# Boston Marathon training plan A Boston Marathon plan for 19 April 2027: the downhill start, the Newton hills, when to start, and a coach that plans each week from your runs. Page: https://www.createrunplan.com/boston-marathon-training-plan. Race day: Monday 19 April 2027 (Hopkinton to Boston, USA). ## The course ### Point to point, and downhill The race runs from Hopkinton to Boylston Street in Boston and drops about 140 m (459 ft) overall. ### A fast first six miles The first six miles descend through Ashland and Framingham. It feels easy, which is the trap: it is hard on the quads and easy to run too fast. ### The Newton hills Four hills start around mile 16, after the Charles River crossing. The last, Heartbreak Hill, comes just after mile 20 and climbs about 27 m (88 ft) in roughly 0.4 mile. ### Downhill, then flat, to Boylston Street After Heartbreak Hill the course comes down into the city and runs flat to the finish. ## When to start Count back from race day. The race is always on Patriots' Day, the third Monday in April. | Length | Start by | Suits | | --- | --- | --- | | 12 weeks | Monday 25 January 2027 | You run regularly now | | 16 weeks | Monday 28 December 2026 | A common length for a marathon | | 20 weeks | Monday 30 November 2026 | More room if you run little now | ## What matters for the Boston Marathon ### Practise the downhill Run some easy days and a long-run stretch on a gentle descent, controlled, so your legs have felt the pounding before race day. ### Save your legs for mile 16 The big climbs come when your legs are already tired. Keep the first half controlled, and in the later weeks let long runs finish with steady running. ### Expect any weather Boston has been run in a wide range of weather. Train in heat and cold when you can, and decide your pace on the day. ## Getting a place You need a qualifying time from a certified marathon, set by age and gender, or a place through a charity or another official route. The B.A.A. publishes the current standards. [The organisers' site](https://www.baa.org/). ## Week 1 of a sample marathon plan For someone running about 4 h a week now. | Day | Run | Time | | --- | --- | --- | | Monday | Easy run | 30 min | | Tuesday | Hill repeats | 47 min | | Thursday | Easy run + strides | 40 min | | Saturday | Easy run | 35 min | | Sunday | Long run | 90 min | Total: 4 h 2 min. ## Every week to race day A sample marathon plan, not one for this race: a runner’s weeks to race day if every week goes as planned. Yours is planned from your race, your days and what you run now. | Week | Running time | Phase | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | 4 h 2 min | Build | | 2 | 4 h 24 min | Build | | 3 | 4 h 48 min | Build | | 4 | 5 h 18 min | Build | | 5 | 5 h 18 min | Build | | 6 | 4 h 2 min | Easier | | 7 | 5 h 19 min | Race-specific | | 8 | 5 h 51 min | Race-specific | | 9 | 6 h 19 min | Race-specific | | 10 | 4 h 43 min | Easier | | 11 | 6 h 16 min | Race-specific | | 12 | 6 h 47 min | Race-specific | | 13 | 6 h 58 min | Race-specific | | 14 | 5 h 26 min | Taper | | 15 | 4 h 21 min | Taper | | 16 | 7 h 13 min | Race week | ## Questions before you start ### When should I start training for the Boston Marathon? For a plan of at least 16 weeks, start by Monday 28 December 2026. 12 weeks (Monday 25 January 2027) suits a runner who already runs regularly, and 20 weeks (Monday 30 November 2026) gives more room if you run little now. A spring race puts most of the plan in the cold and the dark, so choose run times you can keep on a dark morning. When you set your race, your coach checks the date against your running and tells you if it comes too soon. ### Is the Boston Marathon a fast course? Not in the way the drop suggests. The course falls about 140 m (459 ft) from start to finish, but the Newton hills from mile 16 and the hard descent early make it a different race from a flat one. ### How do I train for the Boston hills? Run rolling routes when you can, and practise controlled downhill running on easy days. Your coach builds the weeks and the long runs; the climbs ask for legs that are used to both directions. ### How do I qualify for the Boston Marathon? Run a certified marathon within the qualifying window, at or under the standard for your age and gender. The B.A.A. sets the standards and the window, so check its site for your year. ### What if I miss a run? Skip it with a reason, or just leave it. Missed runs are never made up: next week is planned from what you actually ran. ### What happens after the 14 days? Unless you subscribe, for $9.99 a month or $59.99 a year, your coach stops: no new weeks, logging, check-ins or reminders. You can still see your plan, past weeks and logged runs, and download or delete your data. We never asked for a card, so nothing is charged. ## Other race plans - [London Marathon training plan](https://www.createrunplan.com/london-marathon-training-plan): 24–25 April 2027. - [Paris Marathon training plan](https://www.createrunplan.com/paris-marathon-training-plan): April 2027. - [Berlin Marathon training plan](https://www.createrunplan.com/berlin-marathon-training-plan): 26 September 2027. - [Chicago Marathon training plan](https://www.createrunplan.com/chicago-marathon-training-plan): 10 October 2027. - [New York City Marathon training plan](https://www.createrunplan.com/new-york-city-marathon-training-plan): 7 November 2027. ## Other plans - [Marathon training plan](https://www.createrunplan.com/marathon-training-plan): 16 weeks. A marathon plan that builds your long run and weekly time from the runs you log, with marathon-pace weeks and a taper before race day. - [Sub-4 hour marathon training plan](https://www.createrunplan.com/sub-4-hour-marathon-training-plan): 16 weeks. Sub-4 means 5:41 per km (9:09 per mile). Your coach plans each week from your current fitness and what you log, with marathon-pace work and a taper. - [12-week half marathon training plan](https://www.createrunplan.com/12-week-half-marathon-training-plan): 12 weeks. Twelve weeks to a half marathon: your coach checks the date fits your running, then plans each week from what you log, with a taper at the end. [All plan guides](https://www.createrunplan.com/examples) ## See your first week in a few questions Choose marathon, set the days you can run and what you run now. Your plan starts from there, and every week is planned from the one before. [Start your 14 free days](https://www.createrunplan.com/start?goal=marathon&days=4): 14 days free, no card, then $9.99 a month or $59.99 a year.