Now that I’ve completed a full marathon training cycle using the Hanson Marathon Method, I’m ready to share my thoughts on the plan. The Hanson Marathon Method is a training plan that is built around the concept of cumulative fatigue – the idea that running on tired legs day after day, week after week over the course of training helps prepare you for the end of the race. I utilized the half marathon version of the Hanson Method to train for the Shamrock Half and had a wildly successful race – an 8 minute PR and my first sub-2 half marathon. I knew I wanted to use the Hanson Marathon Method to train for the Chicago Marathon and so I set about reading the book (which I highly recommend doing if you decide to try this plan – the book is gold and I think necessary to understanding the method behind the madness – this is an affiliate link) and getting started.
Again, a few basics in case you are not familiar: the plan has you running six days a week. Out of those six days, three are easy days, one is speed work, one is a tempo run and one is your long run. The plan is based on the idea of cumulative fatigue – the idea that by running often (but not always at a hard pace), you are frequently running on tired legs. This is meant to simulate the last miles of a race so that you are prepared to push through the final miles. I wrote a bit about some differences between training on this plan and my prior marathon training plans – you can read that here. A week after finishing Chicago with a 21+ minute marathon PR, here is what I think:
- You have to want to do the work. The Hanson Marathon Method does not mess around. The plan is not easy and if you read the book, this is made clear more than once. I would recommend this training plan for someone who is ready to do the work. This includes reading the book to understand the process. I do not think a successful strategy for following the Hanson Marathon Method would involve just taking the plan from someone and running with it. The reason I think this is because the plan is so challenging, that if you don’t truly understand the why behind the hard workouts, I have difficulty believing that you will stick with them. Honestly, while I never thought of quitting the plan, it is challenging enough to stick with it when you DO know the why.
- Finding time (and energy) for strengthen training is a challenge. I was doing pretty well with this up until the last month of training. Then, I was simply too tired too often to make it work. I know that this is a mistake and in the future I will commit to at least weekly Pure Barre classes. I just had honestly never been that tired before in training. It was not easy. When I was running 8-12 miles in the morning before work and then working a full day, going to Pure Barre after work was the last thing I wanted to do – and I love Pure Barre. I was just tired.
- If you put in the work, you will probably be a much stronger, more confident runner. Here’s the thing – when you run six days a week for multiple months, you are going to have some bad runs. Even a few terrible runs. But completing those runs makes you so much stronger. I knew going into Chicago that no matter what happened, I was a much fitter, smarter and stronger runner than I had been just a year ago.
So, is this plan right for you? Maybe. Are you at a stage in your life, and your running where you are ready to work really hard? Are you ready for your running to be a pretty significant priority in your life? Then this plan might be right for you. However…there are NO guarantees with racing, especially with the marathon. You can follow the plan to a t, do everything right and still have a bad day. Having said that, I will say that after training using the Hanson Method, I honestly can’t imagine ever training for a goal race without using a high mileage plan.
Leave any questions you have about the plan in the comments section and I’ll do my best to answer!
I appreciate your honesty about the training. For me personally it you;don’t work because I’m not able to run that many days a week due to injuries (I run 4x week), but I agree that anyone that actually follows this plan would probably get a PR and feel more confident going into any race.
Congrats again on your awesome PR!!
Thanks Kimberly – hope your training continues to go well!
Thanks for sharing this, Courtney! I was curious what your final thoughts would be. I feel the exact same way about training–I can’t imagine not doing a higher mileage plan for a goal race. Even though it’s so hard, it builds my confidence like nothing else. I’m in that point of training where strength is so difficult to fit in. I was so good at 3 sessions a week, and now I’m down to 1. Like you, I’m just too tired.
Yes – I think that doing the training again, I could better manage the tiredness in the last month or so and still go to Pure Barre. At least I hope I could!
Loved your honest recap! At this time I don’t see following this plan – too much running for me 😉 But I’m not too sure how I will approach my 3rd marathon training cycle so it’s great to read reviews like this.
