Marathons

In our experience, the post London Marathon ballot day leaves us either feeling totally amped to get training or seriously disappointed about missing out. If you’re in the disappointed camp, time to set your sights on something else.

Find your marathon

For those raring to go ahead of marathon day, this post will give you the lowdown on everything you need to get through your marathon-whether it’s your first or you’re prepping for a PB.

So, how long does it take to train for a marathon?

Generally speaking it can take anywhere between 12 to 24 weeks to train for a marathon–depending on your fitness level and how regularly you already run. 

There are plenty of marathon training plans out there, but to begin with it can all seem very overwhelming. 

Your first step is to decide on your goals and work out whether they are attainable. Do you currently run 3 days a week? Then don’t choose a training plan that wants you to be running 6 days a week–your body will be overwhelmed with all the extra mileage and you’ll most likely get injured. 

While you’ll be excited to start running further distances, try to trust the process and listen to your body. The risks of not increasing your mileage sensibly could end in a trip to the physio and your marathon plans in the balance. 

To avoid this, make sure to book your marathon well in advance and set aside a good few weeks of light, easy running to begin to increase your mileage before starting your training plan. 

TOP TIP:  When building up your mileage you should be increasing it by 10% each week at the very most. This is so your body can acclimate to the extra strain of the added distance.  If you’re a complete beginner, try to book your marathon 6 months to a year in advance to ensure you have plenty of time to prepare. 

Do I need to run the marathon distance before I run a marathon? 

This one’s completely up to you, but most coaches and training plans strongly advise against it. If you’re aiming for a specific time (especially if it’s not your first marathon), the most you may want to run in training is around 22-24 miles.

How to pace for a marathon 

One thing you definitely should be doing is running at your marathon goal pace.

For example, if you want to run the marathon in 4 hours, you should be adding marathon pace mileage into your runs in accordance to that time. 

A good way of doing this is to add pacing into your longer runs. For example you could run 1 hour at an easy pace with the last 30 minutes at your goal marathon pace. This type of run is a great way to prepare your body and acclimatise to the pace that you’ll be aiming for during the race. 

Do I need to be running races in the lead up to a marathon?

It’s a great idea to get a feel for racing before you tackle a marathon race.

If you’re following a 16 week training plan, it’s worth racing once a month as you slowly increase your distance. The week of your races you should be aiming to run less distance to ensure you’re ready for the higher intensity of the race..

For example after the first 4 weeks, you could try your local park run or a 5k race. Experiencing multiple race days will help get your legs prepared for running longer distances at your goal marathon pace (or faster if you’re having a good day!) and your mind prepped for dealing with the excitement of the day. 

After your 5k race you can then begin to increase your mileage further for 3 weeks and then tackle a 10k race. 

You can treat these races as a rehearsal for your marathon in more ways than just aiming for a higher intensity workout. You’ll get used to running in a crowd, pick up tricks for establishing your toilet routine, work out how your body functions on long and exciting runs, and learn what pre-race fuel works well for you.

Half marathon training runs

A perfect way to test out your fueling is by doing a half marathon. A half marathon is the perfect distance and duration for testing out how to fuel well during a race, as most guidance suggests that you should be eating on any run above 12k.

What fuel do I need to use during a marathon?

During a marathon, nutrition is key. You should be practicing fuelling correctly on training runs as well as in your races leading up to the marathon. 

A general rule of thumb in a marathon is to start fueling 1 hour into your race, and then every half an hour after the first hour. Remember everyone is different and it is up to you to decide how much fuel you need.

What to eat during a half marathon

Many runners use electrolyte gels. Gels contain a high concentration of carbohydrates and sugars to keep you going. There are plenty of brands out there to try, and best of all you can fit two or three in a running bum bag or a zipped pocket in your running shorts. 

If you don’t like gels there are plenty of alternatives, such as sweets as well as nutritional snacks like nuts that work in the same way. Ultimately, everyone is different, so it’s essential to make sure you test out your fuel to see what works. 

