Unlike the previous three years, I ran only one marathon during the 2025–26 season. I chose to skip my usual fall marathon in October/November to better manage the physical demands of training and recovery. Instead, I structured my preparation for the New Delhi Marathon into two distinct cycles.
This approach gave me plenty of time to progress without feeling rushed. The first was an 18-week cycle that culminated in the Ahmedabad Half Marathon on November 30th, followed by a 12-week cycle leading directly into New Delhi.
For my training structure, I used personalized plans from RunStrong. These are based on Advanced Marathoning (Pfitz). Since I have been training with Pfitz’s methodologies for a while now, there were no surprises. It is all familiar work.
What did I focus on training?
The focus of the first 18-week training block was pushing my lactate threshold. I successfully lowered my threshold pace to approximately 4:17/min from 4:20/min. My progress during this cycle was confirmed by three half-marathons: a course best in Hyderabad, followed by personal bests in both Bengaluru and Ahmedabad.
Building on that foundation, I focused on increasing my aerobic pace during the second training block. I saw the most significant gains during the mid-week long runs, which I ran at a gradual progression, closing within 15–25 seconds of my goal marathon pace. Most weekend long runs also included marathon-pace finishes.
My effort distribution consisted of a high volume of Zone 2 (40%) and low Zone 3 (15%), supplemented by Zone 1 (45%) recovery running. In the final eight weeks of the second cycle, I integrated VO2 Max interval work to sharpen my top-end speed.
What did I do differently?
Winter training often means missing out on heat adaptation. To compensate, I experimented with several strategies: starting my long runs later in the day, running in the evenings, wearing multiple layers, and taking brisk walks at midday. I also ran a 20-miler in Chennai as a Marathon Pace progression to test my thermal regulation. It went remarkably well, despite the humidity and temperatures being significantly higher than what I had experienced in Bengaluru.
Surprisingly, I also managed to set a 10K personal best during a tune-up just four weeks before my goal marathon. My “n=1” inference from this cycle is clear: training in the heat offers a significant performance boost.
I also experimented with caffeine gels during my long runs this cycle. In the past, I had avoided caffeine for marathon distance, because it caused jitters and seemed to increase my propensity for cramping. However, I saw positive results during training this time around; in fact, I felt confident enough to incorporate a caffeine gel into my race-day fueling plan.
I stayed near the start line and joined my group for a shake-out run on Saturday morning. The weather was pleasant, and thankfully, the AQI levels were much better than expected. Later that morning, I visited the Expo to collect my race kit and soak in the pre-race atmosphere. It was great to catch up with several friends from the running community, including Sanchit, Col. Sandeep Madan (Procam), Nakul Butta (AllInRunning), and Tribhuvan (Fast&Up).
For nutrition, I kept my carb-loading as simple as possible: a Punjabi thali for lunch and dal-chawal (rice and dal) for dinner. I laid out my race-day gear and retired to bed by 9:00 PM, ready for the morning.
I woke up at 2:45 AM for the 4:00 AM start. For breakfast, I had overnight oats, the same meal I’d practiced with during all my long runs. I calmed my nerves with my usual mobility and activation routine, and by 3:20 AM, we arrived at Gate 14 of the JLN Stadium.
After a warm-up consisting of drills, a short jog, and a few strides, I felt completely ready. A final jog to the starting line ensured my body was properly warmed up. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel any race-day jitters.
The plan was to run with Harish, my training partner throughout this cycle, as our training paces are very similar. However, we agreed not to force our paces to stay perfectly in sync; a marathon is far too long a distance to tether yourself strictly to someone else’s rhythm.
I organized my pacing segments slightly differently this time, influenced in part by John Davis’s book. My strategy was to run the first 8km at roughly 5 seconds slower than my goal pace, then lock into the goal pace until the 25km mark. From there, I planned to run “stronger,” until the 35km mark. Once the goal time was secured, the plan was to push harder for the final 7km. While not a rigid requirement, achieving a slight negative split or at least an equal split was my ideal outcome.
In terms of progress check points, these are the milestones that I memorized by-heart: 10K under 47 minutes, Half-marathon under 1:38, 32K by 2:27. Fueling strategy was to eat 65g of carbs every hour, which boiled down to one large (SIS Beta Fuel Orange - Mixed Source) and one small gel (SIS Go Gel + Power Gels) every hour.
