MARATHON GUIDE PLAN FOR 2020 THE BEST RACES TO RUN AT HOME AND ABROAD CHOOSE THE EXPERT ADVICE THE BEST RIGHT EVENT ON HOW TO KIT FOR FOR YOU PREPARE YOUR RUN 80-PAGE SPECIAL ON RUNNING 26.2 MILES Mara Guide 2019 Cover final 1.indd 1 25/10/2019 10:07 MARATHON GUIDE Decisions, decisions be the best fit for you and the extra preparation WELCOME to this latest AW Marathon Guide. If involved should you opt to run abroad. running 26.2 miles is on your mind then you There’s also expert advice and insight from have come to just the right place. elite athletes, while you’ll find tips on nutrition, Have you decided where to run next year? how best to prepare mentally and making Over these pages we’ll take an in-depth look strength training a part of your routine. and provide plenty of information on some of In need of new kit? We’ve put the latest gear the best event options available to you – and to the test as well. So read on and good luck there are plenty to choose from. with whatever your 2020 vision turns out to be. We’ll give you some hints, too, on how to Euan Crumley, work out which one of the many options could Editorial Director CONTENTS 4 How to go about choosing the race that’s 38 From Stockholm to San Sebastian. A the perfect fit for you calendar of international marathons in 2020 6 Take your pick of British marathons 52 Prepare your mind for the marathon taking place in 2020 60 Are you strong enough to tackle the 20 Are you fuelling your run the right way? distance? 26 Elite athletes give their top tips on 68 A close look at the career of Eliud Kipchoge, AW, The Great Run Company, running 26.2 miles the fastest marathon runner in history 235 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7LE 34 Looking to run abroad? Make sure you 74 Paul Freary tests the latest kit to help you web: athleticsweekly.com get your planning right cover the miles in comfort twitter: @AthleticsWeekly email: officemanager@ COVER IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK COVER IMAGE: athleticsweekly.com AW, euan.crumley@ james.byrne n While this AW Marathon The Great Run Company, thegreatruncompany.com @athleticsweekly.com Guide takes every care to help 235 High Holborn, London, readers with training and diet, Advertising Sales Executive: WC1V 7LE Editorial contributor: Peta Bee neither staff nor contributors can Paul Bramley accept responsibility for illness web: athleticsweekly.com Products: Paul Freary [email protected] or injury caused as a result of twitter: @AthleticsWeekly paul.freary@ advice given. We also cannot take email: officemanager@ athleticsweekly.com Publisher: Wendy Sly responsibility for loss or damage athleticsweekly.com wendy.sly@ thegreatruncompany. to supplied material. Advertising com Group Sales Executive: n AW takes no responsibility for Editorial Director: James Byrne © AW 2019. Registered at the the content of advertisements Euan Crumley 07973 290109 Post Office as a newspaper placed in this guide AW MARATHON GUIDE 3 Mara Guide 2019 Contents 2-3.indd 2 24/10/2019 23:24 Mara Guide 2019 Contents 2-3.indd 3 25/10/2019 11:45 MARATHON GUIDE @ATHLETICSWEEKLY UNSPLASH S you will see from this marathon guide which is bulging at the seams Awith superb events that are spread right across the whole of next year, runners are now very much spoiled Take for choice when it comes to running 26.2 miles. The wide range on offer is an undoubtedly wonderful thing but having so many your options can also be a little Decide which overwhelming, especially marathon route when it comes to reaching a you’d like to decision about which start line venture down to make a beeline for. pick With that in mind, here are some things to consider that Never has the choice might help you to make up your mind. of marathons been so wide and varied. There’s Home or away? Location, location, location. lots to consider when it How much travel would comes to choosing the you want to involve in your marathon plans? right one for you You can find a race in just about any country on the planet if you look hard enough, while on British shores there are many Setting a date which to prepare, though that and flat course that helps get You might even want to whatever goal you choose to fantastic events to lace your It’s important to work out might mean also juggling your that big box ticked, or do you ditch the tarmac completely set for yourself. trainers up for that won’t at which point in the year a summer holiday plans with want to tackle a notoriously and tackle a trail marathon Perhaps take a moment rack up the air miles or bring marathon will work best for your session plans. tough route which is chock full in the middle of a mountain and write down a list of what’s potential jet lag into