No matter which virtual marathon you have signed up to, it is going to be a HUGE challenge! Almost a year ago I took part in my first virtual marathon (Virgin London Marathon) and boy was it an experience. Luckily I had friends and family with me along the route to carry me over the finish line. I learnt a lot from it so here are some tips i’d like to share with you.
In my opinion a marathon is a marathon however you do it. I have heard some people knocking those who choose to do it virtually rather than the ‘real thing’. They both present their different challenges, yes, but a virtual marathon can be that bit harder as you don’t have the crowds pushing you along. The most important thing of your marathon is to just go out, enjoy it and give it your all. Also never forget to smile along the way.
Dress appropriately
My London virtual marathon last year turned out to be on one of the wettest days of 2020. It absolutely poured all day pretty much non stop. Luckily I had a waterproof with me and stopped for a change of clothes at the half way point. My feet though kept perfectly dry as I wore my GoreTex trainers.
Depending on what time of year you are doing your marathon the weather may be hot or cold. Make sure to have checked the forecast to see which kind of weather you may expect to be running in and come prepared for it. The outfit which you choose to wear should be comfortable and something you have worn before. Make sure that your trainers are well worn in and that you have done runs dressed exactly as you want to be on race day, so there aren’t any nasty surprises.
It is always better to be prepared than not, especially if it might rain or you are not sure how warm it will be. If you are running in one of the colder months I would always say that you should carry an extra layer with you. This is not only incase you need it during your run, but also incase of injury so that you don’t freeze whilst help is on its way. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Friends and family as mile markers
This was an idea I saw lots of people do during lockdown virtual races. It is such a sweet idea and is a great way to get younger family and friends involved. During a marathon or any other race you do, they usually have mile markers. This way if you are not tracking the distance yourself, you roughly know how far you’ve got to go.
If you have already planned out your race you will be able to figure out where roughly the different mile points are. At each of these stations or a selection of the big mile marks such as 6,12,18 and the finish line you can have friends and family cheering you on.
Whichever marathon you are doing virtually, think about which landmarks you would have seen if you did the ‘real’ thing. Then get your family members to create images of these landmarks they can hold up at the mile markers. It would be as if you were there.
For example i’m running the London Marathon again. They have a map of the route with the different landmarks on it. I would use the map to know the rough locations at each of the miles and although it would be just an image, I would feel more like I was doing it in London.
Or they may choose to hold up funny words which will give you a good giggle. A few of my favourites i’ve seen are “if you think running is hard, try crawling”, “if I see you collapse, i’ll pause your Garmin”, “toenails are overrated” or “could be worse…. you could be doing burpees for 5 hours”.
Have friends and family join you
Just because it’s a virtual marathon it does not mean you need to do it alone. If you are part of a local running group there may be other people who are doing the same race on the same day. Having someone to run with can help a lot of people as it takes their mind away from the task ahead. Of course this will only really work if you are wanting to run at a similar running pace. If this is something you would like to do, it would also be a good idea to have trained together before.
If you aren’t a member of your local running group, there are also many groups online where you could ask if anyone else is running it in your area and wants to do it together. This is also a great way to make new running friends.
Maybe you have friends and family who are runners too, but aren’t doing the race. They could come and support you by running parts of the race with you. They are probably very unlikely to want to do the whole race with you as they won’t have done the training for it, but they may be up for running segments to give you some support and so you aren’t alone for it all.
I have also seen some people have a ‘support person’ join them on a bike. It is much easier to cycle the distance than run the distance especially at the pace at which they would have to cycle. They can be on hand for when you need anything, carry supplies and just support you along the way.
Take hydration
One of the great benefits of an organised running event are the water stations. They save you from having the extra weight of carrying your hydration with you.
When running a virtual marathon you really need to think about how you will keep hydrated during your run. Most opt to carry their fluid with them whether that is in a hydration vest on in bottles. Others may choose to have a support person/ crew member who joins them on the run and can carry the hydration. You could also set up water/ aid stations of friends or family en route. If you are doing laps as your route, you may not carry your hydration with you but leave it in a car so that every lap you can drink what you need.
Personally I think the best and easiest way to hydrate yourself en route is by carrying a hydration vest with a bladder. It is easy and comfortable to carry and you can sip it whenever needed. Take it with you on your practice long runs and see if it works for you.
Prepare fuel
Ever heard of that saying “failing to prepare is preparing to fail”? Well this couldn’t be more true if you are running a marathon. A half marathon you can just about blag your way around but anything more than that it will be a real struggle.
Everyone fuels their runs differently and in a way which they find works for them. Make sure that you try different fuels during your training to see what works for you. This is not just fuel during your run but also in the morning and the week running up to the big event.
