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If the first step is deciding to run the marathon, the second step is choosing your marathon training plan. This can get overwhelming due to the sheer number of training programs available on the Internet.
There are plans for beginners, plans for walk/runners, free plans, expensive plans, personalized plans, you name it.
And all of these plans have the same basic elements.
Long runs? Check.
Speed workouts? Check.
Tempo runs? Check.
Recovery days? Check.
So while it may seem like all marathon training plans are created equal, I’m here to let you in on a little secret…they’re not.
Because there’s one workout that almost every marathon training plan leaves out—and it could be the difference between feeling confident on race day or being caught off guard by a surprise hill at mile 17.
That missing workout is something called course-specific training.
What Is Course-Specific Training?
Course-specific training means preparing for the unique terrain of the marathon you’ll actually be running—not just the total mileage.
Every marathon course has its own personality. Some are flat and fast. Others feature long climbs, rolling hills, steep descents, or bridges that can disrupt your pacing. Even courses that are considered “flat” often include subtle elevation changes that become much more noticeable after 20 miles.
Traditional marathon training plans are designed to work for thousands of runners across countless races. They focus on building fitness, endurance, and speed, but they usually don’t account for the course you’ll be racing.
That’s where course-specific training comes in.
Why It Matters
Think about it this way: would you rather experience the hardest hill on your marathon course for the first time on race day—or during training?
Running the actual elevation profile ahead of time can help you:
- Learn where the toughest climbs and descents occur.
- Practice adjusting your effort instead of reacting in the moment.
- Build confidence by knowing what to expect.
- Develop a pacing strategy that’s based on the course—not guesswork.
When race day arrives, the course feels more familiar because you’ve already experienced it.
How to Add Course-Specific Workouts to Your Marathon Training Plan
The good news is you don’t need to start over or find a totally new marathon training plan.
Continue to follow your plan as it’s designed, but run one workout each week on the treadmill with the RunBetter App.
For example, let’s say you’re training for the Chicago Marathon in October and you’re following the Nike Run Club marathon training plan.
According to the plan, you’re supposed to run 7 miles this weekend for your long run workout. Instead of running a seven-mile route in your neighborhood, you can run seven miles of the Chicago course, virtually, on any treadmill.
All you have to do is download the RunBetter App, select whichever segment(s) of the Chicago course you want to train, and start running!
The app will alert you when it’s time to adjust the treadmill’s incline, based on where you are on the Chicago course.
You still complete the workout your coach or training plan prescribed, but now you’re preparing for the terrain you’ll actually encounter on race day.
Who Benefits Most?
Course-specific training can be especially helpful if you’re preparing for a marathon with significant elevation changes or a course you’ve never run before.
Whether you’re training for Chicago, Richmond, Marine Corps, Steamtown, Twin Cities, or any of the other courses in the RunBetter App, understanding the course profile can help you train with greater confidence.
Even experienced marathoners can benefit by refining their pacing strategy and reducing surprises on race day.
Train Smarter, Not Just Harder
A great marathon training plan builds your fitness. Course-specific training prepares you for your race. By combining the two, you’re not just logging miles—you’re practicing the experience you’ll have on race day.
The RunBetter App makes it easy to train on the real elevation profiles of hundreds of race courses (from 5Ks to ultramarathons and every distance in between) from any treadmill.
Instead of wondering what’s waiting around the next corner, you’ll arrive at the starting line already familiar with the course. Because the best marathon training plan doesn’t just prepare you to finish the distance—it helps you tackle the specific course you’ll be battling on race day.
Check out the entire library of courses available on the RunBetter App here.
Don’t see the course you want to train? Request it here.