly easy running at the volume you run now, then this plan, in one calendar with a "what do I do today". Same runner, same plan. If you follow the Evergreen plan, these base weeks are that plan.
A half marathon four to six weeks before the marathon is the classic build-up: a fitness check and race practice that sets your marathon pace. The list shows halves three to eight weeks out; pick one and the season planner fits it into this build.
Or keep this page: it shows the same plan until Monday 4 January 2027.
Tap or point at a week to see it.
Week 1 · from Mon 4 Jan
Build consistent easy running — 54.9 km; long run 25 km
- Mon 4 JanRest
- Tue 5 JanEasy run + strides
- Thu 7 JanEasy run
- Sat 9 JanLong run
- Sun 10 JanRecovery run or hike
No account needed. A kept plan stays on this browser until its storage is cleared; find it under My kept plans, where you can also change single weeks.
Calendar
Choose a subscription that refreshes, or download a one-time copy.
Adjust this planDefault starting point: 55 km/week; longest recent outing 26 km; 4 days/week; steady recent training; has raced the marathon before.
All 16 weeks
Use it for race-effort sessions and race day. Easy runs stay easy whatever the goal; the plan's efforts come from how you run now.
Plan assumptions and limits
- Road race: the plan is distance-driven and no vertical target is prescribed.
- Generic planning guidance from race facts and stated training — not medical care or individual coaching.
- Training distances and durations are approximate alternatives, not pace targets. Use current effort, not a hoped-for finish time. Repeat or shorten a week if recovery is poor; do not make up missed sessions.
Week 1: Build consistent easy running54.9 km; long run 25 km
- Rest
Rest or gentle mobility.
- Easy run + strides
55 min (about 8.6 km). Start with 10 minutes easy. Then 6 x 20 seconds relaxed strides, with 1 minute easy between repeats. Finish with at least 10 minutes easy; any remaining time is easy.
- Easy run
90 min (about 14.1 km). Conversational aerobic running. Keep easy days easy enough to support the key work.
- Long run
160 min (about 25.1 km). Build relaxed time on feet at conversational effort. Practise eating and drinking on longer easy runs; easy pace is not a reason to skip fueling. For runs lasting 1 to 2.5 hours, 30 to 60 g of carbohydrate per hour is a useful starting range; beyond 2.5 hours, build toward 60 to 90 g per hour if you have practised it and tolerate it. Adjust fluid to your needs and the conditions.
- Recovery run or hike
45 min (about 7.1 km). Keep this genuinely easy, or substitute an easy hike.
Week 2: Build consistent easy running57.2 km; long run 26.5 km
- Rest
Rest or gentle mobility.
- Easy run + strides
60 min (about 9.4 km). Start with 10 minutes easy. Then 6 x 20 seconds relaxed strides, with 1 minute easy between repeats. Finish with at least 10 minutes easy; any remaining time is easy.
- Easy run
90 min (about 14.1 km). Conversational aerobic running. Keep easy days easy enough to support the key work.
- Long run
170 min (about 26.6 km). Build relaxed time on feet at conversational effort. Practise eating and drinking on longer easy runs; easy pace is not a reason to skip fueling. For runs lasting 1 to 2.5 hours, 30 to 60 g of carbohydrate per hour is a useful starting range; beyond 2.5 hours, build toward 60 to 90 g per hour if you have practised it and tolerate it. Adjust fluid to your needs and the conditions.
- Recovery run or hike
45 min (about 7.1 km). Keep this genuinely easy, or substitute an easy hike.
Week 3: Build consistent easy running59.5 km; long run 28 km
- Rest
Rest or gentle mobility.
- Easy run + strides
65 min (about 10.2 km). Start with 10 minutes easy. Then 6 x 20 seconds relaxed strides, with 1 minute easy between repeats. Finish with at least 10 minutes easy; any remaining time is easy.
- Easy run
90 min (about 14.1 km). Conversational aerobic running. Keep easy days easy enough to support the key work.
- Long run
180 min (about 28.2 km). Build relaxed time on feet at conversational effort. Practise eating and drinking on longer easy runs; easy pace is not a reason to skip fueling. For runs lasting 1 to 2.5 hours, 30 to 60 g of carbohydrate per hour is a useful starting range; beyond 2.5 hours, build toward 60 to 90 g per hour if you have practised it and tolerate it. Adjust fluid to your needs and the conditions.
