London Marathon

[disappearingme]

The footage gets me every year. From the sub 2 hour record, to the final finishers. I am running for charity next year. Haven't run a day in my life so have a year to get going. But boy am I feeling motivated! First run today.

Did anyone on here run it?

Anyone advice from runners. To a newbie?

Anyone favourite LM moments?

I did it a few years ago. Honestly one of the best days of my life - the atmosphere all round was just incredible. It’s hard going but you’ve a year to train and the main thing is to enjoy it. Slightly jealous, I’d love to do it again

I’ve put in for the ballot off the back of 2 Half Marathons in the last 2 months at 2:22 and 2:21 so anything sub 5 will be immense. I’m going to put in for Berlin next year as well, maybe Brighton?

Wow OP, do you mean you're running the marathon or you're doing another run for charity?
Couch to marathon is a big challenge but best of luck to you!

When I was training for my first half, I tried to use running events as part of my training as they're more fun than slogging round on your own (and you get a medal). As the distances got longer, I'd stretch it out by running to a local 10k and running home again. I also joined a running club which had a group specifically training for the half.
Any 5ks coming up near you? That's a good first step in training.

Best of luck.

Start running now. Start going to park run and get up to 5k continuous. Then start working to 10k.

If you can start your 20 week training plan at 10k and stick to the plan (don't skip runs or weeks) you'll be fine and you'll enjoy the day.

I often volunteer marshal towards the end and I've run it twice. The people who don't train properly have a very tough time of it.

And it's as amazing as it looks on the TV. Nothing can prepare you for how it feels to have thousands of strangers wising you well and urging you on to the finish. It's the very best of humanity on show and you'll be slap bang in the middle of it.

I've done it twice and it's amazing. You've got 12 months to train which is achievable. Start with NHS couch to 5k. Then to 10k. Then half. Then get a specific marathon training plan from christmas. You can use Runna or just use Co Pilot (i use AI and have got both a 5k and 10k pb recently).

More importantly, I'd choose your charity and apply NOW. Get in the ballot too. If you don't get a ballot place, set your fundraising page up straight away and get on with the fundraising. Aim to be 70-80% there by Christmas as trust me, you dont want to be squeezing money post christmas and you'll want to focus on the training.

You'll pick up the remainder close to and on race day. Raffle, cake sale (as a pp said, get to parkrun. Runners love cake and a post parkrun cake sale can bring in £3-400 easily), those scratch card things you get on Amazon too. One for Halloween and one for christmas- name the elf type thing. If you work for a big company, look into matching too.

It's definitely doable and will be an epic experience.

To the pp who mentioned Berlin, I got a ballot place first time i tried and it's a great city and great race. Really flat and well supported.

Id suggest joining a running club. (There are all sorts including women only) Most have beginner groups that will help you do 0-5k, they will know safe routes, local races and have people at a similar stage.

I've run LM 5 times and supported friends and team mates multiple times, and its amazing, im in the ballot for next year.

But there's no beating about the bush 15 miles in February in the cold and rain is hard . Running with friends or club mates makes it bearable and having people accountable that you will meet at x place and run 15-20 miles together means youre less likely to put it off, if its cold, wet, windy etc.

You'll also have support from club mates on the day as well 😊

Thanks all! I already have my charity but couldn't run this year for personal reasons so already have my place for next year. About to head out for my first c25k run!

Some more advice. TAKE IT SLOW!

Most people crash out of C25K because they run too fast and wear rubbish shoes.

Go to a running shop and buy some good shoes. And then jog slowly slowly. And if you feel like you're running too slow, just slow down some more. 🐌

You have all year to nail this. Don't give yourself an injury or feel defeated from making the crap shoes/too fast mistakes.

I did it 17 years ago. SO glad I did it; never doing it again! I was already able to run 5k and then followed a book, the Non-Runner's Marathon Guide, which was brilliant. It gave me confidence to follow a training plan knowing it was designed for idiots like me. Do take it slowly and listen to your body and just keep going. You will have good runs and bad runs and if you are currently a non-runner, just don't worry about the time.

The London marathon is an amazing event - when else can non-athletes participate in the same sporting occasion as Olympic-level runners? Mad.

The day itself is fantastic. I don't think there was an inch of the course not full of people supporting the runners. Do write your name on your shirt. Any time I was struggling someone in the crowd noticed and started encouraging me. Gave me a real boost.

Good luck!

Yesterday we had lunch with 2 extended-family relations of dh, who’d come to the U.K. just for the Marathon. Neither had ever done it before, and what with both working, and 2 very small dcs, they hadn’t managed much training.

Both finished, he in something over 4 hours, she in just about. 5. She was evidently finding walking uncomfortable yesterday and said her knees had really suffered!
Should add that they were both generally fit types, she had competed in the Olympics (totally different sport) a few years ago.

But they both found it a wonderful experience, and were very appreciative of the crowds cheering them on, offering bananas, etc!

Don't underestimate how absolutely overwhelming it can be - at the start, at Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge, pretty much all of Canary Wharf, Victoria Embankment, the finish line and in the park afterwards.

Don't underestimate how hard your cheer squad will need to plan their meeting points - roads close and it's a nightmare to cross the course. Public transport is amazingly well planned but sheer volumes of people make it a crazy day. Pack light and please for the love of God don't drag your suitcase onto the DLR...

Start getting into running now. January and February are grim for training.

I've run once and was supporting my DP on Sunday. It really is a fabulous weekend and a lifetime of memories.

