Which app should I use for a marathon training plan?
Use one that calculates your paces from a recent result, builds long runs progressively, schedules down weeks and adapts when you miss a day. EntrenAI does it with VDOT paces (Daniels) and an 80/20 distribution, but the plan is paid (€7.99/month or €23.99/year, with a 7-day trial) and it has no watch app.
Updated
At a glance
| Paces | Calculated from your VDOT (Daniels), estimated from a recent result |
|---|---|
| Intensities | 80/20 polarized split (Seiler): most of the time at low intensity and a small share at quality |
| Structure | One week at a time, in 5-week blocks with a down week, looking at the previous week and how many days remain to the race |
| Adjustment | Daily sleep, stress and fatigue check-in; reshuffles the week if you miss a session |
| Price | €7.99/month or €23.99/year, with a 7-day trial |
What a good marathon plan needs
The marathon rewards aerobic base and punishes excess. A useful plan needs:
- Your own paces, not generic ones: marathon pace comes from your current fitness, not from a universal table.
- Progressive long runs reaching about 30-35 km, and a couple of quality sessions (threshold, marathon pace) per week.
- Down weeks to absorb the work and lower injury risk.
- A taper in the final weeks, with less volume and the same intensity.
- Adaptation to how you are doing, because fatigue does not announce itself on the calendar.
How EntrenAI does it
The engine calculates your VDOT from a recent result and every pace comes from it (easy, marathon, threshold, intervals). It builds one week at a time, looking at the last one and how long remains to the race, and every morning the check-in can lighten or load the day's session. The full methodology, with its sources and limits, is on the methodology page.
When NOT to pick EntrenAI
- If you only run and want the app with the most track record in running: Runna, which is built for that (comparison).
- If you need a watch app with paces on your wrist: EntrenAI does not have one.
- If you have had injuries or heart conditions, see a doctor first; the plan does not diagnose.
When to pick it
If you are preparing the marathon and also do strength (advisable to run better and get injured less), the plan lays out the week so no leg session wrecks the long run.
Frequently asked questions
A plan does not replace a doctor or a coach. EntrenAI asks for prior experience for the marathon and, if you do not have it, recommends a season of shorter distances first. The list of requirements is on the plan page.
Yes: if you perform above expectations in a key session and your VDOT rises, the engine recalculates the zones for the next week. If you systematically run faster than prescribed in easy sessions, it lowers the target pace instead of letting it slide.
EntrenAI's free workout logging lets you record your runs, but the marathon plan is paid. The answer on free apps with a plan explains what each plan includes.
Try it yourself
Download EntrenAI: free workout logging costs nothing and the personalized plan has a 7-day trial.