Marathon Plan Advanced - L4

I used the L3 plan for my last marathon and got a new pb using it - it definitely suited me. I'm very much looking forward to trying this L4 plan. The intensity and mileage is just what I am looking for. Easy to read and follow, with suggested paces. Great value price as well, can't really go wrong.

It works. Ben, thank you so much, I beat my PB today by 10 mins running 3.09 vs my 3.10 target in Antwerp (good marathon). 43 years old - previous best time 3.19 in Berlin 5 years ago. I followed the plan religiously- main difference from previous efforts was much more volume - I was guilty in the past of skipping easy runs. Anyway, completely elated today and I couldn’t recommend this plan highly enough.

I purchased this plan back in late 2023, to use for the Milton Keynes marathon in May 2024. At the time, my marathon PB was 03:24:12. Using this plan, my goal was an optimistic sub 3:15, but a challenge I wanted. The plan pushed me, and I was able to smash my goal coming in at 03:14:02. A 10 minute PB!

Due to the coverage of the plan, covering five goal times (3:15 down to 2:55), I later used it again for the Chester Marathon (Oct 2024), this time aiming for a sub 3:05. I smashed that too and came in at 03:03:45, another 10 minute PB!!

I will be using it a third time, this time going for my first Sub 3 hour and push for a sub 2:55 in Spring 2025. I know the plan very well now. All I need to do is amend the paces on the Garmin workouts I had programmed in again.

I cannot recommend this plan enough. I purchased it with the S&C which has also been very beneficial to my training.

Here's to the next marathon challenge. Good luck everyone that uses this plan, its tough, but for me, the results speak for themselves.

I was ambithious and followed this plan for my second marathon. The shorter and faster sessions were no problem. But the long runs with faster sections were really tough. In the end I did 3:23 in really hot weather (14 minutes PB).
I think this is a great plan, and I will follow it again to hopefully get my BQ 😎
Thanks to Ben and Sarah for being such great inspiration.

Followed the Advanced L4 plan (+Strength) with a goal finish of 3:05.
Found the plan clearly structured and laid out; easy to follow and very manageable. The pace guides for each session are great.
Result - 3:05:01 PB by 7 min and delighted. First outing as a 60-year-old.

I used this plan more to gauge what would be required to run a sub 3 marathon rather than to attempt it myself as id never run the distance before. I gave the first few weeks a crack and expected to fall off in the first few as the plan ramped up but was able to maintain and keep up with the kms as they got bigger. It wasn’t long until every long run quickly became my longest run id ever done. I went into my first marathon with an extremely ambitious goal of sub 3 but was more expecting around a 3:10-3:15 and was extremely shocked when I crossed with a time of 2:58.

I will be definitely using this or another one of the plans for the next time i tackle the marathon distance!

I’ve followed this plan for the third time now. After using it to achieve 2 PB’s I wanted to get that sub 3 marathon. I finally smashed that goal last week in Gold Coast, Australia with a 2.56.14.
Love the balance of the plan and workouts included. I’ve recommended already to my running friends who wanted a plan with solid structure and guidance.

I for certain will be using the plans for future marathon’s and PB attempts! 🤙

Ben and team,

Thank you SO much for the awesome L4 plan. I did it, I finally achieved my goal...after years of injury and mishaps, poor race execution and bad prep, your plan helped me crack the magical 3 hour mark here on the Gold Coast.

Previous coaching plans just hadn't suited me, either flogging me too much via pointless 'time trials', or going too hard too early, but yours...I loved the variation, the sensible approach to rest, the solid adoption and gradual build-up of race pace and tempo segments, as well as the tough stuff (i.e. needing to put in the consistent long runs!)

The only thing I changed was to increase the RP segment in the final peak week long run from 13 to 21km, and ran a little quicker on some of the interval sessions ... just to give me that extra bit of confidence. Outside, I did exactly as you told me and it worked an absolute treat!

So happy to finally crack it. Thanks again!!

Followed this plan for London Marathon 2024. I finished in 3:01:30 which for my first marathon I was so happy with. The plan was really challenging but super fun, I really enjoyed the variation of the speed sessions and the long runs. Would definitely recommend, thanks Ben and Sarah!

I followed the Level 4 advanced plan, with the goal of achieving that sub 3 dream.... At Edinburgh Marathon I knocked 11 minutes off my PB to run 2:57!! A great plan to fit in around a busy schedule and I would highly recommend.

