Customer Reviews
After using the beginner plan for my first marathon I decided to use the next one up for marathon number 2. The plan is easy to follow and enjoyable. Ben never lets you down
Thank you so much for making this guide so affordable, understandable and achievable for my first marathon, a big goal of mine. I loved it and have already purchased my next guide for another running challenge.
Can’t wait to get started on this plan. Love how this plan is set out, very clear and includes a glossary with lots of information to ensure it is easy to understand. Hopeful that this will help me achieve my goals next year.
I can't fault this plan. This was the first structured running plan that I've ever followed, preparing for my first ever official race, and all went to plan thanks to the clear guidance.
Everything was easy to follow and I especially found the pace chart extremely useful. The glossary was really helpful for a plan newbie like myself and the notes for each week were a really nice added extra.
I was aiming for a sub 4 hour marathon debut and managed a time of 03:53:44 so I'm absolutely chuffed! Thanks Ben :-)
Really great training plan, I would highly recommend it. Enjoyed every week, and the training was varied so that it never got boring. The speed and tempo sessions were fun and putting pace changes in the long run session really kept them interesting. I ended up fitter than I have ever been, and knocked 20 minutes off my Marathon PB! Many thanks Ben and Sarah
On Sunday 7th April 2019, I completed my first marathon in Manchester, in a time of 03:48:14.
The best thing I did was invest in a decent training plan. I opted for a Ben's Improver training plan, as it’s well structured & easy to understand. I value his knowledge & experience.
The training plan was challenging but built up sensibly so confidence & fitness grew steadily and at no point did I feel the training was beyond me.
The plan includes a great pacing chart, so every session has a recommended pace it should be run at for your finish time. I would recommend the training plan without hesitation and have since used Ben's Half Marathon Level 4 plan to achieve an 8 min PB.
Whilst I was delighted to achieve a sub4 marathon time at the first attempt, it was never about time. I found greater meaning.
I have taken the family marathon baton from my Dad. Hopefully, I can pass it onto my Daughter in the future.
Most importantly, I got to share and experience, not only race day, but the full marathon training journey with my family.
You only ever get your first marathon once.
I wouldn’t change it in any way.
Just started but looks like what I had hoped for: enough rest days, clear focus for strength training days and more longer long runs to prepare me for the last 12kms. We'll see in May 😅.
I am currently only 3 weeks into the plan but already feeling strong. The pace charts have been a game-changer for me and realising that you don't have to go all out during every session. And having an Easy pace to run to has meant more quality in my more challenging sessions.
Pretty confident of achieving my goal time for London 2023 and #GettingItDone
Had no idea where to start planning my training, this is a well laid out plan with easy explanation and help understanding pace. I've look at lots of other plans that we over complicated. This one is simple but effective.
Great Plan. Easy to follow and well structured.