What I like to do is carb load the day before, usually with pasta such as a Bolognese. I also like to make sure that I am keeping well hydrated. On the morning of the run I get up nice and early to have some porridge and a banana as well as drinking a couple of glasses of water. I then wait two hours before I start running to make sure that my breakfast is digested.
During my run a take Haribos and Tailwind in my water. Every 5km I have 5 Haribos and then I sip on my Tailwind which is diluted in my water, during my run. That works for me but find out what works for you! Whatever you do NEVER try anything new on race day. This is a big no no and definitely not recommended.
When it comes to carb loading you may find it more beneficial to do it over the week before your run. Starting from 5 days before your race, increasing carbs will benefit your marathon. Slowly increase your carb intake in your meals during the week to be fuelled ready for your race.
Fuel ideas:
Carb loading meal ideas:
- Jacket potato with tuna
- Spaghetti bolognese
- Salmon, rice and broccoli
Breakfast ideas:
- Porridge and a banana
- Eggs on toast
- Bagel with peanut butter
- Pancakes with blueberries and maple syrup
Snack Ideas:
- Dried Fruit
- Energy Bars
- Jelly Babies
- TRIBE
- Clif Bloks
- Flapjacks
- Baby food
Other fuel:
Pacing
Pacing is so important in any race but even more so when you are doing it alone. By the time you get to race day you will have been training for months so should be able to have a good idea of what a good pace would be for you.
To find out your pace for your marathon, use the time in which you have run a half marathon during training or in a race. Double this time and then add 20-30 mins. This is a good time for you to aim for when looking at an estimated finish time. Use this time to then work out what average pace that would be. Here is a pace chart you can use.
At the beginning of your run it can be so easy to go off fast as your legs are feeling good. It is important though to pull your pace back from the outset so that you don’t overdo it. You will get tired towards the end but just keep pushing.
Plan your route
When you are doing a virtual marathon it is not the right day to run somewhere you have never been before. Most people will choose a local route from home or somewhere where they run regularly. The ideal situation would be that you have run all parts of your planned route before. This means that you know what is coming up and plan accordingly.
If you can try and plan your route at least a month before your race. This way you can break the route up, make sure the distances are correct, that the route is suitable and have practiced it already. I like to plan my route with a finish line in mine. I chose Windsor Castle as my ending point and worked backwards.
When planning your route make sure you know what you are wanting to do. You may want to do laps so that you can pick up hydration/ fuel on the way or your may want a route which starts and finishes in different places. There is no right of wrong way to plan your route however, I would say avoid hills wherever possible as they are more tiring. Also try to make it as interesting as possible as otherwise it will be much easier to give up.
Have your playlist sorted
If you are someone who likes to run to music or a podcast, make sure that you have that all planned out. You don’t want to have to be stopping to change it or not know what you want to listen to next.
Some people even like others to pick their playlist for a donation to their chosen charity. This can be quite fun as you could end up listening to all sorts during your virtual marathon.
Health and safety
Without a medical team or marshals on hand, you will need to take some of your own precautions to ensure your safety.
- Always make sure that you have told someone that you are doing the marathon and share with them the route you plan to take along with your planned start and finish time.
- Carry a small first aid kit with you just incase. The things i’d make sure it has in it are blister plasters, normal plasters, pain killers, a bandage and a foil blanket.
- Carry your phone with you. If you are out on your run and something happens you need to be able to call for help.
Know your why
Everyone takes on the challenge of running a marathon for their own reasons. Whether that is for your health, to check it off your bucket list, for charity or for a loved one. Whatever your reason for running your marathon may be, it is important not to forget it. During your run you will need to find your motivation to keep going when it gets tough. The challenge you have set yourself will not be easy. Knowing your reasons why you are doing it is a great way to get you through.
Celebrate when you finish
Running a marathon is such a huge achievement that most people never accomplish. It is not only a physical challenge but also a mental challenge. Once you have finished you will undoubtedly be telling everyone about it for years to come. You will probably be absolutely exhausted and want to sleep for days, but this day might never happen again. Fight the urge to sleep and celebrate your massive achievement with family and friends. You might want to eat a massive chocolate cake, go out for dinner or have a pint or two. In whichever way you choose to celebrate do it your way.
Also never forget to get a phew good photos at the finish line and when your medal arrives in the post. It’s something you might want to look back on. Also you of course want the evidence that you completed the challenge.
Whatever happens on race day, even if it doesn’t go to plan, just go out there and enjoy it! Walked, crawled or run it is such an achievement to complete your virtual marathon. Take the time to recover and maybe in a moment of madness you’ll sign up for your next race.
Rebecca
xx