February 28, 2025 • 25 mins
Unlock the secrets of the TCS London Marathon's vibrant history and the electrifying spirit that captivates both runners and spectators alike. Join me, Coach Christine, along with Ashley from Mystical Dream Travel, as we journey through the iconic streets of London, sharing insider tips and fascinating stories about this legendary race. From its inception by visionaries Chris Brashear and John Disley to its impressive legacy of raising over 1 billion British pounds for charity, the London Marathon is a testament to community and camaraderie.
Get ready for some cheeky pub anecdotes, tales of fancy dress runners, and strategies to handle the notorious springtime weather.
We'll guide you through the scenic marathon route, starting in picturesque Greenwich Park and culminating near Buckingham Palace, with helpful advice on pacing and hydration.
Whether you're targeting a personal best or running for the sheer joy of it, our discussion includes navigating mixed mile and kilometer markers, managing on-course fueling, and the crucial role of volunteers.
As a special treat, we preview the next World Marathon Major, sparking excitement for upcoming races.
Want to keep this "major" conversation going? Join the Women of the World Marathon Majors or the Stride Collective.
Lace up and let the camaraderie and excitement of the London Marathon fuel your own running dreams.
Have questions or want to chat? Send me a text!
Join the newsletter list for updates, special offers, and exclusive behind-the-scenes content.
Join fellow pod and running enthusiasts at The Stride Collective community on Facebook or follow us on Instagram.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey friends, welcome back to Extraordinary Strides,
where we lace up, lean in andchase extraordinary feats around
the globe.
I'm your host, coach Christine,and today we're taking you on a
royal tour through the streetsof London, home to the TCS
London Marathon.
Afternoon Tea and maybe a fewcheeky pub stops or at least
definitely for me that soundslike so much fun.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Christine, I'm Ashley from Mystical Dream Travel and
I'll be your tour guide today.
Get ready for fun facts,insider tips, a few Harry Potter
references, because we'reheading to one of the most
spectacular marathons in theworld, where the spirit of
community, tradition and fancydress runners come alive.
Runners come alive.
(00:47):
Whether you're planning to earnthat Abbott world marathon
major star or just love rentingbanter.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
We've got you covered and we're going to ask you to
stay connected with us, eitherin the stride collective, which
is the podcast community page,or women of the world marathon
majors on Facebook, becausewe've got tips, we've got more
conversation coming your way andmaybe even an invite or two for
those post-race fish and chips,maybe, if not at London, at
least definitely Epcot.
(01:11):
So grab your trainers and let'shit the streets of London
Friends.
So we're going to start with alittle bit of where it all began
.
Right, I mean, this LondonMarathon has become iconic.
It's definitely one of myfavorites.
But before we get into it, Icould not have an episode
without asking you, ashley,where does this rank on your
excitement level?
For you I know that we spokeBoston is at the very top of
your level of excitement.
Tokyo is a little bit lowerdown there.
Where would we have London onthis one?
Speaker 2 (01:33):
I think this one's a little bit above Tokyo but still
more towards the end.
You know, still an iconic race.
But I just I don't know I feellike of the world marathon
majors that are overseas for us.
I feel like I'm more excitedfor Berlin than London.
(01:56):
Okay, it's still classic and alot of history and the race, but
I don't think it has enough tokind of overturn the other ones.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Oh, you may change your mind when you make it to
the mean streets of London, myfriend, but we will see.
I can't wait to have thatconversation on the flip side of
things.
But for now, we are going totalk about the fact that London
Marathon was founded in 1981 byChris Brashear and John Disley
after they were inspired by theNew York City Marathon.
So Brashear wrote an articlefor the Observer and he called
the marathon the greatest folkfestival the world has ever seen
(02:31):
.
And while I love that vision, Ican 100% concur that that's
exactly what he turned theLondon Marathon into, because
that is exactly what it feelslike when you run it.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
In its first year there were over 20,000 runners
that applied, but only 6,747were accepted.