Start - 8km (4:37/min)
The race started exactly as planned. I navigated the initial crowds without much trouble while maintaining a relaxed 4:40 pace. By the 3km mark, my watch beeped a 4:35 pace, and I realized I was pushing a bit too hard. I eased back to a 4:38/min pace, while Harish also backed off a few seconds; we remained within cheering distance of each other. The Delhi course features so many U-turns that we were able to see one another almost every 2–3 kilometers. Ramprakash, well-known to the X Running community, joined me during this stretch. I took my first mixed-source gel at the 7km mark.
9-25th km (4:36/min)
I cruised along the course, maintaining a steady 4:35–4:40 pace until the halfway point. My nutrition strategy was on track: I took a caffeine gel at the 12km mark and a mixed-source gel at the 18km mark.
Then, a bit of drama: my hands were sweaty, and I dropped the gel. I had a split-second internal debate about whether to turn back, but since the course was clear, I quickly doubled back to retrieve it. I finished the first loop in 1:36:50, exactly according to plan. At this point, Ramprakash stepped back, opting for a slightly slower pace. I took my fourth gel at the 24km mark and maintained my effort through the 25km mark.
26th-35th km (4:36/min)
The plan for this segment was to run at a stronger effort and lock into a pace around 4:35. I knew this was the most crucial part of the race, and I was mentally prepared for it. I pushed to maintain that intensity, and my pace hovered consistently between 4:35 and 4:36.
I took my final mixed-source gel (fifth) at the 30km mark. Around the 32km mark, Harish caught up with me. He looked strong and was pacing significantly faster than my goal. While it was tempting to try and catch him, I decided to stick to my own plan and maintain my current effort.
35th km-Finish (4:33 /min)
Fatigue started setting in, so I took my final gel (sixth gel) a bit ahead of schedule, hoping it would help. The good news was that my goal time was already well within reach. At the 35km turnaround, I caught sight of Harish and Pankaj from my running group; they were running just a few seconds apart.
Hoping to build momentum, I caught up and paced with them, clocking the laps faster than my goal pace until the 39km mark. By the 40th kilometer, however, my legs began to feel heavy and my stride lost its fluency. While I managed to maintain my goal pace, I no longer felt strong.
Pankaj and then Harish passed me between the 40th and 41st kilometer. All I had to do then was keep them in my sights until the end. I switched to auto-pilot and crossed the finish line at 3:13:25—marking the very first time I’ve managed a small negative split (15s) at the marathon distance.
Though the New Delhi Marathon’s two-loop course and innumerable U-turns can be a dampener, it remains a fantastic route. It is flat and cool, but more importantly, seeing familiar faces so often helps ease the pressure and allows you to relax. I truly cherished the many shout-outs and recognizable faces from across the Indian running community.
It took a bit of time to digest what happened. But there were no surprises. I was very happy to have achieved the goal time finish and my second consecutive Boston Qualification by a margin of 6 minutes, possibly enough for 2027 Boston Marathon entry. Looking forward to crossing the finish line on Boylston Street.
My general observation when talking to the runners at the finish line is that the Indian running community is fast learning scientific methods to marathoning. I would like to believe geeksonfeet.com has contributed a small bit. Many runners coming to me at the finish and recalling how GeeksOnFeet helped is a testimony.
This is one of the best training blocks that I had over the years. Running volume (mileage), and targeted intensity (being specific on zone based intensity) continue to provide the stimulus for me to improve, while balancing the recovery.
I plan to run the TCS World 10K in April, so it will be an 8 week training block. I want to try a new stimulus during this upcoming block. I will exclusively train on Norwegian Singles Method. It is also a good way for me to test the new Norwegian Singles Method based training plans in RunStrong.
Aravind is a technologist, marathoner, and self-confessed running shoe geek. He’s passionate about the intersection of technology and running, with a keen interest in running mechanics. Aravind is also the co-founder of GeeksOnFeet, a platform dedicated to helping runners train smarter through data, technique, and community. Find him on Twitter: @imgeeksonfeet