- Recovery run or hike
45 min (about 7 km). Keep this genuinely easy, or substitute an easy hike.
Week 4: Absorb the work: reduce volume, keep frequency gentle50 km; long run 21 km
- Rest
Rest or gentle mobility.
- Easy run + relaxed strides
50 min (about 7.8 km). Start with 10 minutes easy. Then 6 x 20 seconds relaxed strides, with 1 minute easy between repeats. Finish with at least 10 minutes easy; any remaining time is easy.
- Easy run
90 min (about 14.1 km). Conversational aerobic running. Keep easy days easy enough to support the key work.
- Long run
135 min (about 21.1 km). Build relaxed time on feet at conversational effort. Practise eating and drinking on longer easy runs; easy pace is not a reason to skip fueling. For runs lasting 1 to 2.5 hours, 30 to 60 g of carbohydrate per hour is a useful starting range; beyond 2.5 hours, build toward 60 to 90 g per hour if you have practised it and tolerate it. Adjust fluid to your needs and the conditions.
- Recovery run or hike
45 min (about 7 km). Keep this genuinely easy, or substitute an easy hike.
Week 5: Build consistent easy running61.9 km; long run 30 km
- Rest
Rest or gentle mobility.
- Easy run + strides
65 min (about 10.3 km). Start with 10 minutes easy. Then 6 x 20 seconds relaxed strides, with 1 minute easy between repeats. Finish with at least 10 minutes easy; any remaining time is easy.
- Easy run
90 min (about 14.3 km). Conversational aerobic running. Keep easy days easy enough to support the key work.
- Long run
190 min (about 30.2 km). Build relaxed time on feet at conversational effort. Practise eating and drinking on longer easy runs; easy pace is not a reason to skip fueling. For runs lasting 1 to 2.5 hours, 30 to 60 g of carbohydrate per hour is a useful starting range; beyond 2.5 hours, build toward 60 to 90 g per hour if you have practised it and tolerate it. Adjust fluid to your needs and the conditions.
- Recovery run or hike
45 min (about 7.1 km). Keep this genuinely easy, or substitute an easy hike.
Week 6: Build consistent easy running63.8 km; long run 30.5 km
- Rest
Rest or gentle mobility.
- Easy run + strides
75 min (about 11.8 km). Start with 10 minutes easy. Then 6 x 20 seconds relaxed strides, with 1 minute easy between repeats. Finish with at least 10 minutes easy; any remaining time is easy.
- Easy run
90 min (about 14.2 km). Conversational aerobic running. Keep easy days easy enough to support the key work.
- Long run
195 min (about 30.7 km). Build relaxed time on feet at conversational effort. Practise eating and drinking on longer easy runs; easy pace is not a reason to skip fueling. For runs lasting 1 to 2.5 hours, 30 to 60 g of carbohydrate per hour is a useful starting range; beyond 2.5 hours, build toward 60 to 90 g per hour if you have practised it and tolerate it. Adjust fluid to your needs and the conditions.
- Recovery run or hike
45 min (about 7.1 km). Keep this genuinely easy, or substitute an easy hike.
Week 7: Develop marathon durability and fueling65.9 km; long run 30.5 km
- Rest
Rest or gentle mobility.
- Cruise intervals
90 min (about 14.1 km). Start with 10 minutes easy. Then 4 x 5 minutes at a comfortably hard effort, with 2 minutes easy between repeats. Finish with at least 10 minutes easy; any remaining time is easy.
- Easy run
90 min (about 14.1 km). Conversational aerobic running. Keep easy days easy enough to support the key work. Course practice: on a gentle road descent, add 4 to 6 relaxed downhill strides of about a minute, quick and light, walking back up. The race loses about 85 m in its first 7 km, and quads that know downhill running arrive at the hills fresher.
- Long run, last 4 km at marathon pace
190 min (about 30.6 km). Run the first 26.6 km easy and conversational (about 169 minutes), then hold marathon pace for the final 4 km (about 21 minutes) and finish in control, not emptied. Marathon pace is the pace you can currently hold on race day, not a hoped-for one. Practise your race-day carbohydrate plan on this long run: 30 to 90 g per hour according to expected marathon duration, pace and stomach tolerance. Build toward the higher end only if you have practised it. Count the carbohydrate grams in your gels, drinks and other food rather than following a fixed gel interval. Practise drinking for your needs and the conditions; avoid overdrinking. Course practice: run the last third over rolling hills, as the Newton hills come between km 26 and 34 of the race (about 80 m of climbing on tired legs); keep the effort, let the pace drop.
