The Week Before Your Marathon - A Day By Day Guide

What I take. In my rucksack (which I will keep with me on the plane if I am going abroad) shoes , top, shorts, 240g of carbs in gels and glide stick/nutbutter , in the case 2 bottles of hule (will get bagels or baguettes the day before .. which I will eat in the morning and at the event village then wash down with hule) .. will usually have one change of outfit then alternatives shoes as I can be undecisive .

A bit late with this video for me as I just ran my first 100 mile ultra last weekend. Great advice though!

Hi yes I am doing Chester Marathon 6th Oct then Malta in Feb and finishing at London in April. Legs feel tired but not surprised as I turn 60 next month

Hey Jess, I hope we see in Berlin.
Good luck. By the way, you will crush your PB...

Fab video!! See you in Berlin!!

Top tip: Listen to your body during the race. It's easy to get carried away with so many things. There's crowds, other runners with different paces all around, tons of data on your smartwatch and a semi-arbitrary goal pace that you have in your head and you may not be 100% realistic with it.

4 marathons in, I found that there is nothing more important than listening to your body and setting your pace accordingly. It's been my focus, especially during long runs, so that I can identify different signals and adapt on race day. Being super aware and tentative to what my body tells me on the day guarantees maximum fun and enjoyment (and also has given me my current PB).

Don't get caught up to heart rate zones or pace. Just listen to what your body tells you. Work on it during training.

Running a 10K on Sunday. Got some slight irritation in a foot tendon, so I have to cross train this week, not optimal, but at least I don't miss so much training.

This is so helpful and relatable. I have my first half marathon coming up end October. I especially feel the anxiety of maintaining racepace for that whole long distance! It helps to know that that is common.

Ran Berlin in 2009 and loved it, good luck Jess, you'll smash it! 🏃‍♀️👍

Got my first marathon in Inverness a week on Sunday and nerves are starting to hit

My first marathon in 2 weeks (loch ness) 😬

Jess thank you so much for sharing this very useful information. I am also going for the Berlin Marathon next week 💪😃

Running my first marathon in a month. Amsterdam here we goooo 🎉

Chicago in a few weeks

Good informative and motivational vid!

Destination Berlin, here we go. I’ll be taking an unconventional approach by splitting the ‘race’ into 4 or 5 distinct sections; running, staggering, walking, limping and potentially crawling.

If everything is still attached and working at the finish, I’ll see that as a little victory. And miracle.

GL to all running 👍

Thanks for tips and see you in Berlin :)

Training for a HM and race is on October 6th. Great timing on the video and will plan my week. I am following a Garmin coach program which ends the following week but this video has helped me plan my last week in terms of taper.

Appreciate this video! I'm one month out from my first marathon, the Garmin Kansas City Marathon. Training has gone well and I'm feeling strong 💪

One day, I will b on the start line of marathon one day, and good luck

Hello brilliant video I'm running Amsterdam marathon in 4 weeks xx

Thanks! I have my first marathon on Saturday, and really feel the anxiety😊. The short zone1 runs this week have felt almost impossible. Good to know I'm not alone

Doing Chester Marathon in 2 weeks, this video came out at just the right time

Brilliant, Jess! Fantastic advice. I’ve done plenty of Halfies but I’m trying my first ever Marathon in October in my magnificent home town of Melbourne. I’m running it for my dad, who passed away in February. He always told me to attempt the impossible in life. He’s been with me during my 15 weeks of training on the brilliant Runna app and he’ll be with me on race day. I know he’ll be proud of me.

All the best Jess, you're a star!!
Andy and you (Jess) are such an amazing duo!!

I'm running my first marathon in 5 weeks. The Dublin City Marathon. I joined a running club, which has been very helpful and supportive. This video has helped so much. Thank you 😊

Great video, but seems too optimal 😅I’ve found 4-6 pints two nights before take the edge off. Can I suggest taper month(s) rather than week too

Good facts I Usually run. About 20.4 kms I know that around that I start to get hungry so for a full marathon I would need to pack some food with me I think that is a allowed during a official marathon

Super helpful, thanks Jess! Running my first marathon in October - Melbourne marathon eeek!

Good luck with your marathon Jess. I am confident that you will break 3 hours.

I’ve got my first marathon, The Yorkshire Marathon, in October. Aiming for sub-4hr but getting round is the goal.

See u in Berlin, Jess!

1st ever marathon in Chicago in a 2.5 wks! Love this video! Good luck to everyone- Run Happy and Thanks Jess ❣❣

superbly done video! thank you Je$$

Running my first Marathon in 2 weeks in Melbourne. Finishing the race is the main goal, but anything under 5 hrs would be amazing

Well done. Seconds to spare 😀

Running the twin cities marathon this weekend and this video was perfect to help me during my taper

Just did my first this past weekend - wish id seen this first!

Day before my half marathon and I feel I'm coming down with something. Yikes. Just resting and trying to keep hydrated. also taken a few cold and flu tablets, and of course some vitamins. Nothing more I can do. Such is life.

Second ever marathon at Abingdon on 20th October at the age of 51. Trained for sub-3'15 but will be happy with anything below 3'25. My first was 9 years ago and did nowehere near this level. Great video. Great tips.

Now tapering for Amsterdam Marathon on Sunday... By the way, seems like you flew to Berlin? Please next time take the train. There is an excellent connection between London and Amsterdam and Amsterdam and Berlin. 1000 times better for the environment! You will be on time for the race as well. The more people go by train the better the infrastructure will become. 🙏

Yes, running a Marathon in 10 days

10days out from Dublin, maranoia in full flow lol 😂

I have my first marathon on this weekend oct 27

Such a great video. Everyone should watch this. Simple and straightforward advice

Had a chance to do my 1st marathon this past Sunday. Thanks for all the help

Can someone write a short summary day by day