Ultimately, whether you’re taking on your first or fiftieth marathon, it’s an incredible achievement and a truly memorable experience. By preparing and thinking about your mileage, training plans, nutrition and race technique, you’ll help to make sure you can get the most out of your marathon experience.

Happy training!

You don’t need to be a fast runner to work at Let’s Do This, but that doesn’t stop Let’s Do This data scientist, Simon Wright, from running sub 3 hour marathons in his spare time.

A 2:53:20 marathoner, triathlete and enthusiastic orienteer-er, Simon added yet another string to his bow this month when he paced the 2022 London Marathon.

Read on to hear from Simon himself about his experience as a London Marathon pacer – and how you could get involved too!

Becoming a London Marathon pacer

I like running. But I love maths*. So maybe it’s unsurprising that I found myself drawn to the prospect of pacing for races. 

I first got involved in pacing very informally last year, pacing a couple of my colleagues to 10k PBs. After that, I decided to give it a go officially this year at the London Landmarks Half Marathon, managing to soak up the atmosphere while leading around a hardy band of 20 runners to a 1:45 finish. And what better place to look to replicate that feeling than at the London Marathon?

In June, I found out that I’d been selected to pace the race at 3:15, the top end of my three suggested times, which would be a challenge!

So, what is pacing?

The premise is very simple: it’s very common for runners to get very excited on the day of a big race and fly off the line.

Wouldn’t it be great not to have to worry about a burst of adrenaline threatening your race from the off? That’s where pacers come in, to run a consistent pace for the whole race to give you one less thing to worry about.

Preparing to pace

In the run-up to the race, I tuned up with some practice pacing at Wimbledon Common parkrun (mostly successfully!) and then again at The Big Half, getting some experience pacing in a crowded atmosphere.

The most important thing is to make sure you hit the splits. Not going faster than the splits, not “banking time” in case things go wrong, but running at almost exactly the target split the whole time. I did a lot of 6-8 mile runs at this target pace to try and lock in that feeling, so it would be natural on race day.

Race day

Race morning was a 5:30am start. Despite the fact that I had to be at the start earlier than most, there were still plenty of other nervous-looking runners eating breakfast on the train to Blackheath. I went for two bagels with peanut butter and a banana, which is nothing new for me on race day, just slightly more than normal!

By 8am all 76 pacers were congregated in a function room in a hotel to talk through the final bits of logistics. We’d been told to be quiet on the way there as people in the hotel might be asleep, but I think the steel drummer at the front door had already taken care of that! All that was left to do was pick up our flags and our lifelines: the pacing bands (a piece of paper with the split time at every mile) and a 5k board to wear round our wrist to check our progress. Even my maths gets a bit suspect when tired at mile 24!

It wasn’t until I walked to the start that I appreciated the vastness of the event. Over 40,000 people from all over the world at the start line, all nervously waiting to take on the same 26.2 mile challenge, hoping that the forecast wind and rain wouldn’t materialise. After a paradoxically short wait that felt like forever in the pen finding a small crew who were in for 3:15, we were off. 

Ready, set, pace!

Strangely, the first couple of miles are a couple of the hardest when pacing – it’s very easy to get swept along with the adrenaline of the masses!

This is particularly true in London as there’s a decent downhill section in the first three miles, so you can get well ahead of schedule. There were no issues this time, getting into the habit of checking the watch at the mile board – 11 seconds ahead at 4 miles, perfect.

The first half of the race was spent chatting to the runners who were following us, most of them raising money for various charities, ticking off the miles and soaking in the atmosphere around Greenwich, Rotherhithe, and the crowd on Tower Bridge. 

After we came through half-way 35 seconds up–just as planned–we saw the elite men come the other direction. You can’t help but feel a surge of energy from how quickly they’re still going, 22 miles in! 

