Walking a marathon - your tips?

[MilesOfMotivation]

This year I am walking my first marathon. I'm not sure what possessed me, I am not particularly fit but I do like a good walk.

I'm a bit worried about my knees holding up so wondering if there's something I should be doing now to 'prepare' them, though I will also wear a knee support I think.

I need to ramp up the training so looking for tips and advice on this, but also helpful advice for actual marathon day from those who have done it before.

I'm scared 😮

Moonwalk give you pasta or rice before you start, so I left food in my bag at the venue and carried sweets and a few energy bars/gels. It is the middle of the night so you probably won't want much.

I think there was food afterwards too but it was years ago!

They handed out water on the way round and I think some fruit too.

On my training walks I had a good breakfast then just ate energy bars and swigged water while walking as part of my training. When hill walking I would sit down with a packed lunch which wouldn't be practical on the moonwalk.

Done something similar - which was 32 miles. Take compeed in a small pouch and be comfortable with your socks as well as trainers.

I took little cheese sandwiches with me and there were people handed out bananas and things. It helped to have something that wasn't sweet. You get sick of sweet stuff quite quickly.

when I finished I ate my bodyweight in curry. I'd load up with carbs the day before.

Take snacks and also painkillers as walking on roads for that distance really hurts the hips and knees.

Are you in a group/doing it with friends? If not I would load up a podcast or audible book as well as music to keep you going. Sometimes it's the boredom that's the hardest thing!