Winter Marathon Program
The Winter Marathon Training Program (WMT) provides runners with coaching support and training partners in preparation for a spring marathon. While the marathon is the primary focus of the WMT program, the coaches would be happy to provide guidance to participants targeting other race distances, such as ultra-marathons. You do not have to be a fast runner to participate in our program. Each participant will be assigned to a pace group based on ability. The WMT Program is great for bonding with fellow runners and for maintaining and building your fitness throughout the winter.
Prerequisites: This is a relatively short marathon training program. Participants should have a consistent mileage base of at least 25 miles per week and be able to comfortably run 12 miles at one time. A positive attitude and the determination to complete a marathon is always a plus! MCRRC Membership is required for participation in this program. If you are not a member, you will have the opportunity to join MCRRC during registration. Participants must be 18 or older to register.
Structure: The program will build up to an average weekly mileage of 40-50 miles per week and a long run of 20 miles. Participants of all paces are welcome. The program has proven successful to participants with sub-4:00 hour marathons as well as participants with projected 6-hour marathons. We believe that any participant who meets the minimum mileage requirements, and who makes a commitment to train consistently, can get to the starting line of their marathon, injury-free.
During registration, you will be asked to provide at least one recent race time, preferably at a shorter distance than a marathon. This will help us to place you in an appropriate pace group. If you haven’t raced recently, we encourage you to participate in an upcoming race so that you can provide a finish time.
The program will offer two group workouts per week. Groups will meet on Sunday mornings for a long run starting at 7:30 AM, which will take place in various locations, as well as on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 PM at a local track.
*NOTE: The Program Directors reserve the right to cancel any run based on treacherous winter conditions (driving and/or running). We generally wait till the last possible moment before cancelling. However, we will likely NOT cancel based on forecast alone, without verification.
Most communication will be done by email so that participants do not have to stand in the cold to receive directions. It will be important to use an easily accessible email address and be able to check it frequently, so important messages aren’t missed.
Cost: Online registration is $85. This does NOT include entry into a goal race, but does include a premium. Total registration will be limited to 150 participants
Program Dates: Wednesday, December 6, 2023 – Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Target Race: There is no target race for the program, although we anticipate that many participants will register for the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon or the B&A Trail Marathon in March. The training is equally applicable to other spring marathons, such as Lower Potomac River, Boston, Myrtle Beach, One City Newport News, Little Rock, and London.
Orientation:
Date/Time: Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at 6:30pm
Location: TBD Track – Come dressed & ready to run!
Head Coaches: Keith Evans, Donald Chung, and Libby Miller
Keith is a RRCA-certified coach who has run race distances from 3K up through 314 miles. He regularly competes in both road and trail races. He has coached in 5k, 10k and marathon programs and continues coaching at the MCRRC Run Performance Lab (formerly called the Stride Clinic).
Donald has coached with the First Time Marathon Program, Experience Marathon Program, and Advanced Marathon Program. He ran his first marathon in 1991 and since then has run over 60 marathons. He is currently attempting to complete a marathon in each of the 50 states. He has completed 39 so far.
Libby is a RRCA-certified coach who is an avid marathoner. She’s coached with the Winter Marathon Program and the First Time Marathon Program and also serves on the MCRRC Board of Directors. When she is not out running, she can be found on the trails with her two rescue dogs. Her favorite part of the marathon is the months of training leading up to the big day and the Sunday long run.
If you have additional questions, please email the coaches directly at winter_amt @mcrrc.org.
Program Registration
Please Note
A CURRENT MCRRC MEMBERSHIP is REQUIRED to participate in this program. Please note that membership is NOT included in your program registration. PRIOR TO JOINING this program, you must become a member. If you are unsure if you have a CURRENT MCRRC Membership, please contact office@mcrrc.org for assistance. Otherwise, please click here to become a valued member.
Communication Methods
We will use a private, online group to facilitate communications. Everyone will be required to join this group to participate in the program. Instructions on how to join this group will be provided by the Program Director.
Disclaimer
The program director reserves the right in his sole discretion to refuse admission to the program or dismiss any individual from the program whom the program director believes is unsuited for running the specified distance or is unable to meet the demands of the training schedule, or is disruptive to other program participants. Those individuals will be denied entry into the program or dismissed from the program as appropriate. The program director also reserves the right to limit the number of participants in the overall program or in individual pace groups. MCRRC has a No Refund policy. Program registration fees cannot be refunded due to injury, schedule conflict or any other reason.