Sadly over the next 8 miles, most of our original pace group dropped off one by one, still running fantastic times but not quite able to hold the pace. It’s one of the hardest things about pacing, you have to keep going exactly on schedule, and can’t adjust to help people who you’ve been running with for the past 2 hours.

The last 5 miles of the London Marathon are spectacular. I was lucky enough to run the Boston Marathon earlier this year, and the crowds at London may have been even bigger and louder than there. It seemed there was constant noise from Tower Hill, down the Embankment and carrying everyone the whole way to the finish line. 

Personally it was quite nice to have worked hard but not feel on the absolute limit in the last few miles, soaking it all in as I picked up a few runners who had faded a bit in the middle but were finishing strong.

I crossed the line in 3 hours, 14 minutes and 37 seconds. 

It’s always a relief to stop the watch on the line and realise you’ve managed to pace the race well. Afterwards I managed to catch up with a couple of the runners who had been in the group for the first couple of hours who had still managed to run big Personal Bests – this is why we pace!

How to get into pacing

I’d highly recommend pacing as a totally unique way to experience events. 

It’s not quite as tiring (at least not physically) as racing and often you get even more of the atmosphere – mainly because you’re so identifiable and the crowd love cheering for the pacer! It’s also a great way to meet and speak to lots of interesting runners.

Pacing is for everyone – at London there were pacers for finish times from 3 hours through to 7 hours 30 minutes. Provided you can keep going at the pace and you’re friendly and encouraging to everyone around you, you can be involved! 

If you are interested,  there are sites you can volunteer with that provide pacers for races across the country. Alternatively, Google events you're interested in racing and see if they have pacer opportunities.

As for me, I’m hoping to race the 2023 London Marathon, but I’m already considering my 2024 pace application!

*Maths skills are not required to pace!

–

If all that pacing chat got you excited about taking on a big city race for yourself, check out our full list of marathons, and start training for your own incredible race day experience.

Browse marathons

Feeling the pain of not winning out in the London Marathon ballot this year? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one.

The London Marathon is the pinnacle of athletics performance in the UK. It sees the likes of Eluid Kipchoge, Shura Kitata and Brigid Kosgei grace the same course as tens of thousands of runners, fundraising heroes, and of course the wacky Guinness Book of Record Breakers (like the man who spent 6 days crawling the course dressed as a gorilla).

What can I do instead of the London Marathon?

Though it’s certainly a special race, the atmosphere, community spirit and camaraderie of the London Marathon can be more than matched by lots of marathons happening across the country this year. 

From the “other” run and the One Day I’ll Do London races on the date of the London marathon itself to beloved marathons in historic Clarendon and Loch Ness, you can still secure a marathon spot for 2022 today–no ballot required!

We’ve rounded up our top five UK marathons happening this year that we’d hate you to miss out on. It’s time to cast your net wide and find the one for you.

Explore 2022 Marathons

1.     XTERRA Snowdonia Trail Marathon

This trail marathon is a challenging mixed-terrain course, great for those looking to push yourself this summer. Forget pounding the pavements and big crowds, this  trail marathon will have you traversing the most picturesque views the UK has to offer. 

There will be plenty of hills throughout as well as some challenging terrain, but for marathon runners looking to get away from the big city and escape out to the country: this one’s a dream.

Bonus:  This event also offers a 10k and Half Marathon, so bring friends and family along for the ride or try out a shorter distance before going for gold next year.

Find out more

2.     PodPlus Kent Spring Marathon

Looking for a Spring marathon instead of a chillier October challenge? Break away from road racing and explore the scenic tracks and lanes of Kent on the PodPlus Kent Spring Marathon.

You’ll make your way through the quaint villages of Charing and Westwell, taking in spectacular views and the encouragement you need from crowds cheering you on in each village. 

Bonus: You can catch a high speed train from London St Pancras and arrive at Ashford International train station within 45 minutes–perfect for city folk and commuters alike.

