In this video I’m talking about the make-or-break part of a marathon block: the final 4–6 weeks before race day, when you’re heading into the peak phase. This is the point where people often try to “win training” with extra miles, extra sessions, or random hard efforts, and that’s exactly where things can go wrong. I share the mindset shift I use at this stage—everything you do now should be about arriving on the start line healthy, confident, and sharp, not crawling there battered. I cover what to avoid, how I like to structure long runs in the peak weeks, and why recovery becomes the main training tool when the work is already in the legs. I also go through common mistakes I see (and have made myself), then finish with taper thoughts—how to back off without panicking, keep the legs ticking over, and resist the urge to “test fitness” too late. The takeaway is simple: be consistent, be boring, nail the big sessions you’ve planned, and protect your body so you can actually race the marathon you’ve trained for.