Sixteen weeks have culminated in this moment. Sixteen weeks of trudging along muddy canal paths, traversing the Welsh hills, and weaving through dawdling tourists in Hyde Park have brought me to the starting line of the 2026 TCS London Marathon in Greenwich this Sunday morning.
I have never attempted the daunting 26.2-mile challenge before, so setting a goal has been a precarious undertaking. How does one determine a 'worthwhile' outcome when venturing into the unknown, while being inundated with endless running content from strangers online who treat the marathon as if it were a casual stroll?
Everyone approaches this question differently, but for me, this marathon has been about more than my Strava statistics. I am running for Brain Tumour Research after a close acquaintance passed away from brain cancer last year. They do remarkable work, and you can learn more about it—and my story—on my fundraising page.
Thus, my objective, the driving force behind these sixteen weeks of training, has been to reach the start line in one piece, to honour the faith of those who supported my fundraising without breaking my body in the process.
To achieve this, I had to find gear that could withstand the relentless grind of marathon training. From running shoes and socks to sports sunglasses and supplements, I tested it all. Here is what helped me, and may help you too.
WHOOP Wearable
Tackling marathon training is not for the faint-hearted, especially for first-timers. You will encounter weekly mileages never before experienced, placing immense physical strain on your body, which can lead to race-ending injuries. Proper recovery is crucial. As someone obsessed with data, the WHOOP fitness wearable proved invaluable for planning my training runs. By tracking sleep performance and health metrics like Heart Rate Variability and strain, it removed guesswork and provided unarguable data, acting as the voice of reason to advise when to push harder or take it easy. Its AI-powered chatbot allows deeper data analysis, helping understand how your body responds to heavy training. As a busy editor with relentless hours, WHOOP offered excellent guidance on balancing work, training, and optimal sleep throughout the block.
Foam Roller and Massage Gun
Like prime Paul Scholes and Roy Keane, my foam roller and massage gun worked in tandem to help me manage the aches and pains of the past 16 weeks. The foam roller is low-tech but demands high discipline to regularly roll out my fragile IT bands. It was used on cold January nights while watching The Traitors, in the garden hoping for spring sun, and after long, gruelling Sunday runs. It is far from comfortable, but you will thank yourself for enduring the monotonous process. The massage gun complements the roller perfectly, allowing targeted treatment of specific 'hot spots'. Tight calves? Sore glutes? Apply the massage gun for 10 to 15 minutes to soothe those pains.
Supplements
Any good car needs quality fuel, and as a mediocre athlete, I needed all the help I could get to navigate 16 weeks without breaking down. What you put into your body during and around training runs is paramount. Fuelling is personal, and people have different preferences, but here is what worked for me without causing an upset stomach.
Precision Fuel PF30 Energy Gels
These 30g carbohydrate gels have been the perfect carb supplement during long runs. I find most gels too sweet and sickly, but the PF30's neutral flavour goes down well. I take one every 30 minutes for a great energy top-up. At £34.99 for a pack of 15, they are pricey, but a cheaper alternative that works for me is Jelly Babies.
SaltStick Fast Chews
These chewable electrolyte tablets help combat cramps and heat stress. I like the peach flavour, but they also offer watermelon and mixed berry alternatives. Precision Hydration's Electrolyte Capsules provide a flavourless option—but ensure you have water to swallow them.
Science in Sport Hydro+ Mixed Berry Powder
When not running, I drink one sachet daily to top up vitamins and minerals like magnesium and potassium lost through sweat. I also integrated a daily collagen regimen for joint structural support after pounding the pavements.
Brick
If you have run a marathon before, you know your social media feeds during training are often flooded with running content. That has certainly been my experience. Sophisticated algorithms tapped into my marathon obsession, supplying TikToks, Reels, and Reddit threads on everything from cadence improvement to race strategy. It can overwhelm, and I fell into the comparison trap countless times—running influencers bombarding my feeds with their personal bests and 'expert' advice caused immeasurable doubt in my own training and ability. Brick acted as my firewall against endless running influencers. This physical tap-to-block device completely locks you out of distracting apps, allowing users to set specific blocking windows during times prone to doomscrolling. It helped me reclaim hours of mental energy that I would otherwise waste on TikTok or Strava, agonising over my pace compared to others. Brick was a game-changer, letting me lean into my own marathon journey. Of course, you can always 'unbrick' apps when needed—I often did to engage with fellow runners discussing London Marathon arrangements. But it gives you the control to dip your toe in as and when you want.
Non-Alcoholic Beers
Early in my WHOOP journey, a clear correlation emerged: my sleep scores were wrecked after drinking, significantly impacting recovery. So early in this training block, I decided to forgo beers and seek sleep-friendly alternatives. Erdinger's Alkoholfrei beer holds legendary status among runners for its 'recovery' powers. It is an isotonic drink loaded with B vitamins, providing a good post-workout boost while tasting crisp and refreshing. Athletic Brewing Co.'s range was also a revelation. Their Run Wild IPA actually tastes like a craft beer rather than a sugary soft drink, and if you are not a Gooner and can overlook the Arsenal branding, their Clock End Red Ale is brilliant. I ditched alcohol for this training block, and Athletic Brewing Co.'s range provided the perfect alternative.
