I am Working My First Marathon! | London Marathon Diaries

On the 18th October 2024 – my fortieth birthday – the chance to run the 2025 London Marathon landed in my lap. 

[Just a little disclaimer that I’ve paid for my place and am not being sponsored by any brands. I fully want to do this for me, and me alone.]

I’ll be sincere, the marathon distance has by no means been one which’s allured me, nonetheless, I’d all the time thought it was one thing I’d love to do at the least as soon as. And if I used to be gonna run 26.2 miles with out being chased, it needed to be London Marathon so I might tick off one other problem in direction of reaching the London Classics Medal. 

In case you’re not conscious of the London Classics; you possibly can earn the most important medal you’ve ever seen by finishing the London Marathon, RideLondon 100 and Swim Serpentine (2 miles) which mainly equates to an epic triathlon. It doesn’t matter once you do them, simply so long as you do them with the intention to be eligible for the medal.

While I seemingly ticked off RideLondon with no points, swimming 2 miles would be the largest feat for me however I’m gonna give it my finest.

Working a marathon? I’ve been round sufficient marathon runners and skilled marathon runners to make me really feel assured I can do that. I don’t have any time to beat; the purpose is straightforward, to complete. 

“I don’t have any time to beat; the purpose is straightforward, to complete.”

As I haven’t run constantly for a few years now as a result of well being points, I began from scratch with 6 months to coach.

I calculated that I’d nearly have sufficient time to finish a model of Sofa To 5km earlier than I begin a freshmen marathons coaching plan for 16-18 weeks. And what do they are saying about planning?! One thing like God laughs?!

I began Sofa To 5k sturdy then acquired hit with a virus with took me out for 3 weeks of December. By the point I used to be effectively once more, it was straight into week 1 of what could be my “marathon coaching block”.

I hadn’t absolutely selected a plan to comply with however my prime choices had been:

• freshmen plan from London Marathon 
• Hal Hidden 18 week novice plan 
• Garmin plan 
• Strava plan 
• Rent a coach 

I opted for the freshmen plan from London Marathon which began with a easy 30minute stroll. I additionally love that it’s a paper plan I can carry on my desk, ticking off the periods as I full them.

As I’m penning this, it’s mid February and I’ve another session to finish week 6. Weeks 1-4 had been very a lot base constructing and week 5 was a deload / restoration week. I’m tremendous proud that I’ve managed to finish all however certainly one of my periods thus far.

My Coaching For London Marathon

Right here’s just a little perception into what I’ve been as much as thus far, and my plan for the final 10 weeks earlier than race day on Sunday twenty seventh April 2025.

I’ve Been Auditioning My Working Package

I realised that as a lot as these coaching periods are to organize me for occasion day, they’re additionally the proper alternative to check out package able to resolve which items make the reduce for race day. I’m fortunate that I’ve loads of package and footwear to make use of moderately than having to purchase something new.

Plus, working in Winter isn’t any joke. I’ve run on ice, by way of flooded fields and on the uncommon event in sunshine under 0 levels. You goto take a look at my recommendations on the way to costume for working in chilly climate.

My prime items of package thus far have been:

• a booband / boobuddy
• my gore-tex path trainers
• a buff
• shokz headphones
• leggings with pockets
• waterproof working jacket

I put collectively all my favorite objects used on my marathon coaching journey right here on this Marathon Necessities Amazon Thought Listing.

Mixing up my trainers has been one of many largest trial and errors! My favorite pace footwear now create numerous tightness in my decrease legs the place my glutes are clearly not on the identical power they was once.

So I’m slowly reintroducing these into my shorter runs particularly as I’m now mixing up the tempo with some tempo intervals.

I Eat parkrun Sandwiches

Whereas my distances have been fairly low, I’ve beloved both simply going to parkrun or sandwiching it in between, earlier than or after no matter distance is left on my plan.

My native parkrun is mainly a mudfest that typically sucks the boldness out of me however I’ve additionally been going to different native venues the place I can get pleasure from mud free working and realise I’m not as gradual and horrible of a runner because the mud makes me really feel.

Getting Robust & Staying Damage Free

Earlier than I began marathon coaching, my base week consisted of 1 HIIT session, one power session, one core session, a weekly swimming lesson and two (intense) indoor biking rides.

And this has just about remained the identical because it’ll assist me to get stronger and stay harm free.

If / once I must, I skip the HIIT or Energy in order that I don’t overdo it – in deload week for instance.

I do know that I would like so as to add extra stretching, foam rolling and mobility work into my week, even when they’re quick periods together with common sports activities massages.

I’ve been utilizing City for simply over a 12 months now – it’s an app for reserving massages and different remedies at house. You should use my referral code – RELLELIH5 – to get 20% off your first therapeutic massage.

Managing My Thoughts For London Marathon

That is kinda threefold. First up, not sharing the very fact I’ve been coaching for London Marathon has meant I’ve been in a position to preserve the ‘noise’ at bay. As a lot as everybody would wish to assist, and share their experiences, I felt I wanted to not hear any of it to start with as my journey is so distinctive to me.

Now that I’ve executed a ‘tender launch’, as one good friend referred to as it, it’s been good having extra folks to speak to about how coaching goes. So long as we’re not speaking paces and so on, I’m comfortable because it means we’re much less prone to evaluate ourselves and our progress.

The second a part of managing my thoughts is actually understanding {that a} marathon takes as a lot psychological power because it does bodily. I believe we going this power by turning up for our coaching periods, even after we may not really feel prefer it.