- Recovery run or hike
45 min (about 7.1 km). Keep this genuinely easy, or substitute an easy hike.
Week 8: Absorb the work: reduce volume, keep frequency gentle54 km; long run 25 km
- Rest
Rest or gentle mobility.
- Easy run + relaxed strides
50 min (about 7.8 km). Start with 10 minutes easy. Then 6 x 20 seconds relaxed strides, with 1 minute easy between repeats. Finish with at least 10 minutes easy; any remaining time is easy.
- Easy run
90 min (about 14.1 km). Conversational aerobic running. Keep easy days easy enough to support the key work.
- Long run
160 min (about 25.1 km). Build relaxed time on feet at conversational effort. Practise eating and drinking on longer easy runs; easy pace is not a reason to skip fueling. For runs lasting 1 to 2.5 hours, 30 to 60 g of carbohydrate per hour is a useful starting range; beyond 2.5 hours, build toward 60 to 90 g per hour if you have practised it and tolerate it. Adjust fluid to your needs and the conditions. Course practice: run the last third over rolling hills, as the Newton hills come between km 26 and 34 of the race (about 80 m of climbing on tired legs); keep the effort, let the pace drop.
- Recovery run or hike
45 min (about 7 km). Keep this genuinely easy, or substitute an easy hike.
Week 9: Develop marathon durability and fueling66.3 km; long run 31 km
- Rest
Rest or gentle mobility.
- Cruise intervals
90 min (about 14.2 km). Start with 10 minutes easy. Then 4 x 6 minutes at a comfortably hard effort, with 2 minutes easy between repeats. Finish with at least 10 minutes easy; any remaining time is easy.
- Easy run
90 min (about 14.2 km). Conversational aerobic running. Keep easy days easy enough to support the key work. Course practice: on a gentle road descent, add 4 to 6 relaxed downhill strides of about a minute, quick and light, walking back up. The race loses about 85 m in its first 7 km, and quads that know downhill running arrive at the hills fresher.
- Long run, last 8 km at marathon pace
185 min (about 30.8 km). Run the first 22.8 km easy and conversational (about 144 minutes), then hold marathon pace for the final 8 km (about 41 minutes) and finish in control, not emptied. Marathon pace is the pace you can currently hold on race day, not a hoped-for one. Practise your race-day carbohydrate plan on this long run: 30 to 90 g per hour according to expected marathon duration, pace and stomach tolerance. Build toward the higher end only if you have practised it. Count the carbohydrate grams in your gels, drinks and other food rather than following a fixed gel interval. Practise drinking for your needs and the conditions; avoid overdrinking. Course practice: run the last third over rolling hills, as the Newton hills come between km 26 and 34 of the race (about 80 m of climbing on tired legs); keep the effort, let the pace drop.
- Recovery run or hike
45 min (about 7.1 km). Keep this genuinely easy, or substitute an easy hike.
Week 10: Develop marathon durability and fueling65.7 km; long run 30.5 km
- Rest
Rest or gentle mobility.
- Cruise intervals
90 min (about 14.1 km). Start with 10 minutes easy. Then 3 x 8 minutes at a comfortably hard effort, with 2 minutes easy between repeats. Finish with at least 10 minutes easy; any remaining time is easy.
- Easy run
90 min (about 14.1 km). Conversational aerobic running. Keep easy days easy enough to support the key work.
- Long run, last 10 km at marathon pace
185 min (about 30.5 km). Run the first 20.5 km easy and conversational (about 132 minutes), then hold marathon pace for the final 10 km (about 53 minutes) and finish in control, not emptied. Marathon pace is the pace you can currently hold on race day, not a hoped-for one. Practise your race-day carbohydrate plan on this long run: 30 to 90 g per hour according to expected marathon duration, pace and stomach tolerance. Build toward the higher end only if you have practised it. Count the carbohydrate grams in your gels, drinks and other food rather than following a fixed gel interval. Practise drinking for your needs and the conditions; avoid overdrinking. Course practice: run the last third over rolling hills, as the Newton hills come between km 26 and 34 of the race (about 80 m of climbing on tired legs); keep the effort, let the pace drop.