Find out more

3.     Bacchus Marathon

The Denbies Vineyard estate hosts a marathon that is one for the fun runners out there. This event is a trail race that is more like a party than a serious marathon. Though the course is quite hilly, you’ll be buoyed along by the aid stations en route which are fully stocked with–you guessed it–wine!

No cheap plonk here–you’ll get to sample wine made onsite at the vineyard. What’s more, if you’re not feeling up to the Marathon there is also a Half Marathon and 10k to enjoy too, perfect for anyone looking to get a bit jolly on a summer’s day.

Bonus: Fancy dress is encouraged: this is not drill! Join the party dressed as whatever you fancy, great vibes all round.

Find out more

4.     ABP Southampton Marathon

The ABP Southampton Marathon lands on the ultimate weekend festival of running.

The course is pretty undulating throughout with a couple of hills and you’ll explore the historic landmarks of Southampton. This will be a truly memorable experience for everyone as there is always  plenty of sideline support, music and general cheer as you race through this beautiful city.

Bonus: Any Saints fans out there? This marathon goes straight through St. Mary’s Football stadium!

Find out more

5.     Milton Keynes Marathon

We couldn’t write about marathons without including this firm fan favourite. 

The Milton Keynes Marathon is voted one of the UK’s best marathons. It’s also a London and Boston Marathon qualifying race, making it the perfect race for anyone looking for a ‘Good For Age’ qualifying entry.

Though this race is smaller than the Manchester and Brighton marathons, this only adds to the friendly, unintimidating feel of the event. There’s also a stadium finish which will spur you on with some last-minute energy to dash across that finish line.

Bonus: Want to bring the rest of your family along? There are plenty of family friendly and shorter races happening throughout the weekend to keep everyone busy!

Find out more

Every cloud…

We know you might be feeling discouraged, but just imagine yourself standing on the start line, feeling the cool morning breeze against your skin, the pre-race nerves dissipating as you start to take your first courageous steps across the start line. Fast forward to crossing the finish line to cheers from your loved ones. 

You can still have that marathon experience this year.

Whether you’re a fun runner, a club runner, or you’ve never run before, don’t let missing out on the London Marathon ballot end your marathon journey: it’s just the beginning. 

Sign up to one of these incredible alternatives to the London Marathon today– even if it’s just a practice run for next year!

Find a 2022 marathon

26.2 Miles; 42.2 Kilometers.  It’s on a lot of people’s bucket lists, and for good reason: training for and completing a marathon makes you push barriers and accomplish something incredible.  Make the most of your marathon journey by following these five marathon training tips:

1. Three on, one off

Marathon training can take its toll on your legs and your motivation.  A good tactic is to have three building weeks followed by one recovery week and repeating this for the duration of your training. The recovery week should still consist of as many training sessions as usual, but about half the length, and with some runs substituted by cross-training sessions. 

2. Interval work

The best way of getting faster is by including interval sessions into your training. The time of your interval session should build as your mileage increases, but here are some reference examples:

Long intervals:

• 1km warm up (slow), 3km @ 5km threshold pace (as fast as you could possibly go if you were racing a 5km race)
• 1km slow, 2km @ 5km threshold pace
• 1km slow, 2k @ 5km threshold pace
• 1km cool down

Unders and Overs:

• Pick a distance and note your usual comfortable pace for this distance.
• Warm up for 5 minutes, then run 1km @ 10% faster than your normal pace.
• Run 1km @ 5% slower than your normal pace.
• Repeat until you’ve covered the distance, then cool down. 

3. 1 Tempo, 1 Interval, 1 Long

How much and how long you train will depend on your marathon goals and your schedule, but, as a minimum, you should include one tempo run, one interval run, and one long run into every week.  

Tempo run:  Pick a distance and run slightly above your normal pace for that distance for the entire run. 

Interval run: Speed work. These should vary, but will be the most painful sessions of your week. 

