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Master the Marathon – Struggle to Success

By Matt FitzgeraldUpdated
Mastering the Marathon
2020 Atlanta Marathon

Master the Marathon 18-Week Program Led by Coach Matt Fitzgerald

 

Master the Marathon is an 18-week learning experience led by legendary running coach and author Matt Fitzgerald, and it’s free with the purchase of an 80/20 Endurance Marathon Training Plan, as an 80/20 Certified Coach, or as a Team 80/20 Member!

 

View Running Plans

 

Master the Marathon

Launch Date:  Wednesday, December 18th

Schedule:  Live, 1 Hour Weekly Zoom Calls with Coach Matt Fitzgerald on either Tuesdays or Wednesdays from December 18th to April 16th

 

How to Register for Master the Marathon

To register for the Master the Marathon Program, you have several options:

 

Once you select one of the options above, you will receive a confirmation email for your purchase and then a second email confirming your participation in the Master the Marathon program. Then each week, you will receive an automated email inviting you to the Zoom call with Coach Matt Fitzgerald.

If you miss a call, no worries, the call will be recorded and the recording will be shared with all registered participants.

 

Have Questions About the Master the Marathon Program?

If you have questions about the Master the Marathon Program, please direct them to results@8020endurance.com

 

More From Coach Matt Fitzgerald About Why He’s Created Master the Marathon

My first marathon was the 1999 California International Marathon, and it was a disaster. I went into it hoping to run 2:45 and I ended up practically crawling across the finish line at 3:38.

My second marathon was the 2000 Long Beach Marathon, and it, too, was also a disaster. I went into this marathon again hoping to run 2:45 and this time stumbled home in 3:11.

In my third marathon—the 2001 Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon—I was on pace for 2:45 through mile 22 but then faded to 2:46:42. Meh.

Many more disappointing marathons followed. By the time I reached my first Boston Marathon in 2009, I had lowered my PR to 2:41:29, and I went into the race confident I could break 2:40, but I began to unravel before I’d even made it to the halfway mark, and by 16 miles, where my family stood huddling in a bone-chilling wind, I was already slowing, bitterly resigned to another disaster. Spotting me, my brother Josh bolted from the sidelines for a quick check-in. A runner himself, he knew by the grim set of my features and the stiffness of my gait that I was coming apart.

“How’s it going?” he asked anyway.

“Terrible,” I said.

“Why? What happened?”

“Why?” I snapped. “Because I suck at running marathons!”

 

Turning Frustration into Determination

A saner person would have decided the marathon wasn’t for him and found another hobby, but my incompetence at this distance had the opposite effect on me, instilling a determination to figure out the marathon once and for all. And eventually I did. In Chicago in 2017 I ran all 26 miles between 5:58 and 6:11 and finished in 2:39:28.

But my best marathon came three years later, at the 2020 Atlanta Marathon It was also my hardest marathon, with more than 1,800 of elevation gain. I didn’t really have a time goal for this one; I just wanted to compete. There were moments when I thought I was beginning to unravel as I had in so many prior marathons, but I now knew how to manage these moments, and I ended up finishing 14th overall with a time of 2:46:59—at age 48!

 

Lesson Learned: How to Master the Marathon

There was no one secret to my improvement as a marathoner. It was more a matter of piecing together lessons I learned about training, diet, pacing, injury prevention, recovery, mindset, and more. Having acquired this knowledge, I’m in a pretty good position to help other runners master the marathon.

There are some runners out there who nail the marathon on their first try, but for the vast majority of us, a process is required to truly master the distance. Having gone through this process myself, I can tell you that it’s extremely rewarding to reach the other side. That’s why I created Master the Marathon, an online learning experience for runners who want to feel what it’s like to run the very best marathon they’re capable of.

 

 

Introducing Master the Marathon 18-Week Program

The Master the Marathon program is 18 weeks long and timed to coincide with your preparation for a spring marathon, whether it’s your 10th Boston or your first REVEL. Each week I’ll host a one-hour call in which I present on a specific marathon-related topic and answer questions. If you miss a call, no problem. They’ll all be recorded and accessible for replay to registrants.

 

Some of the topics in the Master the Marathon Program I’ll cover are:

  • How to Set a Marathon Time Goal
  • Avoiding & Overcoming Injury
  • Managing Mileage
  • How to Stay Motivated
  • The Art of Peaking and more…

How to Sign up for the Master the Marathon Program

Master the Marathon is free with the purchase of an 80/20 Endurance marathon training plan, or for athletes with an active 80/20 Endurance subscription. If you’re an 80/20 Certified Coach, you’re also eligible to join the program at no extra cost!

Master the Marathon is more than just a program—it’s a pathway to achieving your best marathon. Whether you’re chasing a PR or conquering the distance for the first time, I’m here to guide you every step of the way.

Let’s make your next marathon your best marathon.

 

Do you have More Questions About the Master the Marathon Program?

If you have a question about the Master the Marathon Program that was not covered here, or have signed up through one of the three options above yet did not receive a confirmation email, drop us an email: results@8020endurance.com

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