Training guides
These endurance guides explain the decisions behind training paces, race qualification, fueling and preparation in difficult conditions. Each starts with a direct answer, then gives the context and a linked calculator. Published models are named and limitations are stated. Your training history and recovery still matter more than a single number on a screen.
What does it take to qualify for Boston?
Qualifying for Boston means meeting an age- and division-based marathon standard on an eligible course. Acceptance depends on the edition’s entry rules and available places. Start with the current standard, then build a realistic training target from recent race evidence. The published 2027 cutoff was 5:17 faster than the standard.
How should I prepare for my first 70.3?
A first 70.3 requires comfortable swimming, sustainable cycling and a run you can manage after both. Build those skills alongside endurance, then practice fueling and transitions before race week. Choose an event and timeline that fit your starting point. A time predictor can organize split scenarios; it cannot assess whether you are ready.
How much carbohydrate do I need during a marathon?
Marathon fueling depends on expected duration and an hourly carbohydrate amount you have practiced. Sports-nutrition references commonly use 30–60 grams per hour for shorter endurance sessions and up to 60–90 for longer events. Your plan must also fit your stomach, aid stations and chosen products. Count carbohydrate from drinks as well as gels.
How should heat and altitude change my training pace?
Heat and altitude can make a familiar pace require more effort. The size of the change depends on weather, acclimatization, duration and individual response. Use pace-adjustment tools as planning scenarios, then follow effort and training feedback. No single correction factor can reconstruct your fitness or establish a safe-exercise threshold for the day.
What do training zones actually mean?
Training zones describe intensity relative to a chosen reference, such as heart-rate reserve, cycling FTP or a race-derived running score. The reference determines the numbers. A zone label without its method is incomplete. Use zones to organize sessions, then check whether the effort matches the purpose, the conditions and your current recovery.