How Runner’s World Training Plans Helped Four Runners Crush the New York City Marathon

Among the more than 61,000 runners who crossed the finish line of the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon were 18 Runner’s World+ members who were part of the Race With Runner’s World+ team. Two were first-time marathoners while 16 others set big goals, such as adding to their World Marathon Major collection and hitting new PRs. No matter their specific ambition, some team members used these Runner’s World+ training plans to power themselves to the Central Park finish line.Whatever your goal distance and time, you can find a plan by exploring our full training plan collection, including the ones our members used to return to the marathon, earn a sixth star, and run a PR.🏃‍♀️ Want to run some of the best races in the country with us? Bookmark our Race With Runner’s World+ program page, which gives Runner’s World+ members of all backgrounds and levels a chance at free entry into select races.Making Her Marathon ReturnRunner: Erin DewaltGoal: Return strong to the marathon distance and run close to 3:30Result: Finished in 3:26:18Prior to New York, 46-year-old Erin Dewalt ran her last marathon in 2022, a race that she described as a “disaster.” Then, she finished in more than four hours and had an overall rough race day experience.After a four-year marathon hiatus, Dewalt knew she needed a smart training plan to ensure she would arrive prepared for the NYC Marathon start line. The RW Break 3:45 plan aligned well with her weekly training volume of around four runs per week. For inspiration, she printed the calendar and stuck it to her fridge, checking off completed runs and moving workouts as needed.The result for Dewalt in the Big Apple? A 3:26:18 marathon performance—breaking the 3:45 barrier by nearly 20 minutes. “I was spot on [with hitting my goal],” Dewalt said after crossing the finish line. “I wanted to enjoy it and have fun but also run around three and a half hours.”Erin's Training PlanRunner: Scott ShellabargerGoal: Earn the Six Star MedalResult: Ran second-fastest marathon ever of 3:21:27, secured Six Star Medal, earned a BQLike Dewalt, Scott Shellabarger printed a Runner’s World training plan, but he used the Break 3:15 plan. In fact, he used it for two races: the NYC Marathon in November and the Flying Pig Marathon in his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, in May. “I actually used it for the last marathon I ran, for the Flying Pig, and that’s where I got my PR at,” Shellabarger said. “The training plans are fantastic.”Not only did the plan help him set a personal best of 3:18:33 at Flying Pig, but it also helped him earn his Six Star Medal in New York and score a 2028 Boston Marathon qualifying time for his age group. Though he didn’t quite break 3:15 with his 3:21:27 performance, it marked his second-fastest marathon to date.Scott's Training PlanFinding Her Footing AgainRunner: Courtney SobanskiGoal: Run a strong second marathon post-foot surgeryResult: Finished in 4:19:09With a hectic schedule as a coach, Courtney Sobanski knew she needed a training plan that could fit into her everyday life. With our 3-Day training plan, Sobanski managed workouts successfully around other responsibilities—and remained injury-free. Our 3-Day plan features three key workouts a week—and any other days of easy running or cross-training you complete count as extra credit.At the New York City Marathon, Sobanski crossed the finish line in 4:19:09 and told Runner’s World that she showed herself she could still run strong following foot surgery two years ago. “I’m just overcome with emotion that I actually did it and I can [run marathons] again,” Sobanski said following her race.Courtney's Training PlanRunner: Ashley OsburnGoal: Have fun!Result: Finished in 4:59:05Ashley Osburn, 41, used the Break 4:30 plan to have every part of her training block mapped out in front of her—intervals, hills, tempo runs, long runs. Osburn said the plan made workouts approachable, and she appreciated the two weekly rest days built into the schedule for better recovery.Though she didn’t quite reach her sub-4:30 goal in New York due to fueling missteps, Osburn intends to take another shot at the time barrier again in the future. “I will absolutely use [the training plan] again for my next marathon,” she said.Ashley's Training PlanAll of our Race With Runner’s World+ members had different goals and training plans pushing them toward the NYC finish line. But they all had a common shared experience of relishing the ecstatic crowds and infectious energy along the course through the five boroughs. “The crowd support all the way through was just amazing,” Dewalt said.Ashley is Editor of Content Hype at Hearst’s Enthusiast & Wellness Group. She is a former collegiate runner at UNC Asheville where she studied mass communication. Ashley loves all things running; she has raced two marathons, plus has covered some of the sport’s top events in her career, including the Paris Olympics, U.S. Olympic Trials and multiple World Marathon Majors.