That is a very specific number.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
You know, what's funny is that I still feel like
these are the kinds of odds thatyou get.
Actually, the odds are probablyeven better back then and it's
still astronomically small incomparison.
It's wild, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
But today the London London Marathon is one of the
world's most competitivemarathons to get into and its
fundraising legacy is definitelyunmatched.
Runners have to raise over 1billion British pounds for
charity because of or since itsinception, with 67 million
British pounds raised just lastyear.
(03:27):
That's some big numbers.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
I mean, it's incredible to me, it just blows
my mind, and they're incrediblyproud of that.
So we'll talk a little bit moreabout that as well.
But when can people expect toprepare for their London
Marathon foray?
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Yeah, the London Marathon is in late April.
It's springtime, so obviouslyyou have all of the wonderful
things that come with spring,including spring allergies but,
also your temperatures.
So this is, I think, one of themore gamble races.
So the temperatures aretypically 45 to 65 degrees
(04:05):
Fahrenheit.
However, if you've ever heardthe place British weather, you
know it can be anything fromsunshine to drizzle within a
mile.
So make sure that you arepacking your layers and being
ready for anything, as, likemany of the world majors, that
happened in the spring.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
You know, I feel like I must have gotten relatively
lucky because I had gorgeousweather for most of the races
that we've chatted about, butI'm not going to brag about that
.
I think it's time for a littlebit of fun facts.
You were telling us about allof that money that's been raised
, so what do you have up yoursleeve about all that, ashley?
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Yeah.
So there's so many wonderfulfun facts about London and the
London Marathon, but did youknow that the London Marathon
holds the Guinness World Recordfor the largest annual
fundraising event?
Speaker 1 (04:55):
I feel like I mean, not only did I kind of I know
that they have a lot offundraising and that just a big
angle for fundraising, but theydo tons of different world
records there.
Like, I think when I was therethere was somebody who was
dribbling a basketball whilethey were running trying to
break that record and then therewas somebody running like the
tallest Big Ben costume.
It's just insane.
It's like a feast for the eyes.
(05:16):
Yeah, but that's so wonderfulbecause there's so many people
supporting charities and theirmissions Seriously and in such a
very fun way and I think, againto show even the spirit of the
London marathon.
Uh, I love the fact that duringthe inaugural race in 1981, the
men's race ended in a tiebetween Dick Beardsley and Inge
Simonson and they crossed thefinish line holding hands, which
(05:38):
makes me, I mean, that's greatcamaraderie in spirit, but also
so iconically London.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Absolutely, and that's, I mean, speaks volumes
for the running community.
There's so many people thatit's not a competition.
It's everybody's there for thesame reasons and having fun, so
just kind of ties back to thatlovely group of family that we
have.
Yep, absolutely.
Did you know that the LondonMarathon is famous for its fancy
(06:06):
dress runners?
Every year you see runners incostumes ranging from giraffes,
rhinos to Big Ben.
Yes, somebody actually ran asthe clock tower.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
I think it was the only way that I was actually
able to see Big Ben when I wasthere, because Big Ben was under
renovation.
So, thankfully to all therunners that decided to don the
costume, it felt like I was ableto still get in that classic
London experience.
This is the one time where Ican say that these rhinos that
were dressed in full rhinocostumes like it does humble you
a little bit to know thatyou're being overtaken on the
(06:41):
course by someone wearing like aI don't know at least a 45
pound costume, and they'remaking it look easy.
But again, all about raisingthose dollars and having a lot
of fun when they do it.
This is actually, though, whilewe're talking about having a
lot of fun, it does have quite abit of course records to chat
about, because it is a fast racestill, maybe not as flat and
(07:02):
fast as Berlin and Chicago, butstill it does have a lot of
particulars.
It allows you to go a littlebit quicker as you're out there,
if that is your jam.
The men's course record isKelvin Kipton at two oh one, 25.
