So, you’re going to run a marathon?

YouTube blogger Sarah Linney shares her top tips

The biggest running event of the year gets going on Sunday 28th April… we’re talking about The London Marathon, of course!

We’ve teamed up with YouTube blogger and full-time motivator, Sarah Linney @sw_sarahlinney to bring you the best tips on preparing for long distance running, as well as advice on keeping yourself motivated.

Sarah turned big dreams into goals, blogging her incredible weight loss journey, losing 10 stone in just 50 weeks! She now frequently shares her fitness routine and lifestyle (not diet) on her social media — we recommend!

Having only started running a little over a year ago, it wasn’t until Sarah booked her first running event that she even considered herself as a runner (we feel you!). Her motivation came from gaining confidence in showing the world what she has to offer.

Her passion for running and weight training comes from seeing the importance in the physical and mental challenges that running events provide. Sarah has teamed up with All Bar One to give us her 5 top tips on preparing for and running a long distance event such as the London Marathon.

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Sarah’s top tips for long distance training:

1. Have your motive

Everyone that’s passionate about achieving a goal has a motive. Initially, mine was to aid my fitness goals but it grew into so much more. Ask yourself, why do you want to run the race? Dig deep and you’ll start to understand more about yourself.

2. Embrace the fear

Whether it’s your first race or your 100th, running can be daunting. Try to embrace the nervous energy at the starting line then use it to empower you to get the results you have trained so hard for. After all, great things never come from staying in your comfort zone.

3. Consistency (my favourite word!)

Like with most things in life, consistency is key. If you want to become good at something, you have to be able to dedicate and invest time and perseverance to practice your skills.

4. Plan then plan again

You wouldn’t bake a cake without a recipe, so why train for a race without a plan of attack. Be efficient with your training schedule and work toward getting the best possible results. I would suggest a weekly–to-monthly schedule of how many miles you aim to run. Be realistic, keep yourself motivated and you’ll be right on track to achieve your goals.

5. Switch off

Use your training runs and race day as a time to switch off from the world. Let your mind wander. I will often reflect on how lucky I am to have the freedom to get up and achieve things I never thought were possible. The ability to use your training time as a form of therapy is something I wish I had learnt to do years ago.

Of course, there are also some quick training tips that you can do straight away…

Log your runs with Strava (other fitness tracker apps are available too) and watch your pace or distance improve

Find a good pair of shoes AND socks – they make all the difference and let’s face it… blisters are not our friends!

Make a playlist of all your favourite tunes — just like dancing, use the tempo of the beat to get those legs going

Push yourself beyond your expectations — it’s amazing what you can achieve when you start to believe in yourself. You can do it!

 

I hoped you enjoyed my top tips for training for a long distance running event, be sure to check out my YouTube video for more tips and advice.

Sarah

 

Good luck to everyone running the London Marathon on Sunday 28th April and don’t forget to toast your achievement with a complimentary glass of Moët & Chandon champagne at All Bar One. Simply show us your runners medal and use the voucher in your app wallet to redeem this offer.

T&C’s: Enjoy a 125ml glass of Moet Champagne to celebrate running the London Marathon. Available to anyone who has run the London Marathon and shows their medal along with QR code. A draught soft drink is available as an alternative upon request. Only valid on Sunday 28th April 2019.