Winter Half Marathon and Full Marathon Training

It's time to begin your journey towards the Wilmington Marathon!

Fleet Feet's Half Marathon and Full Marathon program is designed to prepare runners for either 13.1 or 26.2 mile endurance event. Whether a seasoned runner, looking to meet a new performance goal or a first-time marathoner, this program will help achieve your goals by educating you on the principles of endurance training, hydration, nutrition techniques, body awareness, and pacing.

Our 12-week program meets two times per week for group workouts, Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings. The weekly runs consist of hill, track, or speed workouts onTuesdays and long-runs on Saturdays. Tuesday night workouts will last about an hour to an hour and a half, and Saturday sessions will last one to four hours as we increase mileage throughout the season. There is also an optional, add-on strength portion offered through Axis Fitness Training. The optional Axis Fitness strength component is a great compliment to this training for an additional $10 per week (one class a week) for 10 weeks of the program. Athletes looking to train for the half marathon distance should be able to currently walk, run/walk or run 4 miles, with walkers welcome. Those interested in the full marathon should be comfortable to run or walk/run a current distance of 8 miles.

In addition to the workouts, there are educational newsletters, nutrition tips provided by a local Sports Dietitian, access to physical therapy consultations courtesy of Paradigm Performance Therapy, and expert coaching/mentoring to help inspire and motivate you on this training journey.

Your registration also includes the following benefits:

15% off your registration for the Wilmington Marathon (code provided after registration is complete)
Fleet Feet Training Program Shirt
A special gear up day at the beginning of the program with store-wide discounts exclusive to participants
Access to free physical therapy evaluations throughout the program

Save 10% when you register by November 17 when you use the code EARLYBIRD

Training Program Details:

INFORMATION SESSION: Tuesday, November 26 at 6:45 p.m. at Fleet Feet at The Forum at 1125 Military Cutoff Rd.

START DATE: Tuesday, December 3 at 6:15 p.m.

PRACTICE DAYS:

Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. at various locations including UNCW track, Long Leaf Park, Downtown, and more
Saturday at 7:00 a.m. rotating between the two Fleet Feet Wilmington locations

GOAL RACE: Wilmington Marathon

COST: $120 for the running program. Optional $100 AXIS Strength & Conditioning. Race registration not included.

Click Here to Register

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: What is the cost of the registration?

A: The 12-week program is $120. If you wish to add the strength training program, that is an additional $100.

Q: Do I have to be running the same goal race as the program is designed for?

A: Absolutely not. There are plenty of great races that weekend and surrounding weekends, and you are more than welcome to run any race and still train with us! Just make sure that you get with the coach beforehand and talk about your dates and tapering needs.

Q: I am a very slow runner. Is this still the right program for me?

A: Absolutely. We want to inspire and educate runners of all levels, regardless of pace! We will always have trainees and mentors to run alongside you, so you need not worry about being alone on the runs. Just make sure you are meeting the mileage requirements (~4-8 miles) as posted on the registration page before you sign up.

Q: If I have already run an endurance event but I am looking for a group to train with, is this program right for me?

A: You are always welcome to join in on the fun and reap the educational and motivational benefits that the program provides! You can always talk to your coaches if you have any training requests!

Q: If I miss workouts, or I have to consistently miss one of the days of our weekly meetings does that mean I cannot be involved in the program?

A: Of course you can still be involved! We would love to have every trainee at every run, but understand that life and obligations may get in the way. Make sure that you are completing your training runs independently so you don’t fall behind on your progress! Also, let your coach know when you are expected to miss so we don’t worry about you!

Q: What if I have to miss the informational meeting?

A: No big deal! The informational meeting is not mandatory. Just come to the first workout and we can get you up to speed then. Or e-mail your coach at meghan.donovan@fleetfeet.com and she can give you a run-down.

Q: Can I come to the first workout before deciding to register?

A: Of course! We are confident after you see what the programs are all about that you will want to get involved! We are offering the first workout for FREE on December 3rd, so bring a buddy and come run with us!

Q: What does the training schedule look like?

A: We will be starting at smaller mileages and building over the course of the program. It will never change suddenly or dramatically and you will always be well prepared for any increased distance. You can also expect track workouts, hill workouts and trail runs on a fairly regular basis.

Q: Where do we meet?

A: The training locations will be announced to you before the start of the season and also weekly in the program newsletter.