That was set in 2023.
I love.
The women's course record isstill held by Paula Radcliffe at
two 1525 from 2003.
(07:24):
And I always wonder if this isgoing to be the year that it
gets broken.
And then we've seen the men'swheelchair record, marcel Hug
he's just absolutely a dynamiteon the course 123.44 for 2023.
And the women's wheelchairrecord by Catherine DeBruner
138.24.
Recently she just set that in2022.
Those are some incredible,incredible numbers and obviously
(07:52):
marathon times like when I lookat these and we should run them
that quickly, and then youcould go cheer everybody else on
right oh, but then we do havethe golden question for these
races how do you gain entry intothe London Marathon?
Speaker 2 (08:11):
So there are a few different options for this race.
Much like any of the others,there is a general ballot, but
this one is very different thanthe others because it is very
highly competitive.
As we saw in the earliernumbers, the odds are only
around two percent they actuallygain entry, which is insane for
(08:33):
the amount of runners in theworld today.
There is also the option, ofcourse, for a charity entry.
We we know they're big for this, so this is is a great race for
testing that charityfundraising out.
There is also a good for age,so if you meet a qualifying time
at a certified marathon, youcan gain entry into the London
(08:56):
Marathon.
They also have the Abbott WorldMarathon major draw for runners
with three to six major starsmarathon major draw for runners
with three to six um major stars.
So obviously want to make sureyou are registering on their
website so you have theopportunity to do this.
And then they also do have thetour packages.
This is something that is greatfor a lot of people.
(09:17):
I know a lot of people that umuse this to get into the races.
So if you are travelinginternationally and book with an
official tour operator that cankind of give you the whole deal
, that is a great option to getinto the London Marathon as well
, absolutely, and I think thatwhat we should take into
consideration is because thatGFA is only allowable for the
(09:38):
residents of the UK.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
That people sometimes get frustrated with, like, well
, if I'm a resident of thecountry, I can't book these
international tours.
But again, this kind of evensthat playing field where maybe
you can't utilize your GFA whichis kind of like their version
of VQing but you can still gainan international tour package
option that residents of the UKcannot use.
So I think it kind of evens theplaying field and if there is a
(10:00):
will, there is a way to getinto your golden ticket of this
Willy Wonka fund that is theLondon Marathon.
So, as we've mentioned beforeand I think it's near and dear
to both our hearts is, if youdon't get into the ballot, you
could do the charity system.
It's really truly one of themost robust in the world.
These teams are extraordinaryin how they can support you and,
ashley, I'm going to ask you,because you've done fundraising
(10:22):
quite a few times Do you feelthat it adds an a layer of
complexity or, for you, do youfeel like it's just it gives you
so much more of a pep in yourstep during training and the
actual race.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
I think it gives you a little bit more meaning to all
of your training miles.
You have something that youknow you're supporting a group
of people that might notnecessarily have this support
otherwise, so you're kind ofsupporting that mission.
A lot of them have a lot ofgreat missions out there, but
(10:54):
finding one that speaks to yourheart makes it easy out there.
But finding one that speaks toyour heart and makes it easy, um
, it's not an additionalchallenge or a layer to uh your
training or anything like that,because it comes very natural,
um, and you're, when I'm lacingup my shoes, I know, okay, I'm
running for this reason and thisis why I'm coming out here,
like I have more purpose to whatI'm doing, um, which makes me
(11:17):
like kind of lights that thatfire under my butt to keep on
going.
You know it's not time to giveup, because these people don't
have the option sometimes togive up.
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
I love that, I love that perspective, and if you are
thinking, you know what?
I don't want anything more inmy life than to just I want to
run London in a rhino costume.
Do you know that you can dothat with Runwood Charity,
because actually that would belike the World Wildlife
Federation.
So look into the things thatkind of make your heart tick, as
exactly Ashley said, becausethere is a lot of fun across the
board to be had.
