Marathon Training Check-In: Everything You Need To Know

Is marathon training meant to feel this hard? 🏃‍♂️ Why do your legs suddenly feel heavier halfway through a training block - and does it mean you're getting fitter…or falling behind? In this episode of The Runna Podcast, Coach Ben and Anya bring you a mid-marathon training check-in for anyone building towards a spring marathon like London or Boston! If you've hit the halfway point of your marathon training plan and your confidence has dipped, this conversation is the perfect reset. We unpack why this stage of marathon training feels uniquely tough - physically and mentally. From cumulative fatigue and slower paces, to motivation dips and fuelling mistakes, we cover what's normal, what's not, and how to stay on track without spiralling. Whether you’re chasing a PB or just trying to make it to the start line feeling strong, this episode is packed with marathon training tips to help you trust the process. In this episode, we cover: 🧠 The Midpoint Dip: Why motivation drops after the novelty wears off 🏃 Heavy Legs & Slower Paces: Why this doesn’t mean you’re losing fitness 🔥 Burnout vs. “Appropriately Tired”: Knowing the difference 🍝 Fuelling Mistakes: The hidden reason your runs suddenly feel harder 💤 Recovery Reality: Why sleep & rest days are where fitness improves 📈 The 1% Extras: Small habits that quietly improve performance Most runners don’t quit at mile 20. They quit in week 8. If you’re in the messy middle of marathon training, this is the part you’ll be proud you didn’t quit. 🎧 Subscribe for new episodes every Friday Want to give Runna a go? 🆓 Try it FREE for 2 weeks with code: PODCAST26 👉 https://web.runna.com/redeem And if you’re just getting started, our New to Running and Return to Running plans are totally free 💛 📱 Follow for more running content: Instagram → @runna TikTok → @runna 📺 Watch more episodes → @therunnapodcast ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Is marathon training meant to feel this hard? 00:40 Ben & Anya’s current marathon blocks (Tokyo & London) 06:56 Why the midpoint starts to feel harder 09:27 The mental dip & habit stacking 14:24 Why marathon pace feels so tough right now 16:58 Are you actually getting fitter? (Heart rate & progress) 18:32 Fuelling properly across the week 22:37 What to eat before runs (carbs explained) 24:22 Protein & post-run recovery 25:07 Fuelling during long runs 26:21 Sleep, mobility & recovery routines 28:35 Ice baths, sauna & 1% gains 30:12 Community & making training social 30:39 Fatigue vs pain + when to see a physio 31:10 “Not Feeling 100%” feature in the Runna app 32:22 The confidence phase comes after this 32:58 Lululemon x Runna London capsule launch #MarathonTraining #LondonMarathon #BostonMarathon #SpringMarathon #RunningTips #EnduranceTraining #Runna #TheRunnaPodcast #MarathonMindset