Today (Sunday 31 December) marks the first day of training for the London Marathon, four months before runners line up on the start line on 21 April 2024.
With most marathon training plans starting from 16 weeks out, the winter months are when the real work begins. Even if that means starting on New Year’s Eve!
Marathoners are being advised to start small and early to build up base miles and avoid common injuries. Week One will typically involve leisurely walks or jogs of up to 60 minutes, increasing to longer runs of 2 hours or more a few weeks into the new year.
Stuart Goulden, of running website Rundure, says:
“Whether you’re aiming for a personal best or to raise money for charity, a well-structured training plan will remove the guesswork from your marathon training by prescribing the exact workouts, paces, and distances needed to cross the line content you’ve given it your best. It will also stop you running too soon, too fast – the most common cause of injury when training for a marathon.
“From personal experience, winter runs can be the most rewarding. Majestic sunrises, crisp air and more peaceful running routes. There’s lots to love about starting your marathon training at this time of year.”
All runners have now been assigned their place in the 2024 TCS London Marathon in a record-breaking year.
For the first time in history, more than half a million applied for a marathon as 578,374 hopefuls entered the ballot for the 2024 TCS London Marathon, setting a new world record.
The first London Marathon took place in 1981 and has become one of the world’s most iconic races. The 26.2 mile route takes in famous London landmarks such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, The Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge and St. Paul’s Cathedral.