So, not looking at it assomething that you have to do,
(11:47):
but something that you have awonderful opportunity to do.
But we're going to talk a littlebit about the course layout,
because it is a scenic tour ofLondon.
The race is going to start inGreenwich Park and it finishes
at the mall right nearBuckingham Palace, and along the
way you're going to pass someof the most iconic landmarks,
like Cutty Sark, where again youcan wave to the 19th century
(12:10):
ship, tower Bridge, canary Wharfand the Tower of London and the
mall.
I mean, if you can even seethese things though, because the
throngs of spectators are huge,so you may actually have to
just kind of aside from theTower Bridge.
A lot of these are going to beswamped by people.
You are going to have all ofthe good vibes people cheering
(12:30):
you on.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
Absolutely.
And for those that havespectators, just make sure you
remember that the mile markersaren't in miles, but your timing
splits post race will be inkilometers, so don't panic when
you see both.
You are correct, but they douse two different measurements.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
You know I do love that.
Actually, I love when races aredone in kilometers, because I
love not knowing Like I mean Ijust want to like go out there
and enjoy myself and somethingabout not hitting like that wall
that you associate withspecific mileage is a lot of fun
.
But again, I didn't really seea lot of the course mile markers
just because it was, so I meanit was truly a feast for the
(13:14):
senses.
Now, this one is one of theraces where, if you are back of
the pack, there is a more cushytime limit.
It's an eight hour course limit.
But don't be lulled intocomplacency.
The course has rolling cutoffsand you do need to maintain a
steady pace to avoid being swept.
But I do think that they'veworked really hard in the past
few years to really remedy someof the previous issues they may
(13:37):
have had with closing up thecourse early.
So I think that now they havedefinitely come a very long way
of making sure that it isinclusive and a full party, no
matter what pace you run.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
And before you can tow up to that start line, to
even get to your race, you dohave to go to the expo race.
You do have to go to the expo.
So the expo is held at ExcelLondon, where you will pick up
your bag, check out the gear,attend any pre-race seminars,
meet your friends and family Ifthey might not be traveling with
(14:09):
you.
This is a great place to kindof hang out, see some of the
stuff that they have to offer.
But don't forget to stay off ofyour feet.
That is another thing to keepin mind.
I know we go to the expos andsee the shiny new things and
completely forget that we needto sit for a little while.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
I feel so seen in this, I feel so seen For the day
before London.
I think I put in like 20 mileson my feet.
We walked and walked and walked.
So do not do that.
That's definitely I would notadvise that.
But because the weather is sodrastically hard to predict, the
expo is a great place that ifyou are concerned of leaving
something behind, whether rainor shine, you can, if you didn't
(14:50):
pack it likely find somethingat the expo.
But let's talk about theon-course fueling and hydration.
Water is available at waterstations every two miles,
starting at mile two, and waterstations this is something that
I had difficulty with they'renot always directly on the mile
markers, so, runners, you reallyneed to be on the lookout for
(15:11):
them, because I truly missed atleast six of the water stations.
So that's something to takeinto consideration.
They do offer them in waterbottles with little drink spouts
, so you might want to practicethat or, again, if you feel more
comfortable, carrying your own.
And their electrolyte drink ofchoice is Lucozade and it's kind
of similar to GatoradeEndurance and it has about 32
(15:33):
grams of carbs with 250milligrams of sodium per 16
ounces.
But again, if you've beenpracticing with something else,
you can take your own hydrationon the course or order it on
Amazon and start practicing withit.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
And they do have energy dolls also available on
the course.
These are towards the end ofthe race.
After that kind of halfwaypoint, runners can have time,
can time their gels so they canwash them down with water at
nearby water stations, becausethey do plan that accordingly.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Or you can do what I did and just go into a
convenience store and grabyourself a beer.
I mean, literally, I missed thewater stations and I needed
hydration, so why not I?
