I can't run a marathon (and don't plan on trying), but new data from the Apple Heart and Movement Study provides some insight about the training habits of people who do.
Data released Friday by Brigham and Women's Hospital show that more than 1,500 participants in the Apple Heart and Movement Study during the study period (November 2019 – January 2024 d.) has run approximately 2,623 marathons.
Some general data about how Apple Heart and Movement Study participants use their Apple Watch for walking and running :
Since Apple Since the launch of the Heart and Movement Study » From November 2019 to January 1, 2024, more than 197,700 participants recorded at least one walking workout and about 99,400 recorded at least one running workout. More than 50% of participants who recorded any exercise completed a distance of 5 km (5.0 km = 3.1 miles) or more at least once in each relevant category.
“If you added up all the running and walking workouts over a given period, how long would it take participants in the Apple Heart and Movement Study to reach the 26.2 mile mark?,” provisions:
In total, 76,114 participants registered at least one walk in April 2023 or running workout. Over the month, 17,376 (22.8%) participants recorded a total distance of 26.2 miles or more. We also estimated the number of days it would take each of the 76,114 participants to complete the marathon based on the frequency of walking or jogging and the distance they covered that month.
Based on April data, half of our participants would walk and/or run 26.2 miles in 90 days or less. The average pace is slightly slower—334 days per marathon—due to a long tail of participants who don't often log runs or walks. Please note that our method may tend to underestimate the true distance traveled since we only count walks or runs that were part of the workout recorded and reported to AH&MS.
Although we did not consider the number of steps in this update, another common approximation based on average step length is approximately 2,000 steps per mile, with a marathon taking about 52,400 steps!
If you're planning on running a marathon, Apple's study ” Heart and Movement” has some training tips:
This is the most so far While it's common to train for at least four months before a marathon, we looked at three months before a marathon to limit potential overlap in training for other events.
We saw a lot of variation in training strategies, but a few patterns emerged. . It's standard practice to gradually build up your mileage and taper off over the last month to ensure your body is well-rested for the big day. Rest and recovery are recommended after a marathon, so runners are advised to keep the next week very easy.
Leading up to marathon day, the top 10% ran approximately 16 miles more than the average 10%. .
Full data can be found on the Apple Heart & Movement Research Site. While this won't necessarily inspire me to lace up my shoes and run a marathon, maybe it will inspire you.
