London Marathon Countdown

Just under two weeks to go until the Virgin Money London Marathon 2017 kicks off and runners are bound to feel nervous, excited and worried. This is perfectly normal.

By now, you will have experienced the highs and lows of marathon training and are in the free fall into the unknown territory of the ‘Taper’. You either love it or you hate it. I normally felt like I was losing fitness and gaining weight but, in reality, it was a welcome break from training basically everyday. Just relax, your body is not going to throw away the last 4 months of hard graft and preparation.

The Expo

By now, you should be thinking of packing a bag and decide what day you are going to the expo to collect your race number. If you are living in London, I would advise you get to the expo Wed/Thurs as you will miss the manic rush of the Friday/Saturday travelers. I found the expo day quite exhausting but it was an amazing experience as it kick started the huge excitement and buzz around the last few days in the lead up to my race. If you can, get a pace tat/band from the Lucozade stand, they come in handy on race day (saves you doing the pace maths).

Race Day Travel

It is a good time to start looking at your race magazine to plan your race day prep and travel timeline.

• Blue Start or Good For Age runners with running numbers 31351 to 34000 should travel to Blackheath station

• Red Start runners should travel to either Greenwich station or Maze Hill station

• Green Start runners should travel to Maze Hill station

REMEMBER there are NO TRAINS this year from London Bridge to Greenwich or Maze Hill. For Blackheath/Blue Start travel from Charing Cross, Waterloo East or Victoria stations. For Greenwich/Maze Hill/Red & Green Start use Cannon Street.

Day before Race Day

• Prep your race bag with everything you need (sun cream-you will need it, gels, anti chaffing rub, some toilet roll, post race snack, safety pins, spare socks, blister plasters, bin bag for rain)

• Try to avoid exhausting yourself today but a light 5 km in the morning would help to loosen up and get rid of the pre-race jitters.

• Eat your normal pre-race dinner and chill out for the evening

• Charge and software update your beloved GPS watch!

• If it saves you time and worries in the morning, make a to do list for before you leave the house.

Race Day

• Eat your tried and tested pre-race breakfast and try to have about 500ml-750ml fluid in the hours before the race.

• Wrap up (it was very cold last year) and make sure you have your travel plan with you.

• Don’t be surprised if your station is a good walking distance from your start colour. Go straight to the bag drop lorry with your bag (they leave super early) and keep an old jumper on you that you can throw away.

• Queue for the loo. The lines are long but you will get your turn! There’s no need to drink any more water an hour before the race, you will be well hydrated by then and you can empty the bladder which will prevent you needing the loo mid race.

• Make sure you put some anti chaffing stuff on (body glide is good and better than Vaseline) Thighs, arms- anywhere you’ve noticed rubbing. Men please save yourself some pain by using nip guards or plasters!

RUN YOUR OWN RACE. Your race, your pace!! Stick with your plan and DO NOT let faster runners pull you along with them. The first 5 miles are ABSOLUTELY RAMMED.

People will run in your way, gutters and pavements and trees and ramps and poles will be sticking out everywhere so PLEASE MIND YOUR FOOTING!

• Keep checking yourself, how you feel and stick with your planned gel timings.

• Plan where your friends and family are going to be post race. Horse guards parade is a great place as it has HUGE letters and loads of space where you can meet them. Pre-book a resteraunt reservation for a couple hours after the race, a few beers will fill the space in between ;)

• Support along the way is pretty much rammed the whole way and don’t be disappointed if you don’t hear/see your supporters as the route is busy and very loud. However, last year I saw so many people that I knew who I wasn't planning to see at all!

• ENJOY THE RACE. Take in the awesome atmosphere that is unique to London Marathon: laugh at the fancy dress, high five kids, applaud the music bands along the route, say thanks to those who shout your name, look up when you go over tower bridge (TAKE IN THE ATMOSPHERE), pose for the cameraman (I posed at Big Ben at mile 25 and got an awesome one).

#marathon #Londonmarahon #running #preparation