Marathon Squad Group Coaching
Autumn 2023 Registration Closed.
Registrations for the Autumn 2023 Squad has now closed. The next group will be for Spring 2024 marathons. Sign up to the mailing list via the bottom of this page for details when sign-up opens.
Have you ever wanted to run a marathon or want to try to go the distance again with a supportive group of women helping you along the way?
The Lazy Girl Marathon Squad will bring together a team of women taking on their first marathon or shooting for a new goal – we will support each other through 16 weeks of training.
You’ll be guided through your training by me, Laura Fountain, an England Athletics running coach and finisher of 20 marathons. In my nine years of coaching, I’ve helped hundreds of women achieve their marathon goals.
Supporting you all the way
I’ll give you your training plan – broken down into two 8-week training blocks. We’ll also catch up for two private coaching chats, so we can make sure you keep on track.
There will be monthly team Zoom meet-ups and group conversations, so you can share the ups and downs of your training.
We’ll also have some special guests sharing their area of expertise in nutrition and injury prevention with you.
A community of runners
It can be a lonely journey training for a big race. Only other runners will understand…
- that you can be equally excited and terrified of running a marathon.
- why it is that you want to do it.
- the challenge you’re taking on.
The Marathon Squad will give you the support of a brilliant group of women who are all on the same journey as you – who all share your fears and the ups and downs of training.
“I want to say thank you so much for the training plans and for creating the great Marathon Squad. The race yesterday went better than I could have thought – both in terms of time and in terms of being able to hold my pace fairly well and running well through the race. It was also great to know that there were other Marathon Squad members out running as well, really added to the race and my training throughout.”
Ella, Manchester Marathon
“I’m really glad I signed up for Lazy Girl Running Marathon Squad, and I’ve so very much enjoyed watching everyone else’s progress. I also want to give a marathon another go in the not too distant future!”
Rachel, Brighton Marathon
Who is the group for?
- Lazy Girl Running is focussed on helping women build their confidence with running and achieve their goals, and we welcome anyone who identifies as a woman to join.
- You’ll be planning to run a marathon in Autumn 2023.
- You’ll be aiming to run your first marathon or be looking to reach a new goal.
- This is a group for those in the mid to back of the race. Nobody is too slow to join us.
- If you are a regular marathoner or expecting a time of 3.45 or faster, this is probably not the group for you.
- We’re an online group, so wherever you are in the world, you can be part of the team.
How it works…
Each runner will get their own individual training plans, tailored to their level and their goal. Your training is written individually for you by a qualified coach – not generated by an algorithm.
You’ll receive your plans in 8-week blocks. At the start of each training block, we’ll have a 1-1 chat to assess how your training is going before the next block starts.
Every month we’ll have a group Zoom call themed around topics such as motivation, injury prevention, nutrition and mental preparation. If you can’t make the call live, you can view a playback.
And, of course, you’ll be part of a small team of super supportive runners sharing the ups and downs of training with you. There’s a WhatsApp group where members share their tips and encourage each other through long runs.
“I found the Zoom calls insightful and well crafted and the WhatsApp group was an endless source of encouragement and banter from a group of like-minded and motivated women who were well-informed and committed to the challenge. I have really enjoyed working with you and would recommend the Marathon Squad to anyone running a marathon in future.”
Rose, London Marathon
“Thank you for all your help with putting together training plan for London marathon. As without this I’m not sure I would have had such a lovely day on Sunday as I just wanted to run it all and maybe do it within 5 hours. My time was 4 hours 26 and 11 seconds. ”
Becky, London Marathon
Frequently Asked Questions
Which races can I enter?
You can choose whichever race you like. Ideally your marathon will be in October, but if you’re thinking of entering one outside of 24 September to 5 November, drop me a line and we can discuss. Here’s a few suggestions to get you started:
- 24 September – Berlin
- 1 October – Loch Ness
- 8 October – Chester, Kielder, Lisbon, Chicago
- 15 October – Yorkshire
- 29 October – Dublin
- 5 November – New York
How will the plan be delivered?
I will send you a PDF copy of your training plan for you to print out and tick off. I can also provide an Excel version if you’d prefer to tick off sessions and amend digitally.
What if I miss training and my plan needs changing midway through a block?
I’m available to do minor amends once per block. The next training block will be written from scratch so will take into account any training missed.
What if I have to pull out due to illness or other reasons?
You can carry over any remaining training plans and coaching calls to use when you’re ready to get training again, for whatever your new goal is. So, for example, if you’ve received your first training plan, the second can be written for you at a future date provided you let me know beforehand.
No refunds will be issued.
I haven’t signed up for a race yet. Can I still join?
Yes. We’ll get your training started and, once your race date is confirmed, we can tailor your plan so that you peak in time for race day. I would advise entering a race before the second 8-week plan starts.
View the Marathon Squad Terms and Conditions.
Any other questions? Just email me.