I'm *almost* willing to argue that if you've never considered quitting running for good because of

a bad race, a bad run, a seriously bad episode of chafing....

then you're not a "real runner". *almost*.

All jokes aside, a lot of us have had that exact moment of wanting to throw race medals, running shoes, finishers tshirts and other swag into the nearest trash bin because we get knocked on our booties.

It can be hard coming back from an unexpected injury when we were riding high on stellar mileage. Or a training cycle that didn't go the way we planned.

And the well-meaning advice of "get back at it and just trust your training"... not so helpful. Especially if you're a nervous-nelly like me.

I remember running coaches telling me, "Trust your training. You've done the work. Now just show up for race day."

And oh my gosh, I just couldn't.

Then with bad race after bad race, it felt like it was cementing things even further, making the next training cycle a train wreck before it even started.

(hence the "I'm chucking my shoes into the trash can" episode.)

So this is for the 2x+ marathoner whose 4-ish weeks out from starting your Fall 2026 marathon training cycle and you have the pre-season jitters,

Maybe you're worried about whether you're prepared enough, fit enough, if your long runs have been long enough...

Maybe you should sneak in some extra miles to make up for lower base mileage.

Hmmhm. Nope. Stop that. Let me hold your hand and say...

If you have a running coach, listen to them. If you have a running plan, follow it.

Now is not the time to go rogue and try to squeeze in any last minute fitness.

However, now is a good time to ask...

do you have a plan as to HOW or WHEN you're going to fit in your leg strength workouts during marathon training?

If you do, fantastic! You'll love this week's leg day. I made it spicy, just the way you like it :)

If you don't, it's a serious strategy-training question to either ask yourself or your running coach.

Because yes, aerobic fitness and mileage will always be king when it comes to the marathon. But the stepping stone to successful, injury-free, and consistent high mileage/high volume weeks is having the kind of the leg strength that can keep up.

That's why I've just published a brand new, running specific leg workout for you.

I want you to feel confident going into fall marathon training, knowing that you've put in the work. You CAN actually trust your training.

Because you've built strong quads and glutes and have created the kind of running-specific leg strength that you can rely on to handle higher mileage and intensity training in your next cycle.

So what do you say? Ready for a spicy quad and glute challenge? ;)

I'll see you over there and...

Dare to Train Differently,

Marie Whitt, PT, DPT //@dr.whitt.fit

Looking for MORE ways to work together?

• ​RUNNING RESCUE CALL: Save your run and your race. Work directly with me 1-on-1 at the first sign of an ache, niggle, or repeat running injury. We'll deep dive into the why behind your injury and create a personalized exercise program that gets you out of pain, keeps you running, and helps prepare you for race day!
• Grab my NEWEST FREE Strength resources for runners: The Calf & Achilles Cure Toolkit, made for marathoners sidelined by stiff, painful achilles and tight, injury-prone calves who want to protect their training cycle and show up to the starting line strong, pain-free, and ready to race.
• ​STRONGER FEET WORKSHOP: Losing the battle to plantar fasciitis, posterior tib pain, or reoccurring Achilles tendonitis? Not with this workshop ;)

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