The star of the film Wicked is preparing for the London Marathon 2026. It will be possible to get acquainted with the structure of her training, which combines speed and endurance training.
Now many athletes begin to enter the finishing phase of training for upcoming races such as the London Marathon. During these weeks, they reduce their mileage and concentrate on recovery. Nutrition becomes the second most important aspect of training.
Among the participants of the next race is the actress Cynthia Erivo, who continues to play a lot but strives for a personal best. Together with coach Erika Kemp, she has the goal of reaching the mark of 3:15 minutes.
Having already run the New York Marathon in 2016 and the London Marathon in 2022, she has gained valuable experience and now focuses more on training.
Cynthia Erivo’s marathon training week
Monday
Active recovery
Since she went through the toughest training on the previous day, the actress is engaged in active recovery by either running an easy mile or riding a bike for an hour.
The goal is to stretch and get the blood flowing without additional stress.
Tuesday
Endurance training
An ordinary long run without great effort, which gives her the opportunity to develop endurance. This kind of run is crucial for marathon training, as it allows her to train in a comfortable mode.
However, it is important not to rush and try to slow down as much as possible to save strength.
Wednesday
Intensity training
It’s Wednesday, and the time has come for speed. On this day, tempo runs and interval runs are held, which combine fast runs with moderate efforts. In this way, she develops both aerobic and anaerobic capacity.
Thursday
Moderate mileage
Once again, the actress goes out for a medium-length run. She runs about 10-11 miles, which gives her the opportunity to develop endurance without straining, since the work schedule starts in a couple of days.
Friday
Short and controlled runs
In anticipation of a difficult work week, she reduces her workload and performs a short-run on Friday, during which she covers 6 miles.
Saturday
Training before the long run
As a run takes place the following day, she performs another endurance run. Instead of resting, this exercise helps keep her body in good shape.
Sunday
The long run
This day will be the hardest for her. Long runs from the half-marathon distance up to 22+ miles are a part of training aimed at developing her physical and mental endurance.
Strength exercises
Apart from running, Cynthia Erivo performs strength training in order to avoid injuries and strengthen the muscles. Her favorite is reformer pilates, which takes three times a week.
It is a low-impact form of workout that helps to strengthen the body without creating additional risks of injury. Additionally, it helps maintain stability and corrects possible imbalances.
Recovery techniques
Recovery should take up as much time as the workouts themselves. If there is no performance scheduled for a certain day, she tries to devote all of her attention to recovery.
On the other hand, she does everything to include a minute or two for meditation, even though it might seem impossible because of her busy schedule.
Nutrition
The actress also tries to focus on healthy eating to get ready for the competition. She constantly replenishes her stock with snacks, which include nuts, protein bars, electrolytes, and vitamins.
She always keeps a bottle of a warm drink with her to stay energized and hydrated.
