By in Sports Injury, Sports Physiotherapy

5 Top Tips When Training for the London Marathon 2015

Work at The Body Matters is already starting to focus on the 2015 London Marathon. This will be our 5th great year of being involved with Havens Hospices, helping their Golden Bond runners, those that have committed to run on behalf of Havens, achieve their aim of finishing the London Marathon.

Around this time of the year, those of you who have been successful in getting into marathons may be starting your training programme in the build-up to the day. As the saying goes, half the marathon is just getting to the starting line! For some, the aim is just to “get round and enjoy it”. The Ballot for places was announced in early October and charity runners will be eagerly confirming their places for the start line next April.

Our role in those preparations involves not only caring for sore muscles and joints from the increased training of the runners we see, but also advice on training, rest, kit and nutrition as well as planning for the day itself and what to do afterwards.

We are a multidisciplinary team and if one of us doesn’t have the answer to your issue then we can guarantee one of us will. We work closely together to pool our knowledge and skills to fit individual requirements and preparation for the start line so the run can be enjoyed as much as possible whatever the goal, be it a personal best time or just finishing the course in one piece, be it nursing you through an injury or building confidence if it waivers during training (which is more common than you would think.)

Over the years we have had contact with many runners and enjoyed being part of their journey beyond the day itself. Due to a wealth of actual experience within our ranks, we can offer honest and impartial advice on how to manage your goals for the day whether it’s the first or 50th marathon.

Getting to the starting line uninjured, 100% physically ready and psychologically on point is a tough battle. During your training, it is wise to not only focus on your running. There is a very broad spectrum of meeting the needs for the big day. Below we have written some top tips on getting there injury free!

Top Tips for Marathon Training

Tip #1 Give yourself enough time to train

In my experience, I find that late November to late December seems to be the right time to start training. Your ability level really depends on your start date. The more accustomed to long distances that you are, the later you can start training. There are so many training programmes out there you can follow, but ultimately it comes down to your own ability. If you start a programme drafted up for a 3-hour marathon run and you’ve never even broken the 4-hour mark, then that’s probably going to be a big struggle for you.

Tip #2 Choose a training programme that works for you

Really look into the training programme you want to use. Analyse every run that you take and ask yourself what you need to achieve. You don’t want to come to a training run that you find a breeze, only to end up running for longer afterwards simply because it was too easy. That could itself lead to an injury because you will be overusing muscles too early in the training plan.

Tip #3 Don’t train too hard, too fast

The same goes for finding a distance too long. If you struggle with completing the first few runs, maybe reign back a little and slowly increase distances safely. The distances will only increase from there and if you’re struggling near the start of the programme maybe it’s not the right plan for you. Nobody knows your body better than you, but if it’s a new experience you need to be cautious. A slight niggle on a 5-mile run can feel like a broken leg after 20 miles!

Tip #4 Lay off other cardio activities

Something else to remember is when in training, try to only focus on running as your cardio workout. Possibilities of involving weight training is another topic which in my opinion is a good idea at a low intensity, but if you’re training for a marathon and following a programme, while swimming a mile twice a week or cycling an extra 50 miles a week, it’s not going to do your body any good. Too much training (even if it is spread over different areas) can start to play a problem in your running style and energy levels.

Tip #5 Consider sports therapy

Something not everyone considers is using sports injury therapy alongside your training. It’s not so important at the beginning stages if you have a base fitness in running, but the more uncomfortable with distances you start to feel, it’s strongly advised. I don’t think I can emphasise enough how important it is to see a therapist through your marathon training. It doesn’t have to be a weekly thing, and it doesn’t always have to be a long session. Sometimes just a check-up can not only get on top of any potential issues but also put your own mind at ease worrying about the possible injury before the marathon. As your training increases, your body is going to feel that strain. Therapists can also help you with self-motivation and confidence-building on top of the physical issues you may be having. Mind over matter is one of the biggest things to remember in your training.

If you are running or indeed know anyone who is running a marathon next year, and you want help or advice call The Body Matters on 01702 714 968. Gift Vouchers are available.

Louise