Actress Vishka Asayesh in the Swiss marathon

Typically, marathon training plans last around 16 weeks, sometimes up to 20. During this time, and dependent on your goals, you’ll probably run three to five times a week. Your mileage will increase as you get nearer to race day, though never in too large a leap. On your non-running days, you can cross train, do some low intensity exercise (like yoga or Pilates) but, importantly, do make sure you have proper rest days too, to allow yourself to fully recover.