Marathon training plans

[Whowouldfardelsbear]

Hello - I am after recommendations for marathon training plans. Ideally I am looking for one with only 3 runs a week (two short and one long) of around 16-20 weeks.

My aim is just to finish the thing - I don't really have a time goal as I am a slow runner. Would be ecstatic with a 5.30! The marathon is in November, but I'm on holiday in July for four weeks (trip back to UK) which means i will find it hard to train seriously that month.

I have been googling around but there is so much info and so many plans out there I thought i would see if anyone here has any tried and tested recommendations.

Any other marathon advice gratefully received :)

No specific plan but if you can only do 3 runs, have a long, a tempo and a hilly run.

Run your long runs a good minute per mile slower than goal pace, except once a month, do 10 miles at goal pace....

Thanks vooby - that's the kind of thing im looking for. I'm going to try to fit in a fourth run (particularly nearer the date of the race). My goal pace is quite slow anyway :)

There are various plans on the London marathon website, I used one of their's for my first marathon this year.

I did my first marathon (London) earlier this year. Like you l, my plan was to just finish with no real time expectations.
I read so many different training plans I got to confused so ended up making my own. I used the MyAsics app as a starting point (you can set the number of days you want to train a week) and then adapted it according to what else I had going on. I found it really useful to put some smaller races in for some of the long runs (10miles, half & 20 I think) so tweaked the plan according to that.
I trained on 3 runs per week, one long run, one hill run and one tempo/intervals.
Good luck!