A regular on the London Marathon course, the Great North Run and Race For Life, if anyone knows how to get the best out of your training it’s Nell McAndrew. Here are her top tips to get you race ready – whatever the distance
1. Sign up for two events in the run up to your race to keep motivation up and to get a taste of the racing environment. It will help you to fine tune things like planning your journey, packing your bags and loo breaks! Wear the kit you’re planning to wear for your main race so you can see if it rubs anywhere. That way you’ll be comfortable and confident when it comes to the main event.
2. Go to a proper running shop and get some kit advice from the experts. Make sure your trainers aren’t too small – go up a half a size, or even a full size if you need to. Also, buy some really good socks that will draw moisture away from your feet to avoid blisters.
3. Vary your training. Aim for three sessions a week; one long, steady run (you should be able to hold a conversation as you run), a faster pace shorter run and one hill shuttle run – go to a hill and jog up and down it - start doing four repetitions, and work up to ten, Those three runs will really increase your fitness.
4. Don’t beat yourself up if you can’t go running every day. Aim for four runs a week and put them in your diary so you can’t avoid them but if some weeks you can only do three, just make them really good quality sessions.
5. Always do one long run every week - it makes a huge difference mentally. Long distance running is a mind game – you can talk yourself into things and vice versa. By putting in some long runs you can create a positive voice that reassures you you can do it!