- Recovery run or hike
45 min (about 7 km). Keep this genuinely easy, or substitute an easy hike.
Week 11: Rehearse marathon durability and fueling without chasing exhaustion66.2 km; long run 30.5 km
- Rest
Rest or gentle mobility.
- Marathon-effort blocks
90 min (about 14.2 km). Start with 10 minutes easy. Then 3 x 12 minutes at a steady, controlled effort, with 2 minutes easy between repeats. Finish with at least 10 minutes easy; any remaining time is easy.
- Easy run
90 min (about 14.2 km). Conversational aerobic running. Keep easy days easy enough to support the key work. Course practice: on a gentle road descent, add 4 to 6 relaxed downhill strides of about a minute, quick and light, walking back up. The race loses about 85 m in its first 7 km, and quads that know downhill running arrive at the hills fresher.
- Long run, last 10 km at marathon pace
185 min (about 30.7 km). Run the first 20.7 km easy and conversational (about 133 minutes), then hold marathon pace for the final 10 km (about 52 minutes) and finish in control, not emptied. Marathon pace is the pace you can currently hold on race day, not a hoped-for one. Practise your race-day carbohydrate plan on this long run: 30 to 90 g per hour according to expected marathon duration, pace and stomach tolerance. Build toward the higher end only if you have practised it. Count the carbohydrate grams in your gels, drinks and other food rather than following a fixed gel interval. Practise drinking for your needs and the conditions; avoid overdrinking. Course practice: run the last third over rolling hills, as the Newton hills come between km 26 and 34 of the race (about 80 m of climbing on tired legs); keep the effort, let the pace drop.
- Recovery run or hike
45 min (about 7.1 km). Keep this genuinely easy, or substitute an easy hike.
Week 12: Absorb the work: reduce volume, keep frequency gentle54.4 km; long run 24 km
- Rest
Rest or gentle mobility.
- Easy run + relaxed strides
55 min (about 8.8 km). Start with 10 minutes easy. Then 6 x 20 seconds relaxed strides, with 1 minute easy between repeats. Finish with at least 10 minutes easy; any remaining time is easy.
- Easy run
90 min (about 14.4 km). Conversational aerobic running. Keep easy days easy enough to support the key work.
- Long run
150 min (about 24 km). Use race-like terrain where practical, but keep the overall effort controlled. Practise eating and drinking on longer easy runs; easy pace is not a reason to skip fueling. For runs lasting 1 to 2.5 hours, 30 to 60 g of carbohydrate per hour is a useful starting range; beyond 2.5 hours, build toward 60 to 90 g per hour if you have practised it and tolerate it. Adjust fluid to your needs and the conditions. Course practice: run the last third over rolling hills, as the Newton hills come between km 26 and 34 of the race (about 80 m of climbing on tired legs); keep the effort, let the pace drop.
- Recovery run or hike
45 min (about 7.2 km). Keep this genuinely easy, or substitute an easy hike.
Week 13: Rehearse marathon durability and fueling without chasing exhaustion65.8 km; long run 31 km
- Rest
Rest or gentle mobility.
- Marathon-effort blocks
85 min (about 13.5 km). Start with 10 minutes easy. Then 3 x 15 minutes at a steady, controlled effort, with 2 minutes easy between repeats. Finish with at least 10 minutes easy; any remaining time is easy.
- Easy run
90 min (about 14.3 km). Conversational aerobic running. Keep easy days easy enough to support the key work. Course practice: on a gentle road descent, add 4 to 6 relaxed downhill strides of about a minute, quick and light, walking back up. The race loses about 85 m in its first 7 km, and quads that know downhill running arrive at the hills fresher.
- Long run, last 10 km at marathon pace
185 min (about 30.9 km). Run the first 20.9 km easy and conversational (about 133 minutes), then hold marathon pace for the final 10 km (about 52 minutes) and finish in control, not emptied. Marathon pace is the pace you can currently hold on race day, not a hoped-for one. Practise your race-day carbohydrate plan on this long run: 30 to 90 g per hour according to expected marathon duration, pace and stomach tolerance. Build toward the higher end only if you have practised it. Count the carbohydrate grams in your gels, drinks and other food rather than following a fixed gel interval. Practise drinking for your needs and the conditions; avoid overdrinking. Course practice: run the last third over rolling hills, as the Newton hills come between km 26 and 34 of the race (about 80 m of climbing on tired legs); keep the effort, let the pace drop.
