B.A.A. Boston Marathon Training
Four 20 week marathon plans from the organizers of the Boston Marathon, published free as PDFs.
Boston entrants, and anyone who wants a free plan by mileage band
Checked against Boston Athletic Association’s own pages on August 4, 2026.
About B.A.A. Boston Marathon Training
The Boston Athletic Association publishes four leveled marathon plans, novice through advanced, each running 20 weeks to an April race date. Level One covers 25 to 40 miles a week across about 4 days. Level Four reaches 35 to 60 miles across 6 or 7. The B.A.A. says the plans are built for Boston rather than for other events; the PDFs download free either way.
- All four plans run 20 weeks and are timed to finish at the April race date.
- The B.A.A. describes them as built for Boston rather than as general-purpose plans.
- Separate leveled plans exist for the Boston Half and the B.A.A. 10K.
The plans
| Plan | Weeks | Run days | Peak week | Longest run | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level One | 20 | About 4 | 25 to 40 miles | 16 to 20 miles | Beginner |
| Level Two | 20 | — | 30 to 45 miles | 16 to 20 miles | Beginner, Intermediate |
| Level Three | 20 | About 6 | 35 to 55 miles | 20 to 22 miles | Intermediate |
| Level Four | 20 | 6 to 7 | 35 to 60 miles | 20 to 22 miles | Advanced |
A dash means Boston Athletic Association does not publish that number.
Ways to get it
Downloadable PDF plans
Free
Four levels, downloadable from baa.org with no account or payment.
Common questions
Can you use the B.A.A. plans for a marathon other than Boston?
The plans are published openly and nothing prevents it, but the B.A.A. states they are geared specifically toward preparing for the Boston Marathon and are not necessarily intended for other events. The 20 week timeline is built around an April race.