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Hilly Course Specialist Marathon

Marathon plan tailored to hilly courses with downhill quad-prep.

By For The RepsPublished Jun 3, 2026Updated Jun 3, 20264 min read
In this guide8 sections
  1. 01Who it is for
  2. 02Goal of the plan
  3. 03Weekly structure
  4. 04Key workouts
  5. 05Suggested pacing guidance
  6. 06Recovery guidance
  7. 07Beginner-friendly explanation
  8. 08Practical tips
Real trail runner moving through an outdoor route
Real trail runner moving through an outdoor route. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Trail_Running_(5603859661).jpg. Trail Running (5603859661) by Virginia State Parks staff, CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0). Sourced from Wikimedia Commons.

Who it is for

This plan is for advanced runners working toward a marathon goal with 6 runs per week.

Goal of the plan

The source goal is time goal. Marathon plan tailored to hilly courses with downhill quad-prep.

Weekly structure

  • 18 recommended weeks
  • 16-22 supported week range
  • 6 runs per week
  • 14 taper days

Key workouts

The source focus areas are Hills, Marathon Pace, Long Run, Downhill.

  • Hills sessions
  • Marathon Pace sessions
  • Long Run sessions
  • Downhill sessions

Suggested pacing guidance

Suggested addition

Use Half Tt to anchor effort if you already track benchmarks.

Most easy runs should feel conversational. Quality days should finish with control rather than strain.

Recovery guidance

Suggested addition

Keep easy days easy, sleep consistently, and reduce volume before adding intensity if soreness lingers.

Beginner-friendly explanation

Suggested addition

If you are newer to this distance, start at the low end of the run frequency and keep the harder sessions conservative.

Practical tips

Suggested addition
  • Warm up before faster work.
  • Keep one day flexible for life schedule changes.
  • Use route, terrain, and weather notes when comparing progress.

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