I've used McMillan's custom training plans for marathons. Just so you know, it's not Greg that writes the plan but one of his coaches. His plans generally mix a wide variety of workouts and progress in terms of volume and intensity. Taper is generally only two weeks. Much depends on your experience, base mileage and PRs but here are some key differences you might find from Hansons:
1) Long runs - McMillan prescribes many runs over 16miles generally mixing in long, slow distance runs up to 22-26 miles alternating with fast finish long runs up to 20 miles where the last 6-12 miles average MGP and the last 2-3 miles faster.
2) Tempo and steady state runs - there will be several runs faster than MGP, usually between 10k and HMP, including sustained tempo runs 3-7miles and tempo intervals
3) Speed work - you may see a few workouts at 5k pace or faster. What you won't see from the standard Hansons plan is a progression of speed workouts over several weeks, repeat that cycle, then move onto "strength" intervals and then repeat.
4) MGP runs - there are a few sprinkled in and are a part of fast finish long runs but you won't see the Hansons standard goal pace progression runs every week. I actually think McMillan would do better with more goal pace runs. What you will see from McMillan is a mix of tempo runs (10k-HMP), tempo intervals, steady state (faster than MGP to HMP), and progression runs (start slower end faster).
Hope this helps and good luck.