Speaker 2 (16:12):
mean, you only run it once.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
Exactly, but most runners are only once, so you
got to do it so truly.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
If you don't want to Exactly, maybe once more, but
most runners are only once, soyou got to do it so truly.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
If you don't want to be unprepared like I was, you're
going to want to carry thathydration pack, that handheld or
that waist belt Specifically, Ithink and I've mentioned this
in the back of the pack.
If you are back of the packsometimes it's just it gives you
a bit of that comfort to knowthat you've got your water on
you in case you do miss a waterstation.
But again, one of the thingsthat I think we've talked about
before, ashley, is like the bestway to tackle a water station
(16:43):
is, of course, to slow it down,time it with your your walk
break, or take your walk breakand then make eye contact with a
volunteer that you're planningon taking it from, give them a
good thank you and grab yourwater and or your gel and keep
going.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Absolutely.
We wouldn't have these raceswithout the so many volunteers
that are out there.
So I always definitely makethat a purpose to thank as many
of them as I possibly canbecause they truly.
I mean, we're out there running, so the race wouldn't happen if
we weren't running, but wewouldn't be out there running if
we didn't have them.
So, volunteers, thank youEverybody out there.
(17:18):
If out there running if wedidn't have them.
So volunteers, thank youEverybody out there.
If you ever get a chance tovolunteer, definitely do it,
because it is very humbling tosee the amount of people that do
truly appreciate it, and I knowI do.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Yeah, I do too.
Now, you mentioned spectatorsearlier on, so tell me, where do
we find our friends and familyon this gorgeous, incredible
course?
Speaker 2 (17:35):
So for anyone that has their family and friends
coming along with them, theCutty Sark is a great spot early
in the race.
The right after the towerbridge is one of the most iconic
spots to meet up with yourrunners.
The embankment is just beforethe final push so you can make
sure you're cheering them on,getting them that extra little
(17:56):
pep in their step to get itthere, and then the mall, which
is the obviously coveted finishline area.
So making sure you're cheeringthe runners completely through
the finish shoot and watchingthem get that lovely metal dawn.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
Actually these are all four of the spots that I had
my spectators at for the record.
So you, like you nailed that inregards to these are really
wonderful suggestions because,specifically with Tower Bridge,
the course is going to kind ofgo in and out, where they're
going to have to kind of cross,maybe underneath, through the
tube, but you can see them acouple times around there.
Cutty Stark, it is a madhouse,but if you plan it accordingly,
(18:33):
you can definitely find themthere as well.
And, of course, who doesn'twant to see their other half or
their family and friends waitingfor them at the finish line?
Again, extraordinary race, tonsof spectators.
So, whether you're travelingwith friends or family, just
know that you already haveeverybody there at London is
cheering you on.
But how are they getting around?
And how are we getting aroundAshley?
Speaker 2 (18:51):
Yeah.
So the London Tube system isyour best friend for this race
and anything around there, soyou're going to want to grab
your oyster card or use contactpayment to hop on and off easily
.
The riverboat is also awonderful thing.
It's fun and scenic option forthose to view the sites before
(19:12):
or after the race withoutspending too much time on your
feet.
If you're not a fan ofsightseeing from the water,
there is a ability to book adouble-decker tour and hop on,
hop off bus.
These are wonderful.
I love seeing them around thePittsburgh area.
It kind of gives you adifferent viewpoint of the city,
(19:33):
but I love that ability to hopon, hop off If you see something
you love just get off and itsaves your legs and you still
get an opportunity to see thesite.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
Because, I mean, let's be honest, for a lot of us
, these are destinations thatwe're going to, and if we do get
a chance to go back, it mightbe seen from a whole different
way.
So I think those are awesomeopportunities.
Now we're going to stay.
We've chatted about at eachevery episode.
We're going to keep talkingabout that, because it really is
all about personal preference.
There are folks that like tostay close to the start Again,
this is not this is a point topoint, course with a few out and
(20:05):
backs as well.
