A. The registration fee is due by kick-off or your first meeting.

A. Here are some potential expenses:

• Running Shoes and clothing – $250-$500
• Travel - If you are traveling to a race event, you will encounter hotel, transportation and meal expenses along with a race registration for your chosen race event.

A. Yes. You must be 21 years old to participate and there is no upper limit to participation –- medical approval from your doctor is strongly suggested.

A. The first ten weeks will be held at locations to be announced in your training area. Training teams will host the remaining 30 weekly runs in areas in your area. Go to your Team Page to learn of the locations of your local training meetings and runs.

A. Yes. Whenever you start a new exercise program you increase the risk of injury. You will experience some aches and pains along the way (you’re training for a marathon!) and some of our participants develop overuse injuries. It is important that you check with your physician before starting any exercise program and, if you will follow the training program, you will reduce your risks of exercise-induced injury. Approximately 80% of all injuries are due to over-training or under-training and not following the program schedule. It is imperative that you trust the program and not over-do it or not exercise during the week and show up Saturday unprepared.

A. Each Marathon Makeover team sets it training times. Please check with your local team to determine your meeting day and times.

A. Yes. We will start our meetings at 8AM on Saturdays and as the temperatures increase we will meet earlier and earlier. In the heat of the summer in the South, we may start as early as 5AM.

A. We ask that you train with your city team and work with your coaches to find times to participate in planned group runs in other areas. If you are out of town and there is a Marathon Makeover team in the area, contact the coach and join them for a Saturday run!

A. For the first ten weeks, all the meetings will be recorded and online in the members’ section. An occasional absence should not negatively impact your training if you get the miles in on your own.

A. Please check with your team page to determine what payment plan options are available in your area.

A. No. Marathon Makeover is a 40-week wellness program that seeks to transform the health – emotional, physical, and relational – of our participants. We utilize the training for a marathon to address these areas of growth and do not seek to create a club.

A. No. The training program is a general training program that has been used with over one thousand participants successfully. It is a moderate training schedule that focuses on putting in exercise time during the week (under an hour) and a long, training run/walk on Saturdays. If participants have personal concerns, they are encouraged to communicate with their coach so that their personal needs are addressed.

A. Yes. We offer a 30-day Money Back Guarantee. Participants that register, and if after attending the first four weeks are not satisfied with the program or are unable to do the program, may receive a refund of their registration fee, minus a $50 Starter Kit fee. You MUST attend all four (4) meetings to qualify for the refund.

A. We stress “Running your own race” with Marathon Makeover and have some that run a lot, those that walk exclusively, and others that do run/walk intervals. We set a time limit for all training “run/walks” at 20 minutes per mile (with a 4-hour cap on most long runs) and help people over time to speed up – aiming for a 16 minute mile minimum. Most fall within that range but last year we had several 8 hour finishers – and we were/are proud of them!

A. No! We encourage most of our participants to walk exclusively for the first ten weeks. We start with walking one mile and over the first ten weeks we build to a 5K (3.1 miles). The mileage then starts to compound and 12 weeks later you will be able to finish a half marathon distance. By the end of 40 weeks you’re ready for a marathon or a stronger second half marathon distance. We stress “Running your own race” and have some that run a lot, those that walk exclusively, and others, that do run/walk intervals.

A. Mark and Robin Simpson are recovering couch potatoes who have learned through experience how to train for and finish marathons while helping others to do the same. We do not claim to be health experts but surround ourselves with fitness consultants and experts who have reviewed our program and are available to help individual participants. Over fifteen hundred recovering couch potatoes have successfully completed the Marathon Makeover program and gone on to finish a half or full marathon and become regular, healthy exercisers. If success is a qualification, we have plenty of stories to back up the efficacy of our program. Marathon Makeover seeks to facilitate your training experience and gathers information and training helps from a broad spectrum of resources to provide assistance to participants. Whenever professional assistance is required, Marathon Makeover serves as a ready resource to connect you with health professionals of which you may not otherwise be aware. Some individuals are seeking personalized, advanced training to improve a marathon time and running performance. This is not our mission. We seek to assist the sedentary population in getting moving, becoming active, adopting a healthy lifestyle, and accomplishing this through the inspiring goal of completing a half and/or full marathon. Time is not our goal – completion is.

A. No. We train people to complete a full or half marathon and will provide you a list of race options that can help you achieve your goal.