London Marathon 2023 Race Stories

I felt really good, I ran a park run at Ferry Meadows the day before and got my second quickest park run when I had planned to take it easy — oops! 

I felt a bit knackered before the race. My legs hadn’t quite recovered from my training, which was made worse when I forgot something on my way to the station. Forced to turn back, I had run a very fast extra mile or so to pick it up. Narrowly avoiding missing the train, I had a few strange looks getting on already red-faced and sweaty!

I was really nervous. I'm always nervous before my races because I typically have a goal time in mind. I want all the hard work and training to pay off. My nerves don't subside until I'm about a mile into my race. Then, I start to calm down and settle into my pace.

My feet were soaked with all the rain which was a minor set back. Yet, the thought of getting to mile 19 helped me through it, because I knew that’s where my run club, Run Mummy Run, were waiting to cheer me on. Seeing a few members of the Runners Need team on the sidelines at around mile 23 also gave me a major motivation boost. 

To top it off, on the final leg of the race I saw my friend Jon running right beside me — I couldn't believe it. With all these people, we managed to somehow find each other. I grabbed hold of him, and we ended up finishing together. It was a great feeling crossing the line hand in hand. 

The most challenging part for me was around mile 18. At this point, exhaustion had started to set in, and I knew I still had another 8 miles to go. To push through, I took an energy gel, drew motivation from the cheering crowds, and avoided looking at my watch. I found a runner who was maintaining a similar pace and I made it my goal to stick with them. 

Mile 16 and 17 were the most challenging for me. My goal was to qualify for the Boston Marathon, and I knew I was on track to do it. I was feeling great and wanted to speed up, but knew I needed to keep a steady pace. Mentally, I had to remind myself that I still had 10 miles to go. If I was still feeling good closer to mile 23, I’d increase my pace. 

When I’m running a race, I try my best to maintain a positive mentality. If I don’t, it’s easy for me to fall off pace and lose sight of my goals. It’s something I practice on long training runs. 

It helps having people there supporting you. With family and friends cheering you on the sidelines, it pushes you need to keep going. Especially on the last few miles, when you’re more likely to tire out.

I learned the importance of being organised pre-race. Next time, I’ll allow myself more time to prepare. Although I thought I had everything ready, the morning of the race turned out to be more time-consuming than I anticipated. Next time I want to avoid any last-minute rushing so I can turn up at the start line feeling more relaxed.

My previous marathon experience impacted how I trained for London. Having “hit the wall” at Mile 20 running the New York Marathon, I knew I needed to focus on my nutrition this time around. Testing foods and nutritional products, I learned what my stomach could handle during long training runs. Through trialling, I found what worked for me.

Stay hydrated, even if it's not hot. I think I didn't drink enough along the course last year. 

At times, I found the noise overwhelming. Next time, I’d pack my headphones to combat this. Listening to my favourite music and zoning out helps me focus during the challenging parts of a run. 

Just go for it. Follow a good training plan and make sure you gradually increase your mileage.  

Prepare for your plan to change, because injuries along the way are likely and dragging yourself out of the door in the freezing cold, dark and wet days to pound the pavement is never easy. However, running a marathon in any time, is an incredible achievement.  

Remember to lift your head, be present in the moment, soak in the surroundings and the amazing atmosphere. It's an unforgettable journey that will stay with you for a lifetime. 

When it comes to training, figure out what works for you. Whether you’re new to running, have only run 5 or 10Ks, or you’re an experienced marathon runner, train for your body and your needs. My longest training run was only 18 miles and that was enough for me. Otherwise, focus on nutritional training and take your "easy days" seriously. 

The London Marathon is an incredible experience. Describing the emotions encountered throughout is challenging; it truly feels like a journey. My advice would be to enjoy the run. Whether you’re looking to qualify for the Boston Marathon, obtain a personal best, or just cross the finish line, the London Marathon was so fun to be part of — regardless of the weather.