I never thought I would want to run 6x a week, but the promise of the rewards lured me in. 🙂
Love your post! The Hanson’s plan is no joke, especially for those who have followed beginner/low-mileage plans to begin with. The definition of high-mileage varies; Hanson’s isn’t exactly high-mileage for a lot of runners I know, but is simply a needed base in order to get someone to that PR that has eluded them for a while. 6 days of quality runs each week is hard, and there will be days that you don’t want to run, but for those who are committed to the plan, like you are, there is success at the end of that 18-week and 26.2-mile tunnel. Congratulations on an awesome race! You definitely displayed mental and physical toughness out there.
Thank you – Chicago was really fun! And yes, everything (including mileage) is relative but for a lot of my friends and readers (and for me!) Hanson’s is high mileage in comparison to what was previously run. 🙂
Thanks for the great recap, and honesty about what you went through. I’ve been reading a lot about this plan, and something to consider. Congrats on the 21min PR!!
Thanks – I HIGHLY recommend reading the book!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this training method, it’s really useful to see. It seems like all the hard work paid off for you big time with that PR! I think the other thing for people to think about is their goals. I’m generally running for fun and health. I’m always thrilled by PRs but it’s usually not a huge goal for me. So I think I would have a hard time sticking to such a hard plan when it doesn’t match my ultimate goals. Plus, I am really slow so the thought of those high mileage runs during the workweek really scare me.
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Yes – I think that is a great and important point. You have to want it and be ready to work for it to commit to a plan like this! 🙂
Glad you enjoyed and had success with Hansons! I am in Week 4 of my second cycle with it and I’m definitely already tired thinking about the later weeks!
Honestly – I can’t imagine training like this if I had a baby at home. MAJOR kudos to you, lady!!
There will be a LOT of juggling things around the household to make sure I get my runs in, believe me! LOL
Congratulations, Courtney!! And thanks for your recap! While I’m a half-marathon gal, I’m always interested in training plans. Were you able to counteract the fatigue with frequent naps? Did you do anything different diet-wise?
I did not (and do not ever, really) change my diet based on training. My appetite, however, ebbs and flows a lot when I’m training hard. I’m often not hungry so I’m careful to make sure I eat SOMETHING after hard runs, but I’m generally a relatively healthy eater to begin with. I tried to nap once each weekend – sometimes I could, sometimes I couldn’t. It helped some, but I was just tired in general near the peak of training (which I knew to expect from the book).
I love your honesty, Courtney. I’m quite intimidated by the Hanson method, and likely won’t be using it for my own training, mainly because I don’t have the time necessary to commit to it.
So not for me, but it obviously worked well for you! I agree that understanding the “why” would be so important.
Yes – understanding the why matters SO much with this plan!
After reading your review I went and ordered the hansons method half marathon book. I’ve always followed training plans so I am interested in seeing how this one will differ. I always said I couldn’t see myself doing a full marathon but as time goes on the urge to go full marathon is building.
Oh that’s awesome. I hope you enjoy the plan 🙂
Thanks for your review! I’ve heard about the plan and was really curious and your posts prompted me to get the book. It’s such a good read and makes perfect sense to me. I’m in the middle of a training cycle so while I can’t follow it completely, I hope to implement some of the concepts.
Thanks for your thoughts on this training method. I had heard of the plan and was intimidated by the 6-day schedule (to be honest). I will definitely read the book before ever attempting the plan 😉
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Yes – the book is great and really breaks it all down!
I completely agree with your recap of the plan. This was the first time I did Hansons for a full (previously used the half plan), and while it was challenging and you need to be committed, it does work. Im so glad that you had success with it.
I know I’m late but…
After a disastrous marathon training cycle last year, I’ve decided to train using the Hanson method. I was initially a little apprehensive about running 6 days per week, but I’m excited that you used this method and had so much success! I’ve read the book and will begin training shortly for Chicago 2017! Wish me luck!
That is awesome. I hope you enjoy the method and have a great experience at Chicago! It’s a wonderful race!
Hi Courtney!
I came across this post as I’m trying to read as much as I can about this method. I have read the book and am gearing up to start the beginner plan for my first full—New York The science behind it makes total sense, which is why I have chosen Hanson’s. From everything I have read, people who train with this method seem to have the CONFIDENCE going into the marathon and that’s what I need! Thanks for the post! Also….we’re neighbors….I’m in MD!
Awesome – good luck in your training. You are right – the confidence is the best result of the plan. It really does make all the difference!