The key to success lies in the development of a carefully drawn and detailed training plan, the purpose of which is to bring the runner to a certain day, a well thought out performance in advance, to prepare him for further improvement at the highest level. This plan has a prerequisite for year-round training. Starting classes shortly after the end of the previous season, the runner begins with a marathon training session that lasts approximately four months; then the runner enters a one-month transition training period, followed by three months of specialized work that brings the runner to the start of the "competition of the year."