Ans feeding into this level, I’ve had to make use of alot of self speak when out working. Issues like reminding myself to ‘belief the method’ and realizing that irrespective of how arduous it’d really feel now, I would like to recollect the place I began.

And eventually, when a run hasn’t gone to plan, I’ve reminded myself that it doesn’t matter. What counts is the consistency of getting out and the time on my ft.

The ultimate 26.2 miles might be London Marathon day and I do know having been on the opposite facet of the boundaries, it’s probably the most epic environment.

I’m satisfied I’ll really feel invincible and excited along with all of the race day emotions. And I do know, it doesn’t matter what occurs, I’m gonna have among the best days of my whole life thus far!

Restoration, Self-Care And Listening To My Physique

Marathon coaching gained’t final perpetually, so if I’m going to decide to doing this, I’ve chosen to decide to taking the most effective care of myself whereas doing do. I’ve made restoration, self-care and listening to my physique, my largest priorities.

To be truthful, I’ve labored arduous to do that anyway however with including working to my schedule 3 instances per week, I’ve needed to do higher.

I am going to mattress on time, I eat 3 meals a day, I purpose for 2L of water a day, take my nutritional vitamins, complement with collagen, protein, BCAAs and Creatine on most days.

As I mentioned earlier than, I additionally must stretch extra, foam roll extra and customarily take excellent care of my physique. I had a sports activities therapeutic massage in week 5 /6 of coaching and OMG, EVERYTHING was so tight. I’m nonetheless recovering from mentioned sports activities therapeutic massage however I already really feel so significantly better.

I’ve even arrange a chilly plunge factor in my backyard and I’m training utilizing that, along with benefiting from the sauna blanket that I personal.

I’m tremendous grateful that thus far, I’ve not reached a degree of exhaustion like others have but. I’m positive this can come nearer to race day, however till then, I’m doing all the things in my energy to stability marathon coaching, work and life.

My Working Soundtrack

Throughout shorter runs, listening to music has labored effectively for me. In truth, listening to my indoor biking playlist whereas doing my session with tempo intervals had me feeling like I used to be on fireplace!

Podcasts work effectively for me if I’m within the subject, however I’ve simply began listening to audiobooks… that don’t take an excessive amount of brainpower. First up – How To Run A Marathon by Vassos Alexander.

I’m taking suggestions so depart them within the feedback under please.

What I Have Deliberate

With 10 weeks to go, there’s nonetheless a-lot to do, proper?! So right here is a few of what I’ve deliberate to assist me by way of the remainder of my coaching to get to the beginning line.

Reserving Occasions For Lengthy Runs

Now the lengthy runs are getting… longer, signing up for occasions helps to scale back a few of the stress of planning what to do. Working an occasion means a pre-planned route, water / diet supplied, a race day expertise to observe and firm.

Listed here are the occasions I’ve signed as much as:

• Girls’s Run Collection London 2025 10km, Saturday eighth March (+ ~50-60mins)
• Hackney Legacy Half Marathon, Sunday sixteenth March
• London Lea Valley Gratitude 25km, Saturday nineteenth March (+ 5miles)

That path run is gonna be my longest run on plan, of which I’ll want so as to add on an additional 3-5 miles to hit 18-20miles.

Time To Take a look at Vitamin

Now my runs are effectively and really over the one hour mark, it’s time to begin considering diet. I’m tremendous eager to not fill myself with unsavoury sugary merchandise so I’m trying to merchandise that I’ve both used whereas biking or new to me manufacturers which are extra pure.

I additionally don’t wish to make myself bankrupt as a result of WHY ARE GELS SO EXPENSIVE NOWADAYS?! lol Over £4 for a packet of Clif ShotBloks?! Price of working disaster is added to value of dwelling disaster. They usually say working is free lol

Begin Coaching With A Working Vest

Provided that I now want diet and water on my lengthy runs, I would like someplace to stash these bits together with my telephone, keys and a layer I’ll most likely take off and placed on repeatedly.

So out comes my working vest which I purchased just a few years in the past to coach for Royal Parks Half Marathon and use for my path working adventures.

Having moved home lately although, I appear to have briefly misplaced the tender water flasks that go within the vest and I’m not trying to spend £40 changing them once I know they. have TO BE HERE SOMEWHERE.

Within the meantime, I’ve purchased one tender flat for a few tenner hoping it’ll tide me over till I dig mine out of a field someplace. I’ve nonetheless acquired ten weeks to make that occur in any case!

I’m Ready For ‘Maranoia’

Or at the least I believe I’m. Absolutely realizing it exists is step one in direction of beating it?!

I’ve additionally been despatched an immunity boosting care bundle which encompasses a 7-day complement designed to help your immune system and pace up your restoration from seasonal sicknesses. After all I’m hoping by no means to wish this, however I really feel snug realizing I’ve it at hand.

Okay, it felt tremendous good getting all of those ideas out of my head and into this put up so thanks for studying. It’s been ages since I’ve shared one thing private moderately than one thing optimised to get as many eyes on it.

I’m as a lot excited for the journey to the beginning line as I’m for the ‘closing dance’ to be sincere. I’m fairly positive I’m gonna be ‘one [marathon] and executed’ however I additionally know I’m prone to by no means cease speaking about it for the remainder of my life. I apologise prematurely.

Oh and while I’m not in want of donations, I’ll fortunately settle for kudos over on Strava – that is my account.

See you on the beginning line in case you’re working too! Or hopefully see you on the sidelines!

Elle