Pfitzinger Advanced Marathoning
The book behind the 18/55 and 18/70 plans: 12 and 18 week schedules at four weekly mileage tiers.
Experienced marathoners chasing a time on 55 to 85+ mile weeks
Checked against Pete Pfitzinger and Scott Douglas’s own pages on August 3, 2026.
About Pfitzinger Advanced Marathoning
Advanced Marathoning by Pete Pfitzinger and Scott Douglas is the book behind the plans runners call 18/55 and 18/70. The fourth edition lays out 12 and 18 week schedules at four weekly mileage tiers, from under 55 miles to over 85, written day by day. Chapters on nutrition, hydration, recovery, and race-day strategy sit alongside them.
- Names like 18/55 are community shorthand for 18 weeks peaking near 55 miles a week; the book describes plans by duration and mileage tier.
- The fourth edition adds an over-85 miles per week tier and carries a foreword by Emily Sisson.
- Plans are day-by-day schedules built around midweek medium-long runs and marathon-pace long runs.
- There is no official app or web version; the plans live in the book.
The plans
| Plan | Weeks | Peak week | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 weeks, up to 55 miles (Community shorthand: 18/55.) | 18 | Under 55 miles | Intermediate, Advanced |
| 18 weeks, 55 to 70 miles (Community shorthand: 18/70.) | 18 | 55 to 70 miles | Advanced |
| 18 weeks, 70 to 85 miles | 18 | 70 to 85 miles | Advanced |
| 18 weeks, over 85 miles (New tier in the fourth edition.) | 18 | Over 85 miles | Advanced |
| 12 weeks, up to 55 miles (Community shorthand: 12/55.) | 12 | Under 55 miles | Intermediate, Advanced |
| 12 weeks, 55 to 70 miles | 12 | 55 to 70 miles | Advanced |
| 12 weeks, 70 to 85 miles | 12 | 70 to 85 miles | Advanced |
| 12 weeks, over 85 miles | 12 | Over 85 miles | Advanced |
Ways to get it
Book (paperback and ebook)
$29.95 paperback
Fourth edition, Human Kinetics, 2026. All plans live in the book.
Common questions
What does Pfitz 18/55 mean?
It is runner shorthand for the Advanced Marathoning schedule that runs 18 weeks and peaks at up to 55 miles per week. The book offers 12 and 18 week versions at four mileage tiers, from under 55 to over 85 miles per week.
Is Advanced Marathoning good for a first marathon?
It is aimed at runners who already hold meaningful weekly mileage and want to race the distance, not just finish it. Most first-timers start with a beginner schedule such as Hal Higdon's Novice plans and step up to Pfitzinger for a later marathon.