SportCalc.

Training Guides

Practical, in-depth guides to help you get more from the calculators and train smarter — from your first marathon to power-based cycling and dialling in your nutrition.

A runner following a route toward a finish line

Running & Endurance

How to Train for Your First Marathon

Running 42.195 km is as much a project in patience as it is in fitness. This guide walks a first-timer from base building to the finish line, with the principles that keep you healthy and on track.

11 min read · Updated June 2026

A heart with an ECG pulse line and training zones

Running & Endurance

Heart Rate Training Zones Explained

Training by heart rate turns effort into a number you can manage. This guide explains where the zones come from, how to set them accurately, and how to actually use them week to week.

9 min read · Updated June 2026

A cyclist riding, drawn in line art

Cycling & Triathlon

FTP and Cycling Power Zones Explained

Power is the most objective way to train and pace on a bike. This guide explains what FTP is, how to test it honestly, and how to turn it into a training structure that works.

9 min read · Updated June 2026

A plate of pre-race food with a banana and timing clock

Strength & Fitness

How to Calculate and Hit Your Macros

Macros sound technical, but the logic is simple: set your calories for your goal, anchor protein, and divide the rest. This guide shows how to do it and make it stick.

10 min read · Updated June 2026

A runner following a route toward a finish line

Running & Endurance

How to Build a Training Plan to Run 10K in 45 Minutes

Forty-five minutes for 10K works out to exactly 4:30 per kilometre. This guide covers whether you are ready, the three paces that build the barrier, and an eight-week plan to hold that pace to the line.

11 min read · Updated July 2026

A plate of pre-race food with a banana and timing clock

Running & Endurance

What to Eat Before Marathon Day

Most marathons fall apart in the final 10K, when the fuel runs out. What you eat in the 48 hours before the gun decides whether you start with a full tank. Here is how to load properly and what to eat on the morning.

10 min read · Updated July 2026

A water bottle, droplet and electrolytes

Running & Endurance

The Best Hydration Formula for a Half Marathon

There is no single best drink for a half marathon, because the right amount depends on your sweat rate, the weather and your pace. But there is a sensible starting range, and a way to make it yours. Here is how to build it.

9 min read · Updated July 2026

A protective shield with a check mark beside a runner's leg

Running & Endurance

How to Avoid Running Injuries

Somewhere between a third and half of runners get hurt badly enough each year to stop for a while. Almost all of it is overuse, and overuse is largely preventable. Here is what actually keeps runners healthy.

10 min read · Updated July 2026