Valencia, Spain · 42.195 km road marathon
Valencia Marathon 2026 training plan
Race day Sunday 6 December 2026 · 9 full weeks away
10-week final preparation: this week (from Mon 28 Sept) → race Sun 6 Dec 2026
Too close to the race for a full build: this keeps your fitness, rehearses race pace and tapers. It assumes you have already been training.
Assumes a runner now at: 35 km a week, longest recent run 18 km, 4 run days, a first marathon. Not you? Change it
Around 35.1 km a week at most; the long run reaches 17.5 km. Every few weeks is an easier one, and the last weeks taper.
The longest run stays at 17.5 km, so race day covers the last 24.7 km for the first time: start slower than feels necessary, and for a first marathon a later race with a full build is the safer choice.
A typical week: week 5, from Mon 26 Oct
- TueRace-effort practice: steady segments · 7.2 km
- ThuEasy run · 7.2 km
- SatLong run · 15.9 km
- SunRecovery run or hike · 4.8 km
Other days rest.
Keep it, print it or add it to your calendar — no account needed.
Your goal
This close to the race the goals differ only in a quality session or two.Your 10-week final preparation (finish well)
Racing more than once? Add a second race in the season planner and see whether the two fit together.
Tap or point at a week to see it.
Week 1 · from Mon 28 Sept
Build consistent easy running — 19.9 km; long run 16 km
- Sat 3 OctLong run
- Sun 4 OctRecovery 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
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Adjust this planDefault starting point: 35 km/week; longest recent outing 18 km; 4 days/week; steady recent training; first marathon.
All 10 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.
- Short-runway maintenance mode does not raise weekly load above the stated stable starting point.
- 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 running19.9 km; long run 16 km
- Long run
100 min (about 15.9 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
25 min (about 4 km). Keep this genuinely easy, or substitute an easy hike.
Week 2: Build consistent easy running35 km; long run 16 km
- Rest
Rest or gentle mobility.
- Easy run + strides
35 min (about 5.6 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
60 min (about 9.5 km). Conversational aerobic running. Keep easy days easy enough to support the key work.
- Long run
100 min (about 15.9 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
25 min (about 4 km). Keep this genuinely easy, or substitute an easy hike.
Week 3: Build consistent easy running35.1 km; long run 16 km
- Rest
Rest or gentle mobility.
- Easy run + strides
40 min (about 6.4 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
55 min (about 8.8 km). Conversational aerobic running. Keep easy days easy enough to support the key work.
- Long run
100 min (about 15.9 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
25 min (about 4 km). Keep this genuinely easy, or substitute an easy hike.
Week 4: Absorb the work: reduce volume, keep frequency gentle27 km; long run 11 km
- Rest
Rest or gentle mobility.
- Easy run + relaxed strides
25 min (about 4 km). Start with 10 minutes easy. Then 4 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
50 min (about 7.9 km). Conversational aerobic running. Keep easy days easy enough to support the key work.
- Long run
70 min (about 11.1 km). Build relaxed time on feet at conversational effort. Practise the fuel, hydration and kit you intend to use; treat amounts as rehearsal, not a universal prescription.
- Recovery run or hike
25 min (about 4 km). Keep this genuinely easy, or substitute an easy hike.
Week 5: Grow the long run; keep the other runs easy35.1 km; long run 16 km
- Rest
Rest or gentle mobility.
- Race-effort practice: steady segments
45 min (about 7.2 km). Start with 10 minutes easy. Then 2 x 8 minutes at a steady effort, about what you expect to hold on race day, with 3 minutes easy between. Finish with at least 10 minutes easy.
- Easy run
45 min (about 7.2 km). Conversational aerobic running. Keep easy days easy enough to support the key work.
- Long run
100 min (about 15.9 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
30 min (about 4.8 km). Keep this genuinely easy, or substitute an easy hike.
Week 6: Your longest runs, still at an easy effort35.1 km; long run 16.5 km
- Rest
Rest or gentle mobility.
- Race-effort practice: steady segments
45 min (about 7.2 km). Start with 10 minutes easy. Then 2 x 10 minutes at a steady effort, about what you expect to hold on race day, with 3 minutes easy between. Finish with at least 10 minutes easy.
- Easy run
40 min (about 6.4 km). Conversational aerobic running. Keep easy days easy enough to support the key work.
- Long run
105 min (about 16.7 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.
- Recovery run or hike
30 min (about 4.8 km). Keep this genuinely easy, or substitute an easy hike.
Week 7: Your longest runs, still at an easy effort35.1 km; long run 17.5 km
- Rest
Rest or gentle mobility.
- Easy aerobic run
45 min (about 7.2 km). Conversational running. Today stays easy.
- Easy run
35 min (about 5.6 km). Conversational aerobic running. Keep easy days easy enough to support the key work.
- Long run
110 min (about 17.5 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.
- Recovery run or hike
30 min (about 4.8 km). Keep this genuinely easy, or substitute an easy hike.
Week 8: Reduce fatigue while retaining a small intensity reminder24.3 km; long run 10 km
- Rest
Rest or gentle mobility.
- Short race-effort reminder
30 min (about 4.7 km). Start with 10 minutes easy. Then 3 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
35 min (about 5.5 km). Conversational aerobic running. Keep easy days easy enough to support the key work.
- Long run
65 min (about 10.2 km). Keep this comfortable and finish with plenty in reserve. Practise the fuel, hydration and kit you intend to use; treat amounts as rehearsal, not a universal prescription.
- Recovery run or hike
25 min (about 3.9 km). Keep this genuinely easy, or substitute an easy hike.
Week 9: Reduce fatigue while retaining a small intensity reminder19.1 km; long run 6.5 km
- Rest
Rest or gentle mobility.
- Short race-effort reminder
30 min (about 4.8 km). Start with 10 minutes easy. Then 3 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
30 min (about 4.8 km). Conversational aerobic running. Keep easy days easy enough to support the key work.
- Long run
40 min (about 6.3 km). Keep this comfortable and finish with plenty in reserve. Practise the fuel, hydration and kit you intend to use; treat amounts as rehearsal, not a universal prescription.
- Recovery run or hike
20 min (about 3.2 km). Keep this genuinely easy, or substitute an easy hike.
Week 10: Arrive rested; avoid last-minute fitness work12 km before the race
- Easy run
35 min (about 5.6 km). Keep this short and conversational. The goal is freshness, not fitness.
- Easy pre-race run
25 min (about 4 km). Run conversationally. If already familiar, include a few relaxed strides with full recovery; otherwise stay easy.
- Optional shakeout
15 min (about 2.4 km). Rest, or jog very easily if that reliably helps you feel better.
- 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.
Sources and what is still provisional
Race facts checked 2026-09-16; review due 2026-10-16. 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.
- Race rules
The 6 December 2026 date and 46th edition, the 42.195 km certified course, the nine waves, the 5 h 30 limit from the start-line crossing with the 15:15 closure, the 12:57 cut-off at 25 km, fees, name-change deadlines and the expo pickup rules.
- Course page
The 2026 course PDF and image used for the reconstruction and the fastest-and-flattest description.
- Entry information
The ballot phases, the 36,000 places, sold-out status and the waiting list.