play. you. What works best around of ‘undulations’? landscape. important to you about this Would you prefer to run just Opting for a spring race will work and family life, too? Do the big city marathon journey and your reasons a few miles from your front mean training in the depths crowds drive you on or drive What’s important for doing it. It should help to door or is there a destination of winter, which can be a Plot your course you to distraction? You may to you? clarify your thinking. you’ve always wanted to visit, a great incentive to get in peak Think carefully about what love running in the company Entering a marathon isn’t Remember that no-one race you have always wanted shape in tough conditions, you want from your marathon of tens of thousands of others something to be taken lightly else will be covering the to take part in, that will help while an autumn event will experience. Is chasing a PB at or prefer something a little and you’ll be investing a lot distance for you so make sure motivate you to put in the give you more daylight hours the forefront of your mind, in smaller, with room to stretch of time and vast amounts of you’re lining up for the race training? and warmer temperatures in which case you’ll want a fast out right from the word go. energy in completing you really want to run. 4 AW MARATHON GUIDE AW MARATHON GUIDE 5 Mara Guide 2019 Choose your race 4-5.indd 2 25/10/2019 11:43 Mara Guide 2019 Choose your race 4-5.indd 3 25/10/2019 11:43 MARATHON GUIDE @ATHLETICSWEEKLY MARK SHEARMAN Shakespeare Marathon Rock N Roll Liverpool Enigma Need for Speed The Virgin Money London April 26 Marathon Marathon Marathon will take over the British capital on April 26 shakespearemarathon.org.uk May 23-24 July 25-26 runrocknroll.com/en/events/ enigmarunning.co.uk/ Virgin Money London liverpool events/2020_Need_for_Speed. Marathon shtml April 26 Edinburgh Marathon Festival virginmoneylondonmarathon. May 23-24 Thames Meander com/en-gb/ edinburghmarathon.com August 8 hermesrunning.com/ The Right Move MK White Horse Race thames-meander/ Marathon Weekend June 7 May 2-3 hardmoors110.org.uk/hardmoors- New Forest Marathon mkmarathon.com 26-2-white-horse-trail-marathon September 13 newforestmarathon.co.uk Deep River Rock Belfast Huddersfield Marathon City Marathon June 7 Richmond Marathon May 3 whiterosemarathons.co.uk/ September 13 belfastcitymarathon.com/ huddersfield-marathon.html richmondrunfest.co.uk Three Forts Halifax Marathon Glencoe Marathon Challenge June 28 September May 3 whiterosemarathons.co.uk/halifax- glencoemarathon.co.uk threefortschallenge.org.uk marathon.html Baxters Loch Ness Bewl Water Marathon North Downs Way Marathon Marathon May 9 July 5 October 4 Best of Br it ish hermesrunning.com/bewl-water/ hermesrunning.com/northdowns/ lochnessmarathon.com A selection of marathons taking place in the UK in 2020 Asics Windermere Snowdonia Trail Marathon Stirling Scottish Gloucester Marathon Great Welsh ABP Newport Wales Marathon July 12 Marathon January 19 Marathon Marathon May 17 alwaysaimhighevents.com/ October 11 gloucestermarathon.co.uk April 5 April 19 brathaychallenges.com snowdonia-trail-marathon thestirlingmarathon.co.uk greatwelshmarathon.co.uk newportwalesmarathon.co.uk Portland Coastal MBNA Chester Marathon Manchester Marathon The Tissington Trail Marathon February 2 April 5 Marathon October 4 bustinskin.com/events/portland- manchestermarathon.co.uk April 26 activeleisureevents.co.uk/ coastal-marathon-2020/ nice-work.org.uk/races/the- The PodPlus Kent marathon tissington-trail-marathon Northumberland Spring Marathon Kielder Marathon Coastal Marathon April 5 Blackpool Festival October 4 February 22 nice-work.org.uk/races/ of Running kieldermarathon.com/marathon endurancelife.com/ Kent-Spring-Marathon April 25-26 northumberland runblackpool.co.uk Asda Foundation Brighton Marathon The Baxters Yorkshire Marathon Cambridge Boundary Run Weekend ABP Southampton Marathon Loch Ness October 18 March 1 April 17-19 April 26 Marathon runforall.com/events/marathon/ cuhh.soc.srcf.net/boundary-run brightonmarathonweekend.co.uk abpsouthamptonhalf.co.uk yorkshire-marathon 6 AW MARATHON GUIDE AW MARATHON GUIDE 7 Mara Guide 2019 Britsh marathons 6-7.indd 2 25/10/2019 11:01 Mara Guide 2019 Britsh marathons 6-7.indd 3 25/10/2019 11:02 MARATHON GUIDE Brighton is home to the UK’s third-largest Brilliant marathon Brighton HE Brighton Marathon marathon offers elite runners right before the marathon, Weekend is an exciting the chance to race head to the BM10k offers a fast, flat three-day running head against each other, route and all the atmosphere Tevent, comprising bringing competitive racing and course highlights of the the BM10k and the Brighton back to the forefront of marathon.