Book your hotel now and train tickets asap...

wow good for you. I have tried for a ballot place many many times but never successful.
I did eventually run my first (not London) marathon last year, around 21 years after I first started running and with hundreds of parkruns, a few dozen 10ks and a handful of halves to my name.
hats off to you to go from scratch in a year. I would def seek out your local parkrun if you havent already. And a local running group (mine runs a beginners group three times a year). Come autumn you'l have got to know some spring marathoners who could turn into training buddies over the winter. Even if you dont physically run with them, its very important to have a buddy you can exchange stories, thoughts and fears with. It can be a very lonely experience otherwise. Some kind of cross training will be really useful too (though I have never done very much). Cycling, swimming, pilates all good.

Just did my first on Sunday. It was amazing I loved every minute. At the start I saw a man dressed as a Rhino and I thought this is it I’m doing the London marathon! The training is hard during the winter months but you just got to get out and go . Just get to 5k then 10k. Do a 20 week marathon training plan. Get up to 16 miles at some point or 3 1/2 hrs on feet - not more.

You will be amazed what you can achieve. It’s 50% physical and 50% mental. The phrase that got me through on the day was “One day you won’t be able to do this, today is not the day!”).

I have entered again for next year! And now eyeing up Paris too. Good luck to you!

I was really inspited too, but think I would struggle with the fundraising. I have alwais said I have no interest in running a marathon (ran when I was younger, pre DC) but now I am up to 10k i can see thd attraction!

Paris is really good - the supporters are more there for their people rather than people generally than they are at London, but they are still really supportive and enthusiastic - being cheered to the finish by 100s of people pounding on the fencing is just as good as London!

Just note, Paris is "rolling". Miles 14-20 are along the bank of the Seine, but going in and out of the underpasses so it takes a toll on the legs, but the finish at the Arc du Triomphe (and the free drinks everywhere the night after!) make up for it!

The fundraising is hard ngl - people expect something for it these days so you’ll prob need to do raffles or fundraising events to boost the funds.

I won’t do another event where I need to ask people for money as that was more out of my comfort zone than the 26.2 miles

Sounds great thanks, for my 2nd I’m hoping I’m less injured and better trained so I won’t need thousands of people shouting my name - just hope I get in 🤞

For everyone who wants to run London but is worried about the charity fundraising commitment - enter the ballot! I've run twice and both times have been a ballot place. I probably have a 30% success rate.

And I still raised money for charity but they were small and local and I didn't have the worry of a target to reach.

Its statistically pretty difficult to get a place in the ballot i think its about a 5% chance

OK, so I'm going to curve this and say that 'I've never run a day in my life' is a broad statement and how true is it? And why now? And why London?
It's utterly fantastic that you've been motivated but to go from a hard zero to 26.2 miles in 12 months is a tall order. Where are you now? Exercising minimum 3 hours per week at mid to vigorous rate? How's your general fitness? Why London specifically? Throw parenting into the mix and full time work...
I'm not saying don't aim to run a marathon in the next 12 months but consider why not go for one of the myriad other marathons that are held around the country. I've been fortunate to be able to qualify with a Good For Age several times but that's because I'm a seasoned runner who puts in the slog day after day after week after year, but GFA places have been slashed to allow more 'fun runners'. Don't take a coveted place from a good club runner on a whim, test how much you want this and enter any other marathon first.

It’s not easy for sure. You will need to book in some 10k races and a half marathon before the end of this year so start looking into that to give yourself some goals. Lots of park runs. It’s overwhelming running with so many people so practice it by doing races not just on your own.

do yoga and stretch every day if you can - trying to not get injured is a challenge in itself!

No it’s not it’s about 0.05% chance

I was you! Sobbing at the tele one year, at the start line the next!

Regular gym goer to marathon in 6 months. It wasn’t fast, it wasn’t pretty, it was the best day of my life! I have never been so scared of anything as I was that weekend.

It changed me forever; it gave me a deep enduring self belief that I can dig deep and do hard shit. After swearing that I’d only ever run to do the London Marathon I got completely hooked. The first words out of my mouth when I crossed the line were “I want to do it again!”. I did Berlin the following year, have since done London twice more and Chicago, have New York book for this year and dream of collecting my Six Star medal. London has an extra kind of magic though. Running makes me more focussed and makes every day start with an achievement.

People will give you plenty of advice about shoes, bras, fuelling. Definitely listen to it and learn about what you’re about to do- the marathon owes you nothing, will chew you up and spit you out over and over again and should be respected. But if you have the dream and the drive, that counts for a lot.

Always remember your “why”.
”Forward” is a pace.
When your legs give out, run with your heart.

The figures I used from what id read, was 1.1 million people applying for 55k ballot places..... either way you've got a tiny chance of getting in!

I would echo some of the points in this post. I am an experienced runner - I've done 10 marathons (between 3h20 and 3h50). But when I started I built up to 10k and spent several years doing parkruns, 10ks and HMs before signing up to a marathon.
I think a lot of people underestimate the sheer time and discipline you need to train properly for a marathon. I would say that at peak training phase you will need to go out minimum 3 times a week , 1-2h for two of the runs and half a day set aside for the long run .
Your longest run will be 3-3.5h so you'll ideally be at a point where you can cover 18 to 20 miles in that time , otherwise come marathon day there's going to be a lot of unchartered territory.
I absolutely loved my first London Marathon and it really is an experience like no other, so I'm not trying to put you off having it as a goal just recommending a longer journey to get there. Definitely start running , go to parkruns -hopefully fall in love with running, build some great running memories and achievements. I say this because in midst of peak marathon training there will be times when you'll say you hate running and it will really help to remember why you're doing it and all that it's brought you so far!