Kathy Butler has coached marathoners from their very first finish line to the Olympic Trials. Every plan is built around your race, your pace, and how your body responds to the training.
Coached by Someone Who Learned the Marathon from the Best
The marathon punishes bad pacing in a way shorter races don't get away with. Kathy learned that lesson from Steve Jones MBE, a former world marathon record holder, who coached her through her own move up to the distance late in her competitive career. What she took from that mentorship, more than anything, was a real sense of what 26.2 miles actually demands from a runner's body and head, not just theory. That's what every marathon plan gets built around now.
Every marathon plan is built around a long-run progression suited to your current mileage and race date, with fueling strategy, a real taper, and a race-day pacing plan specific to your goal and course, not a generic template pulled off a shelf.
Every plan is written by Kathy herself, race by race
These aren't outliers picked for a highlight reel. They're what shows up on the testimonials page with names attached.
50 States
One athlete has now run a marathon in every state in the country under Kathy's coaching, a goal built and paced out over years, not a single training block.
Sub-3, at 40+
One athlete spent years stuck at a 3:05 before working with Kathy. He broke 3 hours at his very first race under her coaching, then kept taking chunks off that PR across six more marathons, all in his 40s.
Olympic Trials
One athlete qualified for the Olympic Trials with a 2:45 at California International Marathon, built on a training block designed specifically around that course and that goal.
Who Marathon Coaching Is For
Different goals, same underlying work: build aerobic capacity without breaking the body down.
First-Timers
Runners who want to cross the finish line without falling apart at mile 20. Many of Kathy's marathon athletes started here with zero racing history.
BQ Chasers
Runners chasing a Boston Qualifying time who've plateaued training on their own. Kathy will tell you honestly whether your timeline is realistic.
World Majors Marathons
Ready to travel for a race, or run your first marathon major? Kathy has coached athletes successfully to London, Boston, New York, Chicago, and Berlin, as well as many other international races.
Masters Runners
Athletes who assume their best marathon is behind them. It usually isn't. Age changes the training, not the ceiling.
Marathon Coaching FAQ
For a first marathon, 16 to 20 weeks is typical. For an experienced marathoner chasing a specific time, it depends on your current fitness and how far off your goal you are. Kathy will tell you honestly on the free call if your timeline is realistic.
For a first marathon, 16 to 20 weeks is typical. For an experienced marathoner chasing a specific time, it depends on your current fitness and how far off your goal you are. Kathy will tell you honestly on the free call if your timeline is realistic.
Yes. Some of Kathy's marathon athletes are running their very first 26.2, others are chasing an Olympic Trials standard, and she's coached both in the same training cycle. The plan looks different depending on where you're starting, but the attention to detail doesn't.
Yes. Some of Kathy's marathon athletes are running their very first 26.2, others are chasing an Olympic Trials standard, and she's coached both in the same training cycle. The plan looks different depending on where you're starting, but the attention to detail doesn't.
Yes, this is one of the most common goals Kathy coaches for. She'll assess your current times honestly and build a plan toward it, including whether your BQ goal is realistic for your next race or needs another training cycle.
Yes, this is one of the most common goals Kathy coaches for. She'll assess your current times honestly and build a plan toward it, including whether your BQ goal is realistic for your next race or needs another training cycle.
Every marathon plan includes a taper and a specific pacing strategy for your goal and the course you've chosen. Kathy also wrote USATF Campus's guide to choosing the right marathon, covering course, weather, and timing as real performance decisions, not just logistics.
Every marathon plan includes a taper and a specific pacing strategy for your goal and the course you've chosen. Kathy also wrote USATF Campus's guide to choosing the right marathon, covering course, weather, and timing as real performance decisions, not just logistics.
Often, yes. One of Kathy's athletes set marathon PRs in four of his next six races, all after turning 40. Age changes the training, not the ceiling.
Often, yes. One of Kathy's athletes set marathon PRs in four of his next six races, all after turning 40. Age changes the training, not the ceiling.
Marathon coaching follows the same Bronze, Silver, and Gold plan structure as Kathy's other coaching, from $155 USD/month. See the coaching plans page for full pricing and what's included in each tier.
Marathon coaching follows the same Bronze, Silver, and Gold plan structure as Kathy's other coaching, from $155 USD/month. See the coaching plans page for full pricing and what's included in each tier.
Ready to Train for Your Marathon?
Tell Kathy about your goal race and current training. She reads and responds to every message herself, usually within 24 hours.
