Training Plans

You don't have to train. And you don't have to do the whole thing: the walk is broken into four stages, so come for the parts you can.

Choose Your Path

Three approaches, ranging from 12 weeks of prep to showing up on the day. Choose what you like.

12 Weeks

Slow Ramp Up

Build gradually, feel strong. Perfect if you're starting fresh or want to take your time.

Weeks 1–3  ·  Foundation
  • 2–3 walks per week
  • 2–4 miles per walk
  • Focus on comfortable pace and good posture
  • Wear your event shoes to break them in
Weeks 4–6  ·  Building
  • 3 walks per week
  • 4–6 miles per walk
  • Add one longer walk on weekends
  • Start experimenting with snacks and hydration
Weeks 7–9  ·  Distance
  • 3 walks per week
  • 6–10 miles per walk
  • Weekend long walk: aim for 10–12 miles
  • Practice your event-day nutrition routine
Weeks 10–11  ·  Peak
  • 2–3 walks per week
  • Up to 14 miles on your long walk
  • Practice walking at a consistent pace for 4+ hours
  • Rest at least 2 days before any long walk
Week 12  ·  Taper & Event
  • 2 short easy walks (3–4 miles each)
  • Rest 2–3 days before event day
  • Prep your kit, fuel, and layers
  • Trust your training — you've got this!
View Plan
8 Weeks

Medium

A structured approach for anyone who wants to feel prepared.

Weeks 1–2  ·  Activate
  • 3 walks per week
  • 3–5 miles per walk
  • Assess your current pace and endurance baseline
  • One longer walk (6–7 miles) on the weekend
Weeks 3–4  ·  Build
  • 3 walks per week
  • 5–8 miles per walk
  • Weekend long walk: 10–12 miles
  • Add hills if possible — SF has plenty!
Weeks 5–6  ·  Push
  • 3 walks per week
  • 8–12 miles on long days
  • Lock in your fuel and footwear strategy
  • Practice walking for 5+ consecutive hours
Week 7  ·  Ease Down
  • 2 easy walks (4–5 miles each)
  • Focus on rest and recovery
  • Finalize your event-day gear
Week 8  ·  Event Week
  • 1 short shakeout walk (2–3 miles)
  • Rest 2 days before the marathon
  • Hydrate well, sleep well, eat well
  • See you at the start line!
View Plan
Day Of

F*ck It, Let's Walk

No training plan. No spreadsheet. Just show up and put one foot in front of the other.

The Philosophy

Your body has been walking since you were a toddler. 26.2 miles is long, but it's just walking. Humans crossed continents on foot. You can walk San Francisco.

Day Before
  • Eat a solid dinner — carbs are your friend
  • Drink plenty of water
  • Lay out your kit: shoes, layers, snacks, ID
  • Get 8 hours of sleep (seriously)
Morning Of
  • Eat breakfast — even if it's liquid calories
  • Wear broken-in, comfortable shoes (NOT new ones)
  • Bring 2–3 snacks and a full water bottle
  • Sunscreen, layers, a good attitude
During the Walk
  • Let the group set the pace, the first few miles always feel easy
  • Eat something every 1.5–2 hours
  • Rest when you need to — there's no shame in breaks
  • Talk to the people around you, the miles fly by
The Honest Truth

Will it be hard? Yes. Will your feet hurt? Probably. Will you finish with a story worth telling and a smile on your face? Absolutely.

View Plan

Walking is More Powerful Than You Think

Your body is literally built for this. Here's why walking a marathon is more achievable than you'd expect.

🦴

Low Impact on Your Joints

Walking puts 2–3× your body weight on your joints. Running puts 7–8×. Walking a marathon is dramatically gentler on your body than running one.

Source: PMC / National Library of Medicine

🔥

Similar Calories Per Mile

You burn roughly the same calories per mile whether walking or running — it just takes longer. The effort is more sustainable over 26.2 miles.

Source: PubMed / Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

🧬

Your Body is Designed For It

Humans evolved as persistence walkers. Our hips, arches, and gait are optimized for covering long distances on foot. This is what you were made to do.

Source: Bramble & Lieberman, Nature (2004)

🧠

Mental Health Benefits

Hours spent walking outdoors reduces cortisol, boosts serotonin, and clears your head in ways that are hard to replicate anywhere else.

Source: Harvard Health Publishing

⏱️

Pace is Sustainable

At a 20-minute mile, you'll finish in about 8–9 hours. You can hold a conversation, stop for coffee, enjoy the city — and still cross that finish line.

Source: Mayo Clinic — Walking

🌱

Recovery is Faster

Most walkers recover in 1–3 days after a marathon distance. Runners often need 2–4 weeks. You can walk a marathon and feel normal again by Wednesday.

Source: PMC / Journal of Sports Sciences

Ready to Start?

Pick your plan, lace up your shoes, and register for the walk.

Register Now Back to Home