So you could start close, oryou could stay close to the
start at Greenwich.
You could stay close to CanaryWharf, which is kind of more of
in the middle, or you could stayit's a little bit after the
middle, I should say a littlebit after Tower Bridge, which is
the halfway point, or you couldstay close to the finish line
in Westminster.
So it's ideal for sightseeingafter the race as well, Again,
(20:28):
knowing that the city does shutdown for this race, like it does
for most of the all the majorcities do.
So you're going to be able toget around rather easily
regardless well around the worldfor many runners.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
So there are some must-see things that you can't
see anywhere else.
So the first thing isdefinitely make sure you are
riding the London Eye, kind ofgive you a different perspective
of things.
Visit the Tower of London,which is seen in so many movies
I know the first one that comesto mind for us Disney folks is
Peter Pan.
Now, the first one that comesto mind for us Disney folks is
(21:04):
Peter Pan.
Or you can also tour theBuckingham Palace.
There's so many lovely thingsto see and so much history in
this area that you definitelywant to make sure you see.
And then there's also a way toreward yourself after the race
because we just ran all thesemiles.
So make sure you are doing anafternoon tea or you can hit a
(21:27):
pub for some lovely fish andchips.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
Yeah, I love this.
You know, I am so disappointedthat I did not go to Tower of
London.
So now, when you go back to doLondon and I go to cheer you on,
I'll have to make that happenfor myself, because I'm like, oh
, I didn't do Tower of London, Ishould have made that happen.
But again, there to tower oflondon, I should have made that
happen.
Um, but again, there's alwaysopportunities, hopefully, to
come back to some of thesereally iconic locations.
So, with that said, one of thethings that london is well known
(21:51):
for is that they do have.
It is a world-class city withworld-class cuisine.
But if you want to try some ofthe things that they're very
well known for fish and chips,sunday roast chicken, tikka
masala, which I love so much,sticky toffee pudding, and we
mentioned that afternoon teawith scones and clotted cream I
think it's pretty iconic for,especially for us Americans that
(22:11):
maybe have a little bit ofAnglophile kind of tendencies,
where we are a littleenthusiastic about the customs
that we don't really have in ourday to day basis.
Now, when we talk to friendsfrom across the pond, ashley,
one thing that I figure is likewhile we're talking English, I
don't understand some of theterms that they're using,
especially when we're talkingabout running or our day to day.
(22:32):
So you tell me, do you have anyterms that you've heard of from
runners that you or from otherfriends across the pond that
kind of come in mind to you?
Speaker 2 (22:41):
So the best one, I thinkancy Dress.
This is costumes galore.
There's superheroes, animals,big Ben, you name it, you can
find it, and then there's alsoCheeky Nando's.
This is the perfect post-raisemeal at your British fast food,
(23:02):
which is very interesting.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
Yeah, there's a few other ones that kind of come to
mind.
So have you heard like UKrunners call it, their like gear
, their kit?
Yes, yeah, so that's likealways a really fun one to kind
of hear.
I'm like I don't know whatyou're talking about my kit, I
don't need a first aid kit.
So I'm like I'm okay, I promiseI may look like I need one, but
I'm fine.
But yeah, so kit comes to mind.
And of course, park run, whichreally did take like it's huge
(23:27):
over in the UK not quite sopopular down here, but maybe a
little.
Finding your local park run isa great way to do a shakeout or,
if you're staying for a littlebit longer, want to do a little
bit of recovery run, since it isnot a pace style run, it is
something where you're kind ofrunning at your pace and for
your joy.
There's a few things like doyou watch any of the things that
(23:49):
are like more British, like areyou into the Crown or, I don't
know, bridgerton, any of thosekinds of things?
Speaker 2 (23:56):
No, but I know they're.
They're very popular and I haveto tell myself that I haven't
watched a lot of them, so Ican't say that, hey, you're busy
running.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
Yeah, you're busy running and watching.
