Contents

• Before the Marathon
• Race Day
• After the Marathon

Before the Marathon

Why is my marathoner acting funny?

After months of intense training, marathoners “taper” in the weeks immediately before the race, meaning that they cut back on mileage and intensity in order to ensure they’ll be in top form on race day.  This manifests itself in daily life as mood swings, excess energy, occasional irritability, and possibly other unpleasantries. On top of that, the pre-marathon jitters set in, complete with dreams about missing the bus to the start, losing the Champion Chip, tripping just before the finish line or running such a slow time that they miss the coach home.  All in all, your marathoner might not always be fun to be around.  My advice? Be patient and supportive, just as you’ve been all along.  Pre-marathon anxiety is actually a good sign-it means your marathoner’s done everything right.

What nice things can I do for my marathoner in the days before the race?

Give massages, cook carbohydrate-rich meals, and tuck your marathoner in early. You can also sneak a nice surprise into your marathoner’s race-day bag—a note, a photo, or a good luck charm that they’ll come across when they get to the start on Marathon Morning.

Race Day

What will I need during the marathon?

Definitely wear comfortable layers of clothes and comfortable shoes. Be sure you’re prepared for all possible weather conditions - you’ll be outdoors most of the day, and shouldn’t have to suffer! And you will notice that rain more than your marathoner. Bring some money for snacks and transportation. Don’t forget your camera and a watch, and your mobile phone to keep in touch with your marathoner after the race. A rucksack is probably your best option for carrying all this and more (see below).

What should I bring for my marathoner?

Snacks and beverage of their choosing, as well as anything they’ll want for after the race. Find out exactly what that might be - the right flavour energy bar, the exact ripeness of banana, which fleece jacket. Some kind of pain-relief medication could come in handy (again, find out the right kind), as could plasters, sunscreen, Vaseline, extra socks, a hat, and gloves, stretcher, wheel-chair etc etc.

What should I cheer?

Many marathoners wear their names on their shirts. This means they want you to cheer for them.

Some suggestions:

 “Go Strider!” (A bit corny, impersonal & American); “Way to go Strider!” (Even more corny, impersonal & American); “You’re doing great Mary!” or “Keep it up Nick!” are good calls, (Change the name as appropriate). Marathoners will appreciate almost any words of encouragement (including “Looking good!” even if they’re not). Just don’t try to tell them it’s all downhill from here (it isn’t), or that they’re almost there (unless you’re in front of Buckingham Palace).

How can I see the Finish Line?

Well the only real way to see the finish line is on television! The chances of seeing your marathoner cross the line are, well, “Nil”.

After the Race

How will my marathoner and I find each other after the race?

The Reunion Area in Hyde Park is set up to reunite thousands of runners with their fans. It’s a heaving mass of sweaty, knackered runners and tense spectators. To find your runner, you need to agree a really specific location from the map in the marathon magazine. Your marathoner will actually have an easier route to the finish than you will. You may have to fight through vast crowds or cross the course (which can be almost impossible). Mobile phones are handy in case you get held up – your marathoner won’t want to stand around for ages waiting for you, nothing takes the edge off that feeling at the end of the marathon more than waiting for ages to tell someone about it. You could also meet at Cleopatra’s Needle on the Embankment – there will always be other Strider runners and spectators at this point.

Will my marathoner’s moods return normal now?

After the race, your marathoner is likely to have runner’s high for several days. They soak in the experience. Then they’ll come down, and may even sink into the “what now?” state known as marathon depression. Help them to recover by setting new goals to work towards. A suggestion that they can now decorate the bathroom in their spare time should get them out running again. With the solid base of marathon training behind them they should be able to cruise the summer’s 10ks and 5 milers.

What if I want to do the London Marathon?

This feeling, too, is normal, and you should go with it! Many spectators start out wondering how their friends could ever want to run 26.2 miles, and they end up so impressed and inspired that the next they know they’re entering the ballot and reading training guides. It’s called marathon fever, and it’s highly contagious!

Chris Gladwell
News Letter Editor