Sub-3

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Runner in St Albans Striders vest racing mid-marathon at Seville, focused and working hard, with spectators blurred behind during a fast, flat city-centre section.

10 things that finally made sub-2:40 happen in Seville

A sub-2:40 marathon isn’t about one breakthrough moment. Drawing on a breakthrough run in Seville, here’s an account of the practical decisions that stacked the odds, from training compromises to race-day execution.

FASTEST MARATHONS IN SPAIN graphic in a refined red and orange two-tone colourway, featuring a Sub-3 medal icon and the year 2026 in bold, clean typography.

Fastest Marathons in Spain – 2026 edition now live

Stylised semi-realistic illustration of a male runner in blue shirt and shorts sitting on steps, grimacing in pain while holding his injured calf with both hands.

When to defer your sub-3 marathon attempt

FASTEST MARATHONS IN FRANCE graphic in a refined red and blue two-tone colourway, featuring a Sub-3 medal icon and the year 2026 in bold, clean typography.

Fastest Marathons in France – 2026 edition now live

Graphic with a navy and gold medal icon and bold text reading: "5 hacks for breaking three hours in the marathon" in alternating navy and gold lettering.

5 hacks for breaking three hours in the marathon

Sub-3 medal graphic announcing “World’s Fastest Marathons 2026 – January Edition” in dark green/blue and orange, with large 2026 text and stylised podium ribbon.

World’s Fastest Marathons – January 2026 edition released

Runner in SUB-3 shirt studies mileage graph showing 140.23 km, 11h 8m, 457 m elevation for September, with weekly distances plotted between 75–150 km.

Weekly mileage needed to break 3 hours in the marathon

EXPERIENCES

Runner in St Albans Striders vest racing mid-marathon at Seville, focused and working hard, with spectators blurred behind during a fast, flat city-centre section.

10 things that finally made sub-2:40 happen in Seville

A sub-2:40 marathon isn’t about one breakthrough moment. Drawing on a breakthrough run in Seville, here’s an account of the practical decisions that stacked the odds, from training compromises to race-day execution.

Richard Ginn running on the track in an England Masters vest, raising both arms as he approaches the finish.

100 marathons. Sub-3 across three decades.

Pete Johnson finishing the 1997 Flora London Marathon in 2:32:49, raising his arms as he crosses the line behind two other runners.

Sub-3 lessons from a lifetime in club running

George Fernandez stands proudly at the Chester Marathon finish area holding a sign showing his time of 2:49:26, wearing his medal and blue finisher’s hoodie.

How the power of positivity got me to 2:49

A 58-year-old runner, Mikael Bask, finishing the 2025 Stockholm Marathon under the red finish arch with a time of 2:59:56, watched by a crowd in the stadium.

My road to breaking sub-3 at 58

A male runner wearing a Sub‑3 shirt runs toward the sunrise, leaving a bin full of alcohol bottles far behind him on the road.

Why I decided to quit alcohol for good during sub‑3 training

A determined runner in a SUB-3 shirt holds a white baton of ice, leading a race on a sunlit path while other runners struggle and fall behind in the heat.

How I beat the heat racing while training for a sub-3

INSIGHTS

Graphic with a navy and gold medal icon and bold text reading: "5 hacks for breaking three hours in the marathon" in alternating navy and gold lettering.

5 hacks for breaking three hours in the marathon

Breaking 3 requires graft, but smart hacks help. From super shoes to drafting and tangents, here are five marginal gains that can tip you under sub-3.

Stylised illustration of a joyful male runner in a red SUB-3 vest crossing the finish line at 2:59, arms raised high, as crowds cheer under a bright golden sky.

What makes a marathon sub-3 friendly?

A fit male runner in a SUB-3 t-shirt stands on bathroom scales in a tidy modern home, hands on hips, evaluating his weight as part of his marathon training plan.

How to lose 5kg during a sub-3 marathon training block

A stylised digital illustration of a sub-3 marathon runner being observed through glass by scientists with clipboards in a research room, highlighting contrasting mindsets.

Are sub-3 runners obsessed?

A cosmic, cartoon-style illustration asking “Why does sub-3 matter?” with runners, ancient Greek figures, royalty, and swirling stars symbolising the quest for sub-3.

Why does sub-3 matter?

A cartoon of a puzzled runner in a "SUB-3" shirt surrounded by thought bubbles showing the annual costs of chasing a sub-3 marathon, including coaching, kit, and races.

How chasing sub-3 could become a £10,000-a-year habit

A bold, graphic design image featuring a large gold Sub-3 medal icon on the left and the headline “10 moments every sub-3 runner lives for” on a light silver background.

10 moments every sub-3 runner lives for

STRATEGY

Runner in SUB-3 shirt studies mileage graph showing 140.23 km, 11h 8m, 457 m elevation for September, with weekly distances plotted between 75–150 km.

Weekly mileage needed to break 3 hours in the marathon

Weekly mileage is the single biggest factor in breaking three hours – more miles mean greater resilience, deeper aerobic fitness, and the strength to survive the final 10K.

Stylised marathon scene with a crowded street of runners, a worried man in a SUB-3 shirt in the foreground, capturing the chaos of congestion.

Navigating congestion during marathons when chasing sub-3

Cartoon of a female runner in a SUB-3 vest holding a stone tablet reading “NOTHING NEW ON RACE DAY” at a marathon start line, warning off risky last-minute changes.

Sub-3 running’s golden rule: nothing new on race day

Stylised graphic of a smiling female runner in a yellow SUB-3 shirt jogging through an autumn landscape, checking her phone as she runs along a winding path.

How best to use Strava for your sub-3 training

A female runner in a green SUB-3 shirt jogs through city streets at dawn, wearing a black running backpack and passing construction barriers under a rising orange sun.

Tips for running your commute as a sub-3 runner

Man in a turquoise Sub-3 T-shirt doing a yoga lunge in a calm home space with running shoes, medals and a water bottle nearby, showing post-run recovery and focus.

Should I do yoga in pursuit of a sub-3 marathon?

A tired-looking male runner in a SUB-3 t-shirt crouches beside a quiet road, holding his head in frustration after a tough race, with a rural backdrop behind him.

How to mentally reset after a bad race in your sub-3 training build

DECISIONS

More

When to defer your sub-3 marathon attempt

Should I join a running club to help me go sub-3?

Should I get a running coach for my sub-3 attempt?

Should I do tune‑up races during my sub‑3 block?

Should I go with Strava or chip time for sub-3?

GEAR

More

Are your running shoes good value? Try this simple test

In praise of Shoe Goo

Five reasons sub-3 runners should consider wearing a cap

Five lesser-known items I always carry for sub-3 training

Why every sub-3 runner should own a soft flask

FUEL

More

5 tips to stay off alcohol as a sub-3 runner

Why Ozempic isn’t for sub-3 runners

Should I run fasted during sub-3 training?

How should I use electrolytes during my sub-3 effort?

Should I carry my own fuel during a sub-3 marathon attempt?