Long run: Every week you should build up the distance of this run by 10%, aiming to go up to approximately 35km, or 22 miles.  These should be very slow. 

4. Go slower and faster

Almost every runner runs their slow runs too fast and their fast runs too slowly.  When you set off on your long runs, slow down, and then slow down some more. You should not be out of breath at all; these runs are all about getting your muscles and legs ready for long distances without tiring you out too much. That way, when your speed sessions come round a day or two later, you will be able to push harder and go faster.  

5. Don’t let yourself fall out of love with running

A lot of people will get to the end of their marathon and pack their running shoes away for the year. Marathon training should be sustainable, and should not make you stop running - if you start regularly dreading sessions, it could be a sign of overtraining, or poor nutrition and recovery. Make sure to keep a tally of how you’re feeling, and don’t be afraid to modify your training to better suit you. Sessions will be hard, but overall you should be feeling fitter, stronger, and excited about your journey. 

Completing the 26.2 miles (or 42.2km) of a Marathon race is no mean feat. It requires physical and mental endurance, dedicated training and plenty of personal sacrifices. If you’re going to put in months of training for a race, the reward has to equal the effort. So why not reward yourself by taking part in one of these epic events and create lifelong memories along the way? Here's our pick of the 12 best marathons from around the globe, so that signing up for a marathon will be the best decision you ever made. 

1. Paris Marathon

One of the great international races, running since 1976, the Paris Marathon sees around 50,000 runners take to the streets each year. The support and atmosphere is unrivalled, concentrated around the start and finish lines which are only a few hundred meters apart.  The course takes you through the heart of the city, starting at the Champs Elysées, and passing the Louvre, Place de la Bastille, and the Eiffel Tower before finishing at the famous Avenue Foch with the Arc de Triomphe in the background. What better way to tick off your sightseeing agenda in the space of a few hours?

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2. London Marathon

The crown jewel of endurance sports events in the UK, the London Marathon lives up to the hype. It draws huge, cheering crowds from start to finish and passes many of the great sights of the city before rounding off at The Mall after passing Buckingham Palace. If you’re a seasoned marathoner, it’s also a perfect course for a PB with a very flat route (Paula Radcliff set the women’s world record there in 2005, which still stands). Unsurprisingly, it’s a hugely popular event, but don’t worry if you miss out on the ballot, there are plenty of charity places available. In 2007, 78% of runners raised money for their chosen charity. It has the Guinness World Record for the largest annual fundraising event in the world with £63.7 million raised in 2018, and has now broken the billion-pound mark for charity fundraising since its inception in 1981.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/ci-umUMPLE8

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3. Loch Ness Marathon

If you’re looking for a change of scene from the hustle and bustle of a big city marathon then the Loch Ness Marathon is a stunning option. Starting near Fort Augustus up in the hills, you’ll be treated to spectacular Highland views before you climb down and begin following the banks of Loch Ness. You’ll also have the chance to spot its most famous and elusive inhabitant; the Loch Ness Monster. Aside from the beautiful scenery, runners come from all over for the informal atmosphere, super friendly competitors and lots of local support. 

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4. Rome Marathon (Maratona di Roma)

Rome is one of the most architecturally interesting cities in the world - an ancient monument hides around every corner. It’s best explored on foot at the best of times, but the Rome Marathon does its best to take in as many sights as possible on a whistlestop tour. Starting in front of the Colosseum, you’ll work your way past St. Peter's Basilica, the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, and the Spanish Steps among others. This event is a tourist runner’s dream, however it’s not the best event if you’re gunning for a PB: cobbled streets and tight sections mean that there's a chance you’ll be held up at points, but you can take that as an opportunity to catch your breath and then have your breath taken away again by your surroundings. 