I used the L3 plan for my last marathon and got a new pb using it - it definitely suited me. I'm very much looking forward to trying this L4 plan. The intensity and mileage is just what I am looking for. Easy to read and follow, with suggested paces. Great value price as well, can't really go wrong.

It works. Ben, thank you so much, I beat my PB today by 10 mins running 3.09 vs my 3.10 target in Antwerp (good marathon). 43 years old - previous best time 3.19 in Berlin 5 years ago. I followed the plan religiously- main difference from previous efforts was much more volume - I was guilty in the past of skipping easy runs. Anyway, completely elated today and I couldn’t recommend this plan highly enough.

I purchased this plan back in late 2023, to use for the Milton Keynes marathon in May 2024. At the time, my marathon PB was 03:24:12. Using this plan, my goal was an optimistic sub 3:15, but a challenge I wanted. The plan pushed me, and I was able to smash my goal coming in at 03:14:02. A 10 minute PB!

Due to the coverage of the plan, covering five goal times (3:15 down to 2:55), I later used it again for the Chester Marathon (Oct 2024), this time aiming for a sub 3:05. I smashed that too and came in at 03:03:45, another 10 minute PB!!

I will be using it a third time, this time going for my first Sub 3 hour and push for a sub 2:55 in Spring 2025. I know the plan very well now. All I need to do is amend the paces on the Garmin workouts I had programmed in again.

I cannot recommend this plan enough. I purchased it with the S&C which has also been very beneficial to my training.

Here's to the next marathon challenge. Good luck everyone that uses this plan, its tough, but for me, the results speak for themselves.

I was ambithious and followed this plan for my second marathon. The shorter and faster sessions were no problem. But the long runs with faster sections were really tough. In the end I did 3:23 in really hot weather (14 minutes PB).
I think this is a great plan, and I will follow it again to hopefully get my BQ 😎
Thanks to Ben and Sarah for being such great inspiration.

Followed the Advanced L4 plan (+Strength) with a goal finish of 3:05.
Found the plan clearly structured and laid out; easy to follow and very manageable. The pace guides for each session are great.
Result - 3:05:01 PB by 7 min and delighted. First outing as a 60-year-old.

I used this plan more to gauge what would be required to run a sub 3 marathon rather than to attempt it myself as id never run the distance before. I gave the first few weeks a crack and expected to fall off in the first few as the plan ramped up but was able to maintain and keep up with the kms as they got bigger. It wasn’t long until every long run quickly became my longest run id ever done. I went into my first marathon with an extremely ambitious goal of sub 3 but was more expecting around a 3:10-3:15 and was extremely shocked when I crossed with a time of 2:58.

I will be definitely using this or another one of the plans for the next time i tackle the marathon distance!

I’ve followed this plan for the third time now. After using it to achieve 2 PB’s I wanted to get that sub 3 marathon. I finally smashed that goal last week in Gold Coast, Australia with a 2.56.14.
Love the balance of the plan and workouts included. I’ve recommended already to my running friends who wanted a plan with solid structure and guidance.

I for certain will be using the plans for future marathon’s and PB attempts! 🤙

Ben and team,

Thank you SO much for the awesome L4 plan. I did it, I finally achieved my goal...after years of injury and mishaps, poor race execution and bad prep, your plan helped me crack the magical 3 hour mark here on the Gold Coast.

Previous coaching plans just hadn't suited me, either flogging me too much via pointless 'time trials', or going too hard too early, but yours...I loved the variation, the sensible approach to rest, the solid adoption and gradual build-up of race pace and tempo segments, as well as the tough stuff (i.e. needing to put in the consistent long runs!)

The only thing I changed was to increase the RP segment in the final peak week long run from 13 to 21km, and ran a little quicker on some of the interval sessions ... just to give me that extra bit of confidence. Outside, I did exactly as you told me and it worked an absolute treat!

So happy to finally crack it. Thanks again!!

Followed this plan for London Marathon 2024. I finished in 3:01:30 which for my first marathon I was so happy with. The plan was really challenging but super fun, I really enjoyed the variation of the speed sessions and the long runs. Would definitely recommend, thanks Ben and Sarah!

I followed the Level 4 advanced plan, with the goal of achieving that sub 3 dream.... At Edinburgh Marathon I knocked 11 minutes off my PB to run 2:57!! A great plan to fit in around a busy schedule and I would highly recommend.