TheMarathon Clinic
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Build & taper

How do I build and taper?

A safe week-by-week climb to your peak with cutback weeks built in, then the three-week taper that brings you to the line fresh rather than flat.

km/mi
weeks
target
Units

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From your coach

A steady climb to about 70 km a week with a cutback every fourth week, then three weeks of taper off that peak. Never chase a number, if a week feels heavy, repeat it before you push on. You don't lose fitness tapering; you bank it.
JHJason HuntFounder & Head Coach
Your weekly build

Wk 1

40km

Wk 2

43km

Wk 3

46km

Wk 4

37km

cutback

Wk 5

50km

Wk 6

54km

Wk 7

58km

Wk 8

46km

cutback

Wk 9

63km

Wk 10

68km

Wk 11

70km

peak

Wk 12

56km

cutback

Your three-week taper

3 weeks out

56km

Volume eases, intensity holds

2 weeks out

42km

Short, sharp, fresh

Race week

28km

Rest is the work now

The weekly climb is capped near 8–10% with a cutback every fourth week to absorb the load, the long-standing guard against the injury spike of adding too much too fast. The three-week taper trims volume while holding the intensity, so you shed fatigue without losing fitness.

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Turn this into a full plan, then have a coach watch every run.