{"id":104384,"date":"2025-05-15T20:11:18","date_gmt":"2025-05-15T20:11:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/104384\/"},"modified":"2025-05-15T20:11:18","modified_gmt":"2025-05-15T20:11:18","slug":"ive-run-the-london-marathon-twice-heres-everything-id-tell-a-first-timer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/104384\/","title":{"rendered":"I’ve run the London Marathon twice – here’s everything I’d tell a first-timer"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I signed up for my second London Marathon<\/a>, I thought I knew what I was getting myself into. I\u2019d done it before, after all. But if there\u2019s one thing I\u2019ve learned across both 26.2-mile journeys, it\u2019s this: the marathon distance always humbles you. That\u2019s also what makes it so magical.<\/strong><\/p>\n

London Marathon 2025 was one of the hottest on record. Seasoned runners DNF-ed (did not finish), others walked the final miles, and some – myself included – had to dig deeper than ever before. But despite (and maybe because of) the heat, the challenge, and the sheer chaos of running with 50,000 other people, I wouldn\u2019t change a thing.<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re a first-timer or a returning runner like I was, here\u2019s everything I\u2019d want you to know.<\/p>\n

You don’t have to be fast to belong
\n \"I\u00a9 Georgia BrownI ran my second London Marathon in 2025 and it was my hardest race yet<\/p>\n

This might sound obvious, but it\u2019s easy to forget in the marathon build-up. You scroll through endless tempo run stats on Instagram and get swept up in paces and plans. Me? I run on feel. I may have put in months of hard work into a training plan, but that doesn’t mean I get caught up in chasing split times.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The London Marathon isn\u2019t just for sub-3-hour runners. It\u2019s for people who run because they love it, or they’re running for charity, and you\u2019ll feel that energy in every mile – from the iconic runner in the rhino costume to the thousands of strangers shouting your name.<\/p>\n

Respect the distance
\n \"New\u00a9 GettyMore than 50,000 runners took on the London Marathon in 2025<\/p>\n

Marathon day 2025 was hot. There were ambulances on the course, runners collapsing, and more walking than I\u2019d ever seen. It was a stark reminder: 26.2 miles isn\u2019t just a long run -it\u2019s a beast that demands respect.<\/p>\n

Hydration matters. Fuelling matters. Listening to your body really matters. I slowed down early, took walk breaks, and chucked water over my head at every chance. It wasn\u2019t my fastest race, but it was probably my smartest.<\/p>\n

London crowds will carry you<\/p>\n

The London crowd is unmatched. From the steel drums in Greenwich to the roar at Tower Bridge, there wasn\u2019t a single quiet stretch. People handed out sweets, orange slices, and encouragement like confetti. I high-fived toddlers, danced through hydration stations, and cried in the final mile because the love from the sidelines was that overwhelming.<\/p>\n

And then there\u2019s London itself. In my (admittedly biased) opinion, it\u2019s the best city in the world to run through. You glide past history passing Cutty Sark, Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace<\/a> as you hit the final mile. The TCS London Marathon organisers make it seamless: from the water stations to the volunteer support, every detail is considered. The energy, the safety, the celebration – it\u2019s world-class. If you ever want to fall in love with London again, run it.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s exactly what I wore on race day – and why it worked<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve tested a lot of kit over the years, and on race day, you need stuff you trust. Here\u2019s what I wore and why I loved it:<\/p>\n