Complete A Marathon
Ticked off in September 2016
26.2 miles, months of training and one finish line that every runner remembers for the rest of their life.
The adventure
The marathon is the distance that makes non-runners shake their heads and runners lose their minds. Its odd length, 42.195 kilometres, comes from the 1908 London Olympics, when the course ran from Windsor Castle to the royal box in the stadium, and the distance was made official in 1921.
Race day is a story in three parts. The first half is excitement, crowds and the fear of going too fast. Around 30 kilometres the famous wall arrives, when your glycogen runs low and every step needs negotiating. And then come the final few miles, where strangers shout the name printed on your vest and the finish arch appears in the distance. Crossing it, you join a club every marathoner understands, whatever the time on the clock.
The idea goes back to the legend of Pheidippides, the Greek messenger said to have run from the battlefield at Marathon to Athens to announce victory.
Why it’s epic
- The official distance of 42.195 km was fixed in 1921, based on the 1908 London Olympic course.
- The biggest marathons, such as London, New York and Berlin, each have tens of thousands of finishers.
- Some races add a twist, like the Marathon du Médoc in France, with wine stops among the vineyards.
- Most first-timers finish in somewhere between four and five hours.
What it is
A marathon is 42.195 kilometres.
How to do it
Follow a 16 to 20-week plan and enter a big race such as London, Berlin or New York.
Top tip
Ballots for major marathons open a year ahead.
Need to know
- Plan 16 to 20 weeks of training, building your long run up to around 20 miles.
- Major marathons run ballots that open up to a year ahead; charity places are the other way in.
- Practise eating and drinking on long runs, as you will need fuel during the race.
Do it yourself
- HotelsBooking.com
- FlightsKiwi.com
- Adventure travel insuranceWorld NomadsWe receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.
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My experience
Ticked off, but the full story is still to be written up.
Over to you
Is “Complete A Marathon” on your bucket list, or have you already done it? Tell me in the comments, and if you've got a question about it, ask away and I'll answer.