After the record-breaking 2023 London Marathon, tens of thousands of runners will take to the start line in 2024 - and I'll be one of them.
It will be my fourth time running the long-distance race, something which I'll forever be grateful for. After missing out in the ballot, I've been fortunate enough to be given a media place this year, but that doesn't mean I'm taking it any less seriously.
Last year's marathon brought a record starting field of 49,272. More finished the race than in 2019, when 42,549 crossed the finish line. I wasn't one of those 42,549, having been forced to defer my entry due to injury, but I've taken part in the last three with diminishing returns.
The huge numbers mean many of you reading this will know someone taking part this weekend, whether that's a 'good for age' runner going for a quick time or someone raising money for charity. Watching the hordes of runners cross the capital might convince you to chance your arm in 2025, so here are a few things I've learned which I wouldn't have discovered without training for and running the thing itself.
There's no one size fits all training programme
If you've done a bit of research around marathon running, you've probably been subjected to countless articles about training regimes. There will be variation in how long they say you should start preparing, when you should start winding down ('tapering') before race day, and what else you ought to do along the way.
The simple truth is there's no absolute 'right' way to approach things, because no two people are the same. People will be coming at it from different starting points in terms of fitness and diet, among other things, and it's possible to overtrain as well as not doing enough.
Back in 2019, I probably tried doing too much ahead of what was meant to be my first marathon, not leaving my body enough time to recover after little niggles. I had to pull out just weeks before the start date after limping my way through a half-marathon in March which I definitely should have skipped entirely.
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There have been setbacks in the three marathons since, but I've made it to the start line each time. If you get that far, the odds are you'll make it all the way round, but it's worth preparing in a way that works for you and you shouldn't be afraid to adjust your expectations on the day itself.
That wait at the start is a long one
You've done all of your training, and you've potentially done the same thing for each one. A big breakfast a couple of hours before setting off (I tend to go with cereal and a banana but other options are available), as well as bringing along fuel for the run itself.
For race day itself, it's worth being aware of the big gap between the time you have to arrive and the time you start running. You're expected to show up more than an hour before crossing the start line, and that needs to factor into how early you wake up and how early (and how much) you eat.
You might be coming from outside London, or even from the other side of the city, with an hour or more of travelling time to contend with. Breakfast at home before setting off might not be an option.
Think about bringing along a snack that you can eat a little closer to the start, just in case. Also check the weather forecast and dress appropriately for the time you'll spend waiting around, even if that involves bringing along an old jumper that you can discard at drop-points near the start.
Preparation is key
In the week up to the race, you won't want to do too much. Maybe a light gym session or a very light run, but nothing too strenuous if you can avoid it.
Last year, I was offered tickets to the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley the day before the race. Now, this is unlikely to be a consideration for most people, but my advice would be to avoid that much walking - especially if the team you follow isn't even involved in the game.
If you can get two or more of the following, then you'll see the benefit. 1) A good night's sleep before race day; 2) a big, carb-heavy dinner of your choice (I'm a pizza guy, personally) 3) several nice sit downs across the week.
Oh, and you'll want to be prepared at the start line. You might not always need imodium or nipple tape for your run, but it's best to leave nothing to chance.
The second half isn't like the first half
Say, for example, you're aiming to finish in four hours. You get to the halfway point at Tower Bridge and you've gone through in one hour and 50 minutes - that seems great but you won't want to get carried away.
Most training programmes don't see you run a full 26 miles on your own, so chances are you'll find yourself in unchartered territory towards the end. You might scoff at the suggestion the last six miles are as tough as the first 20, but in my experience that's not far from the truth.
I've taken different approaches on each of my three runs, and every time I've hit a wall of some kind in the latter stages. I've finished each time, but with a noticeably slower pace for the final few miles, often stopping to walk.
The most important thing here is to be prepared for things to get tough, and the second is to keep going - even if that means walking for a bit - as it's so much tougher to stop and then start again. Once the end is in sight, adrenaline can kick in and carry you to the finish.
That finish line might feel very far away if you're struggling when you hit that 19 mile mark around Canary Wharf. Just remember you've run seven miles countless times in training, though, so you have the distance in you even if it might be about to take longer than usual.
Most people *do* finish
It really does bear repeating. If you've made it as far as the start line, you've done most of the work and the statistics vindicate that: around 96 percent of starters made it all the way round in 2023, the first race back in the traditional April slot after the 2020 edition was postponed during the first Covid lockdown.
If you've got a time in mind, you might tell yourself it's important to stay in the zone throughout. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy the surroundings, though, especially if it's your first attempt.
It's incredibly rare to see these parts of London free from cars over the weekend, even if the amount of runners means you can't really call them 'empty'. If you can put the pain to one side - and there will most likely be painful moments along the way - there's plenty to be said for soaking it all in.