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, 3 run days, a first marathon. Not you? Change it
Around 35 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 · 9.5 km
- WedStrength (home, A)
- ThuEasy run · 9.5 km
- SatLong run · 15.9 km
- SunStrength (home, B)
Other days rest.
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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. The black line is this week.
Week 1 · from Mon 28 Sept
Build consistent easy running — 15.9 km; long run 16 km
- Mon 28 SeptStrength (home, A)
- Wed 30 SeptStrength (home, B)
- Sat 3 OctLong run
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.
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Adjust this planDefault starting point: 35 km/week; longest recent outing 18 km; 3 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 running15.9 km; long run 16 km
- Strength (home, A)
30 min. Bodyweight squats, split squats, single-leg calf raises and glute bridges: 3 rounds of 10 to 12 controlled reps, one minute rest. Stop if a run session later that day would suffer; the running comes first.
- Strength (home, B)
30 min. Step-ups, single-leg deadlifts, side planks and hip hikes: 3 rounds of 8 to 10 per side, slow and balanced. Stop if a run session later that day would suffer; the running comes first.
- 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.
Week 2: Build consistent easy running35 km; long run 16 km
- Rest
Rest or gentle mobility.
- Easy run + strides
45 min (about 7.2 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.
- Strength (home, A)
30 min. Bodyweight squats, split squats, single-leg calf raises and glute bridges: 3 rounds of 10 to 12 controlled reps, one minute rest. Stop if a run session later that day would suffer; the running comes first.
- Easy run
75 min (about 11.9 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.
- Strength (home, B)
30 min. Step-ups, single-leg deadlifts, side planks and hip hikes: 3 rounds of 8 to 10 per side, slow and balanced. Stop if a run session later that day would suffer; the running comes first.
Week 3: Build consistent easy running35 km; long run 16 km
- Rest
Rest or gentle mobility.
- Easy run + strides
50 min (about 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.
- Strength (home, A)
30 min. Bodyweight squats, split squats, single-leg calf raises and glute bridges: 3 rounds of 10 to 12 controlled reps, one minute rest. Stop if a run session later that day would suffer; the running comes first.
- Easy run
70 min (about 11.1 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.
- Strength (home, B)
30 min. Step-ups, single-leg deadlifts, side planks and hip hikes: 3 rounds of 8 to 10 per side, slow and balanced. Stop if a run session later that day would suffer; the running comes first.
Week 4: Absorb the work: reduce volume, keep frequency gentle27 km; long run 11 km
- Rest
Rest or gentle mobility.
- Easy run + relaxed 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.
- Strength (home, A)
30 min. Bodyweight squats, split squats, single-leg calf raises and glute bridges: 3 rounds of 10 to 12 controlled reps, one minute rest. Stop if a run session later that day would suffer; the running comes first.
- Easy run
65 min (about 10.3 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.
- Strength (home, B)
30 min. Step-ups, single-leg deadlifts, side planks and hip hikes: 3 rounds of 8 to 10 per side, slow and balanced. Stop if a run session later that day would suffer; the running comes first.
Week 5: Grow the long run; keep the other runs easy34.9 km; long run 16 km
- Rest
Rest or gentle mobility.
- Race-effort practice: steady segments
60 min (about 9.5 km). Start with 10 minutes easy. Then 3 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.
- Strength (home, A)
30 min. Bodyweight squats, split squats, single-leg calf raises and glute bridges: 3 rounds of 10 to 12 controlled reps, one minute rest. Stop if a run session later that day would suffer; the running comes first.
- 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.
- Strength (home, B)
30 min. Step-ups, single-leg deadlifts, side planks and hip hikes: 3 rounds of 8 to 10 per side, slow and balanced. Stop if a run session later that day would suffer; the running comes first.
Week 6: Your longest runs, still at an easy effort35 km; long run 16.5 km
- Rest
Rest or gentle mobility.
- Race-effort practice: steady segments
60 min (about 9.5 km). Start with 10 minutes easy. Then 3 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.
- Strength (home, A)
20 min. Bodyweight squats, split squats, single-leg calf raises and glute bridges: 3 rounds of 10 to 12 controlled reps, one minute rest. Stop if a run session later that day would suffer; the running comes first.
- Easy run
55 min (about 8.8 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.
Week 7: Your longest runs, still at an easy effort35 km; long run 17.5 km
- Rest
Rest or gentle mobility.
- Race-effort practice: steady segments
60 min (about 9.5 km). Start with 10 minutes easy. Then 2 x 12 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.
- Strength (home, A)
20 min. Bodyweight squats, split squats, single-leg calf raises and glute bridges: 3 rounds of 10 to 12 controlled reps, one minute rest. Stop if a run session later that day would suffer; the running comes first.
- Easy run
50 min (about 8 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.
Week 8: Reduce fatigue while retaining a small intensity reminder23.5 km; long run 10 km
- Rest
Rest or gentle mobility.
- Short race-effort reminder
35 min (about 5.5 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
50 min (about 7.8 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.
Week 9: Reduce fatigue while retaining a small intensity reminder18.2 km; long run 7 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
40 min (about 6.3 km). Conversational aerobic running. Keep easy days easy enough to support the key work.
- Long run
45 min (about 7.1 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.
Week 10: Arrive rested; avoid last-minute fitness work10.4 km before the race
- Easy pre-race run
35 min (about 5.6 km). Run conversationally. If already familiar, include a few relaxed strides with full recovery; otherwise stay easy.
- Optional shakeout
30 min (about 4.8 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.