Completing the Edinburgh marathon is a giant undertaking that can push your health and your stamina to its limits and leave you with a sense of achievement for many months and years to come. Whether this is your first marathon or your fifth, here is a guide to preparing and completing your dream marathon in Edinburgh.
Before the Marathon…
There are a number of steps that you should take to prepare for the marathon. The first step that you should take to participate is to register your interest. Otherwise, you will not be able to run the marathon as you cannot simply turn up on the day. This allows the organisers to know who to expect and to plan for just how many people will be taking part in the marathon.
Once you have done this, you need to think carefully about the charity that you are going to be raising money for. This should be a charity that a lot of people are interested in donating to and which has had a positive impact on you, your family, or your community. You should check that this charity is genuine, and you should ensure that they have had any scandals associated with them. You might also look at charities that people have run the marathon in aid of before, as this will allow you to get advice and support from them. For instance, you might head to www.macmillan.org.uk to find out more about running for Macmillan Cancer Support and Research.
It is also vital that you book any accommodation that you need, especially if you do not live within a short distance of Edinburgh. This will ensure that you do not come unstuck nearer the time and have to cancel the event because you cannot find anywhere to stay. You should also book your train travel or organise a car share to arrive at your destination with plenty of time to rest beforehand.
Once you have done this, the training can begin. It is vital that you complete training every week for your marathon, even if this is only for half an hour a day. This will keep your body fit and ensure that it begins to retain some muscle memory and stamina to ready itself for the big day.
During the Marathon…
During the marathon, you need to stay hydrated and eat a nutritious breakfast beforehand. This will keep you going and prevent you from feeling faint or sick. You should also take any water offered to you.
Not only this, but it is paramount that you run at a pace that is right for you, otherwise you might burn out quickly and fail to complete the race. It is also important that you soak up all of the cheers that come your way. Instead of letting them throw you, you should allow them to give you the energy that you require to continue.
It is also important that you do not stop at any point unless you feel ill or have injured yourself. If this happens, you should get help immediately. If you stop, it is likely that you will struggle to get going again.
Afterwards…
After the marathon, as well as self-care, you should donate the money that you have received quickly. You should plan in advance how you are going to get this money to them, such as donating online. This respects the people who have donated to you and ensures that the charity can make the most of the money you have raised when they most need it.
Georgina Monk
Since leaving university with an English and Creative Writing degree, Georgina has worked as a freelance copywriter, writing articles on everything from business technology to charitable giving. As well as running her own blog and performing in and writing plays, some of which have been staged in local theatres, she also volunteers at historical houses and enjoys getting out into nature.
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