Run Disney, I got you, I gotyou.
Or maybe they're wrist to cats,right, are they?
Were they in the UK?
Were they in France?
Oh gosh, I should have checkedthat before I actually did it,
but anyway, of course you canadd some incredible things to
your playlist.
London calling by the clash,god save the queen and we are
(24:26):
the champions I think these areall classics.
Incredible things to yourplaylist.
London Calling by the Clash GodSave the Queen and we Are the
Champions.
I think these are all classicsto add to your playlist.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
Absolutely Now, friends.
We are not quite done seeingthe World Marathon majors.
But that is a wrap on theLondon Marathon.
We are aiming for a personalbest or planning to run it for
fun.
London is an experience thatyou won't want to forget.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
It really is incredible, but we're going to
ask you to join us next time aswe make our way to well,
actually, to maybe the latestand greatest and the newest of
the World Marathon majors, wherewe're going to have a big, long
discussion.
If it's considered a spring,winter or summer, we're going to
see.
We're going to chat about itnext time.
You're going to want to meet usthere.
So, with that said, friends,don't forget to connect with us
(25:09):
at the Stride Collective orWomen of the World Marathon
Majors on Facebook.
Until then, keep strivingtoward the extraordinary.
Hey friends, welcome back to Extraordinary Strides,
where we lace up, lean in andchase extraordinary feats around
the globe.
I'm your host, coach Christine,and today we're taking you on a
royal tour through the streetsof London, home to the TCS
London Marathon.
Afternoon Tea and maybe a fewcheeky pub stops or at least
definitely for me that soundslike so much fun.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Christine, I'm Ashley from Mystical Dream Travel and
I'll be your tour guide today.
Get ready for fun facts,insider tips, a few Harry Potter
references, because we'reheading to one of the most
spectacular marathons in theworld, where the spirit of
community, tradition and fancydress runners come alive.
Runners come alive.
(00:47):
Whether you're planning to earnthat Abbott world marathon
major star or just love rentingbanter.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
We've got you covered and we're going to ask you to
stay connected with us, eitherin the stride collective, which
is the podcast community page,or women of the world marathon
majors on Facebook, becausewe've got tips, we've got more
conversation coming your way andmaybe even an invite or two for
those post-race fish and chips,maybe, if not at London, at
least definitely Epcot.
(01:11):
So grab your trainers and let'shit the streets of London
Friends.
So we're going to start with alittle bit of where it all began
.
Right, I mean, this LondonMarathon has become iconic.
It's definitely one of myfavorites.
But before we get into it, Icould not have an episode
without asking you, ashley,where does this rank on your
excitement level?
For you I know that we spokeBoston is at the very top of
your level of excitement.
Tokyo is a little bit lowerdown there.
Where would we have London onthis one?
Speaker 2 (01:33):
I think this one's a little bit above Tokyo but still
more towards the end.
You know, still an iconic race.
But I just I don't know I feellike of the world marathon
majors that are overseas for us.
I feel like I'm more excitedfor Berlin than London.
(01:56):
Okay, it's still classic and alot of history and the race, but
I don't think it has enough tokind of overturn the other ones.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Oh, you may change your mind when you make it to
the mean streets of London, myfriend, but we will see.
I can't wait to have thatconversation on the flip side of
things.
But for now, we are going totalk about the fact that London
Marathon was founded in 1981 byChris Brashear and John Disley
after they were inspired by theNew York City Marathon.
So Brashear wrote an articlefor the Observer and he called
the marathon the greatest folkfestival the world has ever seen
(02:31):
.
And while I love that vision, Ican 100% concur that that's
exactly what he turned theLondon Marathon into, because
that is exactly what it feelslike when you run it.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
In its first year there were over 20,000 runners
that applied, but only 6,747were accepted.
That is a very specific number.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
You know, what's funny is that I still feel like
these are the kinds of odds thatyou get.
Actually, the odds are probablyeven better back then and it's
still astronomically small incomparison.
