If you’ve been following and taking the advice of this 26 part marathon blog series, you should now be very well prepared for your first marathon. Or if you’re not new to marathons hopefully you picked up some new and useful snippets of information from it.
So the hard work of the training is done, it’s just time to enjoy the marathon. Obviously it’s not going to be easy, but take confidence in your training and savour the race! Here are a few last minute reminders and tips to help you get the most out of your marathon:
Be prepared – Everything from your race morning breakfast, to how you’re getting to the event should have been thought about and tested well in advance. If you prepare everything in advance you’ll only have the race to think about.
Be realistic – Remember that whilst millions of people have run marathons, this doesn’t make it any less of a significant feat. Set yourself realistic goals and you are much more likely to hit them and enjoy the experience.
Mind the Expo – Be careful of spending hours wandering around the expo, this normally results in buying stuff you don’t need, being tempted by last minute things that could change your game plan and also they are surprisingly tiring. Get in, register, maybe visit a few stands you are interested in and then get out.
Arrive early – It’s a bit like a job interview, you’re not just going to aim to get there on time, you want to be there plenty early; better standing around for an hour at the event, then sat in traffic for an hour because you left too late!
Relax – Remember this is supposed to be fun, I’m assuming you’re not a pro, otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this, so don’t take it too seriously. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, breath, smile and relax!
Enjoy the atmosphere – It’s not just about the running, soak up all the sights and sounds of the race, from the buzz and nervous chat of the start line; to the crowds cheering you on; and everything else inbetween.
Reward yourself – Think of a reward, be it a pampering session, a slice of banoffee pie or a night out; whatever it is reward yourself for finishing the marathon as you deserve it; you’ll also have something to think about when you hit the ominous 20 mile mark!
ENJOY YOURSELF! Running a marathon is an amazing experience and a fantastic achievment.
So that’s it, we have given you tips on just about every area of marathon training in this series; hopefully you’ll have a successful and enjoyable race. If you want any further advice don’t hesitate to contact us or leave a comment below and we’ll answer it as soon as we can.