Qualify to save ~30% when you pay with HSA/FSA!
Road to Race Day: Fall Group Coaching Program
Running A Fall Marathon?
Start anytime from 1 June to 31 July
You in?
If you’re done training alone, overthinking everything, and hoping it’ll ‘just work out’... this is different.
Flexible Start Dates to Support The Length of Plan you Want, Supports Any Fall Marathon or Half
📅 Starts 1 June - Sign up anytime
When signing up Choose the date you want your plan to start
This is the difference between “I hope I’m ready” and “I know I’m ready.”
You didn’t get there by accident. You got there because of what you’re doing right now.
Tired of Rigid Group Program based on 1 race on a specific Date?
Tired of being forced into a plan length without any choice?
Tired of not having any flexibility in the support you want for your race?
This program is FOR You!
This program is there to support you for your first Marathon/Half or 10th. This program is built on Flexibility & High Level Coaching Support. This program empowers you with flexibility to what you need for your race!
You Choose your start date, You Choose your Marathon or Half! This Program will support you to your goal race and this group will all be chasing a Marathon together!
Road to Race Day: Fall Marathon is more than a training program; it’s a connected, coach-led community built to help you train smarter and race with confidence for your Fall Marathon/Half.
Inside this program, you’ll get:
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A training plan tailored to your fitness, schedule, and goals
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A High Touch Level of Support from your Coaches - Multi week check-ins and assistance adapting your plan as needed
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Monthly group coaching calls to stay on track, ask questions, and get support
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Race-Specific Strength Training to help you stay healthy and strong
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A tight-knit WhatsApp group to cheer each other on, vent, celebrate, and stay connected
This group is limited to just 20 runners, because community only works when everyone feels seen and supported!
This is your invitation to stop training in a vacuum. To feel supported, connected, and motivated, every step of the way.
You bring the goal.
We’ll bring the team.
Who This Is For...
🏁 You're racing a Fall Marathon or Half and you want to feel prepared to have the best race you can. To finish strong, confident, and proud.
🧠 You’re tired of second-guessing your training and want expert support without the long-term 1:1 coaching commitment.
😤 You’ve trained solo before and it didn’t go great; you need structure, strategy, and accountability.
🔁 You’re stuck in a plateau or bouncing between plans, and you're ready to train with purpose and direction.
💬 You want to ask questions, get real feedback, and have actual human support when things get hard.
🙅♀️ You're not interested in DIY-ing your way to race day and hoping for the best; you want a plan that works.
What's Included?
Personalized training plan tailored to your fitness & goals
Your plan is built around your paces, zones, and your Race Day course, synced right to your Garmin, Apple, or Coros.
Daily support & community via WhatsApp
This is where the magic happens. You’ll get real-time access to your coaches, expert answers when you need them, and daily check-ins with a crew training for the same race. No more training in a vacuum.
High Touch Support & feedback from your coach
Multiple check-in's per week on your training. We look at your runs, answer your questions, and guide your next steps. Helping to adapt training when needed!
Strength & injury-prevention support from a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Bulletproof your body. Training includes structured strength + movement support programmed by Dr. Natalie LaMendola, DPT, who is also one of our program run coaches, to help you stay healthy and resilient.
Dates & Pricing
Program Dates: June, 2026 – Dec 2026 (flexible start date, You choose when you want your training to begin)
Race Weekend: Any Fall Marathon or Half
Investment: $150/month (Since we are running a Marathon or Half we ask for 3 months/12 weeks at least so we can properly train you for your goal race. If you want 16,20,24 weeks we can absolutely support that. The choice is yours)
(Billed monthly; $150 paid at sign-up holds your spot and acts as your non-refundable deposit)
HSA/FSA Reimbursement Available
Thanks to our partnership with TrueMed, you may be eligible to get reimbursed for the cost of this program through your Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA). It’s fast, easy, and helps you save money while training for your race. Questions about how it works? Find out more!
Group Coaching & Community Focus
Designed for runners who want to train alongside a community of like-minded athletes working toward the same race goal. You’ll have access to group calls, a private WhatsApp group for daily support, the knowledge and expertise of 5 Running Explained coaches, and a network of runners who understand your journey. It’s perfect for runners who thrive in a team atmosphere and enjoy sharing your experiences, tips, and motivation with others!
Training Plan: Running + Strength Training
You’ll follow a pre-designed, race-specific training plan, tailored with personalized adjustments like pacing and heart rate zones in Final Surge, written by your export Running Explained Coaches. The plans are flexible but are not fully customized from scratch for each individual. Strength training programs written specifically for the Philadelphia course by our very own sports DPT, Coach Natalie!
Sports Dietitian (RD) Support
Exclusive to the Road to Race Day program: You’ll have access to Sports Dietitian Stevie Lyn Smith, RD, who will help you with race nutrition strategies, fueling plans, and hydration tips to keep your body properly fueled during training and on race day! This ensures that your nutrition is optimized to smash your race day goals! Chat with Stevie via a private Slack channel and get support for fueling, hydration, carb-loading, recipes, troubleshooting, nutrition science, and more!
Race Weekend Support
It’s not just about training; we’re here for you on race weekend, too!
From shakeout runs to pre-race strategy sessions to post-race hangouts, we’ll be there every step of the way. You’ll have a team cheering you on, and a community to celebrate with.
Meet Your Road to Race Day Coaching Team!