- Recovery run or hike
45 min (about 7.1 km). Keep this genuinely easy, or substitute an easy hike.
Week 14: Reduce fatigue while retaining a small intensity reminder48.7 km; long run 19.5 km
- Rest
Rest or gentle mobility.
- Short race-effort reminder
50 min (about 7.9 km). Start with 10 minutes easy. Then 4 x 2 minutes at controlled race effort, with 1 minute easy between repeats. Finish with at least 10 minutes easy; any remaining time is easy.
- Easy run
90 min (about 14.1 km). Conversational aerobic running. Keep easy days easy enough to support the key work.
- Long run, last 3 km at marathon pace
120 min (about 19.6 km). Run the first 16.6 km easy and conversational (about 104 minutes), then hold marathon pace for the final 3 km (about 16 minutes) and finish in control, not emptied. Marathon pace is the pace you can currently hold on race day, not a hoped-for one. Keep food and drink familiar and appropriate to this shorter run. This is a marathon-pace reminder, not a full race-fueling rehearsal. Keep the whole run short and comfortable.
- Recovery run or hike
45 min (about 7.1 km). Keep this genuinely easy, or substitute an easy hike.
Week 15: Race week: short easy runs and a small intensity reminder before Monday's race20.1 km
- Rest
Rest or gentle mobility.
- Short race-effort reminder
35 min (about 5.4 km). Start with 10 minutes easy. Then 4 x 2 minutes at controlled race effort, with 1 minute easy between repeats. Finish with at least 10 minutes easy; any remaining time is easy.
- Easy run
40 min (about 6.2 km). Conversational aerobic running. Keep easy days easy enough to support the key work.
- Easy pre-race run
35 min (about 5.4 km). Run conversationally. If already familiar, include a few relaxed strides with full recovery; otherwise stay easy.
- Optional shakeout
20 min (about 3.1 km). Rest, or jog very easily if that reliably helps you feel better. Race day is tomorrow.
Week 16: Race day and recoveryRace day early in the week, no running before it
- Race day
Run the 42.2 km as planned: start controlled and use the fuelling and kit rehearsed in training. Afterwards: rest or walk for two or three days, then short easy runs only, with no hard running for about two weeks. On this course: hold back through the first 7 km, which drop about 85 m, even when it feels easy; run the Newton hills between km 26 and 34 by effort, not pace.
- Post-race recovery
Prioritize rest, food, fluids and gentle movement; do not schedule a workout by default.
- Optional easy movement
Walk or move very easily only if it feels restorative. A return to running is individual.
Other spring 2027 marathons and their plan start dates
Sources and what is still provisional
Race facts checked 2026-09-24; review due 2026-11-03. The schedule was generated on 2026-10-02 from the confirmed date and distance; it is TrailSplits' own calculation and is not endorsed by the organizer. Independently prepared by TrailSplits.
- Info for Athletes
The 2026 registration window and entry terms, bib pickup at the Hynes expo, and the 2026 wave times, bus loading, gear check, aid stations and 17:30 finish closure, not yet updated for 2027.
- 2027 Boston Marathon Rules and Policies
The six-hour net requirement, official timing ending at 17:30 about six hours after the last starter, in-person bib pickup with government photo ID, and entry fees that are not refunded, transferred or deferred.
- Qualifying standards
The 2027 standards by age and gender on net time, the minimum age of 18 on race day, and the random Boston Qualifier Selection of about 1,000 extra qualifiers.
- Qualifier registration announcement, 14 September 2026
Applications from 10:00 ET on 14 September to 17:00 ET on 18 September 2026, acceptance by margin under the standard, and the 270 dollar fee charged only on acceptance.
- 2026 course page and course map
The linked 2026 map with the official route description, landmark miles and elevation profile, plus gel depots, 26 medical stations, sweep buses and roads reopening behind about 13:44 per mile.
- Info for Spectators
Mile ranges for each town, the Newton hills between miles 17.5 and 21, Wellesley College before halfway, the Beacon Street stretch and the 2026 start timeline.