Marathon Build: Why I'm Running a Marathon This Fall
A 16-week marathon build focused on consistency, endurance, and discovering how much running volume I can absorb while staying healthy and enjoying the process.
On October 4th, I'll be running the Marathon du P'tit Train du Nord.
Not to chase a personal best.
Not to qualify for Boston.
Not even to see how fast I can run a marathon.
This time, my role will be to help others reach their goal as a pace bunny for the 4h20 group.
For many runners, that might not sound particularly ambitious. But for me, this marathon represents something I've been curious about for a long time.
A Different Kind of Challenge
I've always enjoyed a variety of challenges.
Some years that has meant spending more time in the gym. Other years it has meant preparing for endurance events, road races, track workouts, or HYROX competitions.
What interests me isn't a specific sport as much as the process of preparing for a goal and discovering what I'm capable of along the way.
This marathon build is no different.
The question I'm trying to answer isn't:
"Can I run a 4h20 marathon?"
The real question is:
"How much running volume can I consistently absorb while staying healthy, recovering well, and enjoying the process?"
The Experiment
For the next 16 weeks, I'll gradually increase my running volume while continuing to include strength training and other activities I enjoy.
I'm not interested in becoming a marathon specialist.
I'm interested in becoming a more complete endurance athlete.
That means learning:
- How to fuel longer runs
- How to recover from higher mileage
- How my body responds to consistent aerobic training
- How much volume I can realistically handle
- How to balance running with strength training
Most importantly, I want to see what happens when consistency becomes the priority.
Week 1
The first week of the build finished with approximately 45 km of running.
Nothing spectacular.
No heroic workouts.
No breakthrough performances.
Just a collection of solid, enjoyable training sessions that left me feeling healthy, motivated, and excited for what comes next.
Honestly, that's exactly what I wanted.
More Curious Than Committed
One thing I've learned over the years is that I don't need to define myself by a single sport.
I enjoy exploring new challenges.
Sometimes that means spending more time under a barbell.
Sometimes it means preparing for a HYROX race.
This summer, it means building toward a marathon.
The destination is interesting, but what excites me most is the process.
The early mornings.
The long runs.
The lessons learned.
The small adjustments.
The gradual accumulation of work.
Looking Ahead
Fitness is rarely built through a single workout.
It's built through weeks and months of showing up.
The goal for this marathon build isn't to have the perfect week.
It's to string together as many good weeks as possible.
Over the next few months, I'll share updates, training recaps, lessons learned, mistakes, and observations from the process.
We'll see where the journey leads.
For now, Week 1 is complete.
15 weeks to go.