Have a laugh at the London Marathon
Wednesday 17 March 2010
Running the marathon is no joke, but we’ve thought of ways you can have a laugh at this event (see what we did there?!)
Plus, at the end of this article Closer''s Real Life Deputy Editor Gina Finegan reveals just how amazing running the marathon was for her.
FOR THOSE OF YOU RUNNING
Train well in advance: If you train in advance, you’ll feel a lot more confident about running the marathon and enjoy it more. You might want to check out our article on how not to workout and burnout to psyche yourself up for the big day!
Set yourself a personal goal: You’ll feel so much pride if you reach your personal goal and if you don’t, think of the positives - firstly, you'll have managed to run/walk 26 miles and secondly, you'll have something to work towards!
Get that fuzzy feeling: Just knowing that you’re running to raise money for charity should give you that warm, fuzzy feeling and make you feel better about jogging 26 miles.
Get support from family and friends: Support can come in the form of friends and family turning up at the finish line to see you cross it and possibly photograph you looking hot, sweaty and triumphant. If you’re lucky, you may have a friend running the marathon with you.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WON'T BE RUNNING
Sponsor someone: Donating to charity is a great way to get involved – if you can’t be there on the day, you’ll have still managed to do your bit!
Make a day out of it: Cheer the runners on and maybe even pack a picnic to take with you. But make sure you check the weather first!
Provide refreshments: If you’re able to provide oranges and water for the runners, we’re sure they’d greatly appreciate it! By doing this, you’ll give them the strength (literally) to carry on running.
Closer's Real Life Deputy Editor Gina Finegan ran the marathon last year and had an incredibe experience:
"The sense of achievement I felt after running the London marathon in 2008 was beyond compare and it was without doubt one of the best days of my life (easily up there with my wedding day!). During the four-month run up to the marathon I’d covered a gruelling total of 565 miles and I’d been petrified something would go wrong on the day.
"As a regular runner I’d set myself the goal of completing the 26.2 mile race through London in under four hours and knew that anything less would leave me feeling disappointed. Would I start off too fast and hit the notorious wall? Would I pick up an injury and end up hitching a lift to the finish line in Hyde Park with the St John’s Ambulance?
"But luckily I managed to run the whole way despite a reoccurring problem with my knee kicking in after 20 miles and notched up a respectable time of 3.49 hours. I can’t recommend having a crack at it enough. "
Here are Gina's recommendations for a fab marathon sport kit:
Good running trainers
Get the right trainers for the way you run by having your gait analysed. Many places (such as Sweaty Betty, The Sweatshop) provide this service free of charge. You’ll be looking to spend around £80 but it’s worth it to minimise your chances of picking up injuries. Asics, Brooks and New Balance come reccommended.
Comfortable kit
Now Spring is finally here you won’t need to wear much when you hit the road as you’ll find you’ll warm up quickly. Look for well-fitting vests and shorts made from Polyester as it dries quicker – cotton clothing retains sweat and rain and can become heavy.
Calculate your speed:
If you’re feeling flush and are serious about running it might be worth investing in one of those fancy watches with GPS to measure mileage and speed as well heart rate and calories burned. The Garmin ones can cost over £100 but the Nike plus SportBand measures distance and pace and costs £40.
The London Marathon will take place on 25th April. For more advice, Virgin Active have just launched a great new website, starring a hamster and National Fitness Manager Nick Hudson, that offers tips and advice in the month leading up to the big day.