Training Builds Community.
Get ready for your best race ever! The Classic City Marathon Association and the Athens Road Runners club are here to help.
Marathoners Are Working Already!
Yes! Now is the perfect time to start working toward a January marathon. What an amazing goal! Give yourself many months to build up your mileage safely.
YOUR JULY 2025 BASE-TRAINING PRE-TRAINING TRAINING PLAN!
Can you run or run/walk 4 days every week? And can you cover 3 miles fairly consistently in your long runs? That’s where our July Pre-Training or Base Training plan starts!
The regular, formal marathon training plan for our January race will start in mid September. It starts with long runs of 6 miles, and it assumes you can cover at least 16 miles total every week. If you are not quite there yet, here’s your chance! Get started in July, with this special “fixin’ to get ready” plan from our amazing training team!
ALSO: Read this super informative post by our very own Co-Medical Director, Dr. Joe Colasurdo! He tells it like it is, people…. A marathon is a serious goal. You will be sooooo proud of yourself when you finish the Classic City Marathon!
Free Training Runs in Athens for All Registered Runners
The Athens Road Runners club will provide free organized long runs in Athens every Saturday during the weeks leading up to race day, for all registered runners preparing for the marathon, half marathon, or marathon relay distances.
Beginning in approximately September 2025, all registered runners will receive an email from our Training Team every week with details about the Saturday runs.
Watch here for more information about your training community!
Free Training Plans
No matter where you are training, you can prepare for race day by following a schedule designed specifically for the Classic City Marathon or Half Marathon by Athens Road Runners’ very own Coach Al Jeffers. Or prepare to run a leg of the relay with our “Couch to 10K” program, designed by our Association Director and our Course Designer! The long run is scheduled for Saturday in all our training plans, to coincide with the Athens Road Runners Saturday runs.
2025 Training Plans remain linked below. Watch for our 2026 plans soon!
Novice Half Marathon Training Plan. Perfect for a first-time half marathoner aiming to finish the distance. Two rest days every week.
Intermediate Half Marathon Training Plan. Includes some race-pace tempo workouts and a bit more distance. Try the intermediate plan if you have finished a half marathon before and want to be improving your time.
Novice Marathon Training Plan. Ideally suited to the first-time marathoner. You can do this! Steady increases in mileage, with plenty of rest and recovery, will prepare you to finish the Classic City Marathon with a smile!
Intermediate Marathon Training Plan. For the experienced distance runner who is targeting a specific finish time or trying to improve on a previous marathon. Includes race-pace tempo workouts, more mileage overall, and three 20-mile runs.
Meet Coach Al
Al Jeffers is a USATF-certified and RRCA-certified running coach. He has worked with the Athens Road Runners racing teams and other Athens Road Runners members since 2013. He was proud to design the first lululemon Classic City Marathon training plans in 2023.
“I have coached endurance athletes of all abilities and experience levels, from beginners to Olympics participants, for over 40 years. I strongly encourage runners to choose a training plan and to join a group for the long runs. Running long miles with others gives you a chance to make new friends, help someone else with their running journey, and take in some encouragement from the group when you are in need of support. Never doubt your potential.” – Coach Al
Coach Al is also available for private coaching or consultation with individual runners.
Waivers and Disclaimers
Saturday long runs are organized by the Athens Road Runners. If you are not a member, you will be asked to sign a liability waiver at your first Saturday long run. The training plans and other ideas presented above are intended solely as suggestions that individuals might choose to consider. All runners must make their own decisions about their abilities and limitations; must understand the known dangers of running, including weather, traffic, terrain, health emergencies, and other hazards of running alone or with a group; and must accept the responsibility for all consequences of their decision to run. Please consult with your own medical or other advisors before you run.