London Marathon Training August 2026

Distance run: 28km and a 6 mile hike.

Work outs: 3 gym sessions due to holiday.

Things I'm learning:

Nutrition - Hairbos are good to eat whilst running.

Fluids - I really need to work on this as I'm spending too much time focusing on my need to wee.

Carbs - Eaten before a run but at least 2-3 hours prior.

Proteins - Eaten after a run.

Clothing - too hot, too cold. When I ran Brighton I had warmer clothes to get to the start that I discarded before the race, then half way through I was able to hand a top and a jacket over to Peter. At the moment the weather is not quite warm enough for my shorts and vest but I'm over heating with leggings. I'm able to run with a jacket tied round my waist, but I struggle with a bumbag, camel pack or hydration vest. My feet are too hot at the moment.

Footwear - I've put in an offer on Vinted for an identical pair of shoes I ran Brighton in so I can alternate between the two pairs for training and the marathon.

Running apps - couch to 5k is my go to app. I love running with it, listening to Steve Cram my chosen coach, just for the motivation, the timings and the reminders.

Things to avoid:

Social Media. Oh my word I've had to leave all the groups I'd joined. I can't be doing with all the questions that a really simple and quick google will answer. I have, however connected with a few people on TikTok and am picking up a few tips and techniques that should help me improve my time from Brighton.

Gels - yuk and why? 

Clothing, shoes and equipment. Buy the most expensive shoes you can afford, buy a half size up. Designer only and £150 for a hydration vest. Not me. My trainers cost around £35, they're the size I normally wear in shoes and were bought based on the comfort. I bought a £75 pair of Nike that I was talked into buying when I asked for advice in a store and they're sitting in the doorstairs loo, unworn for running as the soles of my feet hurt within 30 seconds of running. My running leggings were $15 from Big W in Australia, shorts were £4 off Vinted, running tops are from primark around £5 plus my vest from Bowel research UK and my jackets and caps are left over from working on the European Golf Tour.

Things to do:

Plan a menu as I'm getting bored of eating the same foods.

Book hotel.

Sort out the running apps.

Start stacking (longer runs back to back)

If you've any tips you would like to share, then please do, I'll take any help I can get.

 

Running Preparation for the Brighton Marathon for Stephanie

I don't know how this works for others but I sort of feel the novelty has worn off, not for me but for everyone else and I'm hoping it'll pick up again as I feel I really am doing this all on my own.

I signed up to run the Brighton Marathon to raise funds and awareness for Bowel research UK and for our daughter Stephanie who died in October 2024 from an Ischemic Bowel which causes the death of around 3000 people a year in the UK.

I've no training plan, no personal trainer, no special diet, no training buddy, no special gear.

Just a desire to raise awareness and to run in Stephanie's memory. 

I'm moving out of running leggings this week into skorts and I'm trialling a camel pack.

I had a free trial with Apple Music that has come to an end, but I found listening to just music boring and I prefer to listen to the radio and have a variety of chat, news and music. I have the free version of strava that I just hit 'record' on and don't check until I get home. 

My wireless ear pods are a little temperamental with my ear piercings and if I tap them more than once when I adjust them they need putting back in the pot to reset. So I'm going back to wired ones and I've been threading them through a hook on my bra strap. 

I also hook my glasses through my bra when I'm running as I need them to set my phone and watch at the start and end.

I've been doing park runs and going to the gym, but most of my training has been endurance training with a mixture of walking and running up and down the Malvern Hills. The furthest I've actually run is 10k which I did this week and it took me 90 mins. 

My 5k times are improving.

I also did a half marathon walk/run around Malvern a couple of weeks ago in 3 and half hours with an elevation of 493ms. 

Next weekend I'm taking part in my 3rd Ultra Challenge in 6 months. I started with a 25k hike in the Chilterns which I completed in 5 hours 30 mins. A 42k walk in London in January completed in 7 hours 44 mins and next weekend I'll be in Bath attempting to run/walk 25k with an elevation of 600ms in under 3 hours.