Mill Race Marathon Training Group

Mill Race Marathon training program for beginners offers a 17 week training plan to ensure that steady build-up mileage and safety running tips help the participants to achieve their goal -complete the race-. Progressive mileage incremental plan has been proven to work well in past editions of Mill Race Marathon since 2013. The program is combined of training classes and running practices. Training programs for marathon, half-marathon and 5K races are included for this group with each program built to help all participants achieve success.

Classes will provide you with running tips, best practices, information to select the most suitable running shoes and attire, nutrition topics and suggestions for runners; advice to prevent injuries and professional aid needed are some of the topics.

Running practices are comprehensive to help on building strong base and develop running strength and stamina. Running practices are supported by the Columbus Running Club that ensures focus on the practice. It goes from long runs, steady pace runs, speed and intervals, tempo run workouts, etc.

17 week training program in 2026 is from May 30th, 2026 to Sept 26th, 2026. Running Topic classes will be at Yes Cinema, in downtown Columbus, IN. on Saturdays at 7:00 am, with duration of 30 minutes followed by a running practice as a group with Columbus Running Club.

Weekly running practice schedules are promptly communicated with workouts suggested, meeting place, routes and duration. 

Tuesday optional workout: This is better done is a track because the distance is well known: One lap is 400 mts. You do as many laps as needed to achieve the distance. However, it can be done it on the road or the street. You may find reference points that distance from each other either about 200 mts or 400 mts, then go back and forth as needed.  We will meet at 7:00 PM in the Central Middle School Track in 7th Street (alternative is the Northside Middle School Track). 

Thursday optional workouts. You can do this in the street, roads, people trail. However for safety reasons, always pay attention to your surroundings. We will meet at the parking lot of the Dialysis Center of Columbus Regional Hospital (17th St and Hawcreek Av) at 7:00 PM.

Saturday Long Run with Columbus Running Club: We meet every Saturday at 7:00 AM in Irwin Plaza (Washington St. & 5th St in Downtown). Routes are shared earlier in the week to be familiar with them. Water stations & refreshments are provided as well in strategic places on the route (same as they will be on race day).