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5. NYC Marathon

With crowd support and a city route to rival the London Marathon, the New York Marathon easily makes this list as one of the biggest and best marathons in the world. What’s more, New York can claim to be the original of the two, being founded in 1970. Participants come from all corners of the globe to take part in this famous race and enjoy the tour of New York through its various neighborhoods; Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan. No other event attracts such an international crowd. As with most events on this list, there is a heavily oversubscribed ballot, but if you’re keen to guarantee yourself a place you can apply for a charity place or run a qualifying time in advance at an approved event. 

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6. Great Wall Marathon

This marathon is a tough one. Along the way participants will conquer 5,164 steps as they trace their way along the Great Wall of China. Thankfully, although one of the tougher events on this list (it will take the average participant twice as long to complete as a normal marathon) it is easily one of the most breathtaking. It has a small field of around 650 participants and so carries an exclusive feeling making it all the more special to participate in. Towards the finish, at Yin and Yang Square in the Huangyaguan fortress, you’ll encounter the local crowds cheering you on to the end.

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7. Honolulu Marathon

If you ever needed an excuse to visit Hawaii other than the tropical climate and beautiful sandy beaches with volcanic views then this is it. It’s one of the biggest races in the USA with over 30,000 participants and promises a big welcoming atmosphere. You’ll start in the darkness at 5am and watch the sun rise, revealing the stunning views as you progress through the race. It’s also a great event for beginners and there’s no time limit so you can take all the time you need to enjoy your surroundings. 

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8. Berlin Marathon

The Berlin Marathon has established itself as a contender for having the fastest course in the world. Eliud Kipchoge smashed the world record there in 2018 with a time of 2 h 01 min 39 sec. Expect the usual German efficiency when it comes to organisation but also great crowd support and historic sights. The start and finish areas are near the famous Brandenburg Gate which makes for some epic finishers’ photos. And as a side, if running isn’t as much your thing, you can rollerskate the course on the Saturday before the runners!

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9. Boston Marathon

Founded in 1897, it’s the oldest annual marathon event in the world and also one of the most sought after. It’s full of tradition and history with great crowds - over half a million come to watch and support for the duration of the race. It’s also a pretty quick course, but to participate you’ll also have to be a pretty quick runner - due to high demand the organisers have put in place some pretty strict qualifying conditions. It’s a net downhill course and takes in many of the historic sights that Boston has to offer with a big city finish to cap off one of the most memorable runs you could ever participate in.

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10. The Great Ocean Road Marathon

This event makes the list because it has easily one of the most stunning routes any marathon has to offer. Winding along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road with views of rugged coastline and Australia's Southern Ocean. The views will certainly help to take the pain away as you work your way along the course. To add to the allure of this event, after you’re done, there’s loads to take in around Victoria, including Apollo Bay and breathtaking mountain scenery. 

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11. Tokyo Marathon

This event will take you on a journey from the old to the new in one of the most visually stunning cities in the world. As you progress along the route you will pass the Imperial Palace, Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Station seeing how the old, traditional side of Japan has been interwoven with it’s new hypermodern architecture and culture. With the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo you can only imagine the hype surrounding this event locally will grow rapidly. 

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12. Big Sur International Marathon

Up for a challenge? The Big Sur International Marathon follows the undulating California coastline. You’ll battle through hills and headwind but will be justly rewarded by the scenery on offer. You’ll pass through redwood forests with glimpses of the Pacific Ocean beyond. And despite the race taking place largely away from the big cities, there’s plenty of entertainment on offer throughout the race. If you are one of the lucky few who find themselves holding tickets to the Boston Marathon then you can take on the Boston 2 Big Sur Challenge, which includes tackling the two marathons (which are 3,000 miles apart) in six days.

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The list of best road marathons in the world:

1. Paris Marathon
2. London Marathon
3. Loch Ness Marathon
4. Rome Marathon (Maratona di Roma)
5. NYC Marathon
6. Great Wall Marathon
7. Honolulu Marathon
8. Berlin Marathon
9. Boston Marathon
10. The Great Ocean Road Marathon
11. Tokyo Marathon
12. Big Sur International Marathon