5 Things to Do Now for your Race in 6-months

How I’d Spend the Next 6 Months

If I Were Training for the St. George Marathon (October 4, 2025)

If you registered today to run the St. George Marathon this year, now is the perfect time to think beyond just the race and look at how you’ll prepare. The training doesn’t start with a fancy plan in June—it starts with what you do today.

I’ve worked with hundreds of runners, and the ones who thrive on race day are the ones who understand this key idea: you don’t train for a marathon in 16 weeks—you prepare your body over months of intentional, layered work.

So if I were running St. George this year, here’s exactly how I’d approach the next 6 months to make race day feel strong, smooth, and successful.

1. Establish the Marathon Training Cycle

First, I’d look at the calendar and build a timeline. The St. George Marathon is on Saturday, October 4th, 2025.

A quality marathon build typically takes 16 weeks. So my official training cycle would start around June 14th. But that does vary, depending on my current fitness and goals.

That gives me the months of April, May, and early June to focus on base building—a crucial but often overlooked part of marathon prep.

This pre-training phase isn’t just filler. It’s where you develop the aerobic engine, strength, and structure that marathon training builds on.

2. Build a Purposeful Base Phase

Too often, runners treat base building like a vague stretch of time where they “just run more.” But this period should be purposeful and personalized to you.

I’d start by looking at any spring races already on my calendar. For example, if I had a 10K or half marathon in April or May, I’d use that as the focal point and build my base around it.

If no races were planned, I’d pick a few mini-goals—like improving weekly mileage, running consistently four days a week, or doing strength work twice a week—to guide my progress.

This is also a great time to refine recovery routines, fueling practices, and even shoes and gear. These small details can make a big difference when training ramps up later.

3. Focus My Base Training on These 6 Priorities

Here’s what I’d be working on during the base-building phase:

1. Aerobic development I’d keep most of my runs at an easy, conversational pace (Zone 2 if using heart rate). This builds mitochondrial density, capillary networks, and fat-burning efficiency—key for marathon performance.

2. Weekly consistency Rather than adding intensity too early, I’d focus on frequency—running 3–5 days per week consistently, even if the runs are short.

3. Long run rhythm I’d build up my long run gradually so that by June, I’m comfortable running 90–120 minutes without strain. No rush, but steady progress.

4. Functional strength & mobility I’d schedule 2 strength sessions per week—focused on single-leg balance, posterior chain strength, foot and core control. I’d also dial in a mobility routine I can maintain throughout the marathon cycle.

5. Nutrition & hydration practice I’d use my long runs to start practicing race-day fueling. Learning how much your stomach can handle and how your body responds to carbs, electrolytes, and fluids is a game-changer.

6. Form & gait awareness I'd work on my running form with a Running Assessment. I’d use it to identify inefficiencies and imbalances—then work to correct them now, when mileage is lower.

4. Treat Base Building As Seriously As the Marathon Block

The biggest mistake I see runners make? Skipping the base or treating it casually, only to ramp up too quickly when “marathon training” starts.

This leads to injuries, burnout, and stalled progress. Your base training is your insurance policy. It builds the physical capacity and structural durability your body needs to handle the stress of the marathon block.

If I took this period seriously, I’d feel more confident and capable going into the summer—and the marathon-specific phase would feel more manageable (even enjoyable!).

5. Get Guidance Before the Marathon Plan Begins

If I had big goals—like qualifying for Boston, running a personal best, or just wanting to enjoy the entire 26.2—I wouldn’t wait until July to figure out my training.

I’d look for support now. That might mean working with a coach, getting a gait analysis, creating a smart strength plan, or having a pro evaluate my current training.

Having someone help me make decisions based on where I’m at (and where I want to go) would take the guesswork out and save me time, stress, and potential injury later on.

Final Thoughts: St. George Is a Fast Course…

But It’s Not an Easy One

The St. George Marathon is a downhill course and can be very fast. But downhill doesn’t mean easy—it means you need strong quads, smart pacing, and efficient form to take advantage of the terrain.

When run well, it’s an unforgettable race. It flows, it flies, and it leaves you feeling proud. But that only happens when your preparation matches your ambition.

And that starts now.

Here’s to a strong, healthy St George Marathon!

Happy running

Dayna - your fav. Exercise Physiologist

Efficient. Strong. Injury-Free.

Need help getting started? I specialize in working with runners across the U.S. to help them build smart, strong, sustainable plans. Whether you’re looking for custom coaching, strength programming, or support with gait, mobility, or fueling—I’ve got you covered.

I have a few spots open for my online run coaching!

📩 Reach out today and let’s set you up for success on October 4th.