Marathon blog: Running crazy

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With only a matter of a few sleeps to go before the big day (four to be precise) training for the last two weeks has been all about the tapering off – cutting the miles down to allow myself enough recovery time to be able to peak on race day.

This in theory has gone to plan but not by choice. I’ve been ill recently and so for the past two weeks have only been on two runs – one of which I had to walk the final two miles!

So as much as I have cut my miles down, it’s gone to complete zero and now with only a few days to go, my confidence feels a little low I keep telling myself, a forced rest is a blessing in disguise, right?

But despite taking a little break from the running, the sport has never been far from my mind and a lot of what would be my training time, I’ve spent reading a great little book called Running Crazy written by Helen Summer.

It’s a collection of various stories by some of the most colourful and, at times, crazy personalities who are all members of ‘The 100 Marathon Club’ - a club where there is only one minor easy prerequisite for membership… the completion of 100 marathons!

The book is broken up into 26.2 little chapters that are packed with great tips on long distance running, alongside some truly funny and kooky stories of experiences, both good and bad, that the runners have had over their years of running.

It’s extraordinary to read of the collective passion that these everyday ordinary people have for the sport – at times their life commitment is phenomenal - one man Brian Mills, has even had a butterfly tattoo for each of his 800 marathon runs!

So about to take on my first marathon I have definitely gone to the right place in getting some expert advice and so here are some of their top tips for first time marathon runners that I’d like to share with you:

- It will always hurt at some point in a marathon, but believe that you will come out the other side
- Vaseline everywhere!
- Learn pace judgement – don’t go off too fast
- Don’t be concerned with time – just enjoy your first experience
- Smile for the camera!

It’s interesting to read that the majority of the 100 marathon club runners initially fell in love with marathons after being initially inspired by the London marathon – I wonder if it will have the same effect on me?

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