Training plan for marathon

Your best bet is to select a plan now and spend the time between now and when it starts making sure that you can comfortably do the sort of weekly mileage that the plan starts with. Now is also a good time to do things like hills and speed work which help build strength and neural pathways before your mileage starts to build.

Always a tough question for long term planning - could focus on improvement in the Half for late spring PR maybe. Help you set a better pace/goal for the Full - as well as continue to improve your training.

Generally the longer the plan in weeks will allow a slower build up. The longer you have sustained strong weekly/monthly mileage the better. Marathon type endurance comes from strong mileage...for months (years!)

So I would try (after recovering from Half) to slowly build up weekly mileage slowly (2-8%+) between now and the 'start' of a training plan (typically 20-16wks) - throw in some rest/recovery weeks maybe every 4th or 5th week with (-30% distance). The higher your mileage going into training....the stronger a plan you can run, and safer. A lot of people don't start with a good base of training going into Full training - many times forced to build week upon week - either being injured or beat-up going into race day. You'll want to have a training plan that is starting at...around what you are already running comfortably.

With slower gains in mileage this spring - you can add speed work easier(your legs won't be shot)- my favorite is Tempo and Tempo Interval type speeds. Gives good benefits with low injury risk - 'mcmillian' has a great calculator for various training paces based on a recent or approximate race result on his website.

Some good suggestions presented. A good start point is what was your finishing time for the 1/2, age, height, weight, years running, what are your running goals, beside running a marathon?
I have told runners I have coached over the years that the most important goal is to focus on being a life- time runner. I have seen way too eager newbies do too much,too soon, too fast and end up joining the "I use to run but.... club."
Take your time, enjoy running, don't take yourself too seriously and remember to be called a marathoner one needs to complete 2 marathons:)

mine willowbank

Hi,

What would be the right training plan to prepare a marathon for this fall 2017?
I just ran a half marathon, and all training plans have a duration of 12-16 weeks.
What plan would you suggest to follow between now and the Marathon - 16weeks?
Thank you.

Hi, I'm a new runner and have a HM in fall, probably not worth taking advice from me but for the next five months I'm just focusing on as much time on the feet as possible at a pace around 70% of maximum heart rate, building a base as so to speak for the faster race stuff about 12 weeks out. Google HADD base training.

Everyone has given great advice, so not much I can add. I am using the Garmin Marathon Schedule II HR, as it fits my personal schedule the best. I like the Garmin schedules as the workouts are perfect for my goal(s) and the schedule can be downloaded into the watch, removing any guesswork on the workout.
I would suggest taking a look at them to see how they look for you. In between schedules I maintained mileage that was along the lines of the first week of the next schedule, just reinforce what worked for me.