By Coach Nic Baxter | NBx Running Coach Week 7 of my Sydney Marathon training is done, Peak Week 2, the final and biggest push before the taper begins. This was also when NYC Summer Streets happened, which meant one of my longer runs came with closed roads, iconic skylines and my some friends alongside me. THE PLAN The second and final peak week of this training block, designed to squeeze out the last significant training stimulus before easing off for race day. Unlike a typical week with one...

By Coach Nic Baxter | NBx Running Coach Week 6 of my Sydney Marathon training is done, and this was Peak Week 1. The highest volume week of the entire training block so far, headlined by a 20 mile long run in the middle of the week. Here's how it went. THE PLAN Peak weeks are exactly what they sound like, the highest mileage and demand of the entire training cycle, designed to push the body to its greatest training stimulus before tapering begins for race day. This is where all the earlier...

By Coach Nic Baxter | NBx Running Coach Week 5 of my Sydney Marathon training is done. I was back into building mode after Week 4's recovery week, and this week brought one of the more humbling long runs of the block so far. THE PLAN Coming out of a scheduled recovery week, Week 5 stepped volume back up and reintroduced some quality work. The big long run was also moved earlier in the week rather than the usual weekend slot. This was a deliberate choice to get it done and dusted before a busy...