Coach Andrew Cantor
Marathon Coach
Coach Natalie Lamendola, DPT
Marathon & Strength Coach
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Coach Nick Klastava
Program Head Coach
A Personalized Training Plan
Custom-fit training plan
Created by the Running Explained coaching team, you’ll be matched with the plan that fits your current fitness and race goals - no one-size-fits-all training here - that will be personalized to your paces and heart rate zones in Final Surge, with workouts syncing directly to your Coros, Apple, or Garmin watch! Your plan can also adapt as needed based on how things are progressing.
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Coaching, Without the Overwhelm!
Weekly coaching support
Each athlete in the program is assigned a dedicated Running Explained coach who will review your weekly training data. Your coaches will provide multi-week check-in's to review comments you made on workouts and respond back, respond back to your weekly check-in form and help you if your plan needs any adjustments. This high level of support is unmatch in a group coaching setting.
Built-In Strength for a Stronger Finish
Strength training & injury prevention
Strength training programs written specifically for the Marathon by our very own sports DPT, Coach Natalie, will help you stay injury free and build strength for race day!
A Small Team That Feels Big on Support
A Tight-Knit Team (Just 20 Runners!)
This isn’t a giant group coaching program with 100+ runners and zero interaction. We’re capping Road to Race Day: Fall Marathon at just 20 athletes with 3 coaches so you get the personal attention, coaching, and community you deserve. When we say “you won’t be training alone,” we mean it.
Program FAQ
You may have a very specific time goal, or you may have a goal of finishing like a boss - you BOTH belong here! Road to Race Day isn’t just for runners aiming for specific pace goals. Whether you're looking to finish strong or set a personal best, our training plan will support your unique goals. It’s about training smart, staying consistent, and feeling confident on race day, no matter what your finish line looks like!
When you sign up for Road to Race Day: Fall Marathon, you’ll make an initial payment of $150 at the time of registration. After that, you’ll select a start date and how long of a training block you want and you'll be billed on that date.
Here’s how it breaks down:
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First Payment: Paid at sign-up
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Second Payment: Billed 30 days after your start date
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Third Payment: Billed 30 days after second payment
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Fourth/Fifth/6th Payment (if required): Billed 30 days after third
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This gives you the number months you need of expert coaching, race-specific training plans, strength training and community access all for $150/month.
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If you prefer a completely personalized approach with daily adjustments and full customization, 1:1 coaching might be the right choice for you! However, Road to Race Day offers excellent semi-customized training plans based on your goals and fitness level, designed specifically for any Fall Marathon. While the training plan isn't as fully custom as 1:1 coaching, you’ll still receive personalized support, expert guidance, and a community of runners working toward the same race goal.
Each athlete in the program is assigned a dedicated Running Explained Coach
Your coach WILL:
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Review your training data each week in Final Surge
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Multi-Check in's each week
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Respond with personalized feedback and guidance
But just to be clear—this is not 1:1 coaching. That means:
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Direct messaging, texting, and email access to coaches is not included
This is a structured, coach-supported program; if you're looking for ongoing 1:1 support and personalized training adjustments, check out our 1:1 Coaching options!
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The first month’s payment of $150 is a nonrefundable deposit. You can withdraw from the program before your start date, but the payment you’ve already made will not be refunded.
Once we hit your start date, cancellations and refunds are no longer available. We understand that plans can change, and if you have any concerns or need more details before signing up, please reach out to us. We’re here to ensure you’re confident in your decision to join Road to Race Day!
Here’s how it breaks down:
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First Payment: Paid at sign-up
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Second Payment: Billed 30 days from your selected start date
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Third Payment: Billed 30 days from Second payment
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Fourth, Fifth, Sixth payment: Billed 30 days from previous month
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While 1:1 coaching offers fully customized training plans and ongoing personalized 1:1 attention and support from a single coach, Road to Race Day is a group coaching program designed for runners training a Fall Marathon. You’ll get expert coaching, Strength Training, and community support, but the focus is on a structured, race-specific plan with guidance from 3 expert coaches and the motivation of a community.
FeatureRoad to Race Day1:1 CoachingCoaching SupportA coach will check in multiple times per week on your runs/comments & respond to your check-in weekly; can support some schedule adjustmentsYour coach will provide feedback on specific runs every week along with checking in and providing call/text support, + unlimited schedule adjustmentsPersonalized Training PlanMarathon-specific training plans semi-customized for your fitness, goals, & training volumeFully CustomizedExpert Coaching TeamAccess to 3 Running Explained Coaches!One Coach: YOUR Coach!Community SupportPrivate WhatsApp Group + community engagement1-on-1 support from your CoachCost$150/month for 3(or more) months$175-$295/month for 5 months minimumRace-Specific FocusFocused on a Fall MarathonFocused on your goals, whatever they might be!Your Road to Race Day training plan will be delivered directly to your included Final Surge account. These plans are collaboratively written by the Running Explained coaches and are tailored specifically for the Marathon. Your running workouts will sync with your Coros, Apple, or Garmin watch!
There are several versions of each plan, designed for different levels, training volumes, and race experience. After you submit your athlete history (which includes your current fitness level, race history, and goals), you’ll be assigned the plan that best fits your unique needs.
This approach ensures that you receive a race-specific plan designed to set you up for success, no matter where you’re starting from in your training journey.
Absolutely! Whether you’re a run-walk runner or a dedicated runner looking to switch to a run-walk method for long distances, Road to Race Day is flexible enough to accommodate you. Your semi-customized training plan will take your pace and run-walk intervals into account to ensure you’re progressing without risking burnout. Run-walk is a great way to safely build endurance, and we’ll be here to guide you through the process!