It's wild, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
But today the London London Marathon is one of the
world's most competitivemarathons to get into and its
fundraising legacy is definitelyunmatched.
Runners have to raise over 1billion British pounds for
charity because of or since itsinception, with 67 million
British pounds raised just lastyear.
(03:27):
That's some big numbers.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
I mean, it's incredible to me, it just blows
my mind, and they're incrediblyproud of that.
So we'll talk a little bit moreabout that as well.
But when can people expect toprepare for their London
Marathon foray?
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Yeah, the London Marathon is in late April.
It's springtime, so obviouslyyou have all of the wonderful
things that come with spring,including spring allergies but,
also your temperatures.
So this is, I think, one of themore gamble races.
So the temperatures aretypically 45 to 65 degrees
(04:05):
Fahrenheit.
However, if you've ever heardthe place British weather, you
know it can be anything fromsunshine to drizzle within a
mile.
So make sure that you arepacking your layers and being
ready for anything, as, likemany of the world majors, that
happened in the spring.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
You know, I feel like I must have gotten relatively
lucky because I had gorgeousweather for most of the races
that we've chatted about, butI'm not going to brag about that
.
I think it's time for a littlebit of fun facts.
You were telling us about allof that money that's been raised
, so what do you have up yoursleeve about all that, ashley?
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Yeah.
So there's so many wonderfulfun facts about London and the
London Marathon, but did youknow that the London Marathon
holds the Guinness World Recordfor the largest annual
fundraising event?
Speaker 1 (04:55):
I feel like I mean, not only did I kind of I know
that they have a lot offundraising and that just a big
angle for fundraising, but theydo tons of different world
records there.
Like, I think when I was therethere was somebody who was
dribbling a basketball whilethey were running trying to
break that record and then therewas somebody running like the
tallest Big Ben costume.
It's just insane.
It's like a feast for the eyes.
(05:16):
Yeah, but that's so wonderfulbecause there's so many people
supporting charities and theirmissions Seriously and in such a
very fun way and I think, againto show even the spirit of the
London marathon.
Uh, I love the fact that duringthe inaugural race in 1981, the
men's race ended in a tiebetween Dick Beardsley and Inge
Simonson and they crossed thefinish line holding hands, which
(05:38):
makes me, I mean, that's greatcamaraderie in spirit, but also
so iconically London.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Absolutely, and that's, I mean, speaks volumes
for the running community.
There's so many people thatit's not a competition.
It's everybody's there for thesame reasons and having fun, so
just kind of ties back to thatlovely group of family that we
have.
Yep, absolutely.
Did you know that the LondonMarathon is famous for its fancy
(06:06):
dress runners?
Every year you see runners incostumes ranging from giraffes,
rhinos to Big Ben.
Yes, somebody actually ran asthe clock tower.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
I think it was the only way that I was actually
able to see Big Ben when I wasthere, because Big Ben was under
renovation.
So, thankfully to all therunners that decided to don the
costume, it felt like I was ableto still get in that classic
London experience.
This is the one time where Ican say that these rhinos that
were dressed in full rhinocostumes like it does humble you
a little bit to know thatyou're being overtaken on the
(06:41):
course by someone wearing like aI don't know at least a 45
pound costume, and they'remaking it look easy.
But again, all about raisingthose dollars and having a lot
of fun when they do it.
This is actually, though, whilewe're talking about having a
lot of fun, it does have quite abit of course records to chat
about, because it is a fast racestill, maybe not as flat and
(07:02):
fast as Berlin and Chicago, butstill it does have a lot of
particulars.
It allows you to go a littlebit quicker as you're out there,
if that is your jam.
The men's course record isKelvin Kipton at two oh one, 25.
That was set in 2023.
I love.
The women's course record isstill held by Paula Radcliffe at
two 1525 from 2003.
(07:24):
And I always wonder if this isgoing to be the year that it
gets broken.
And then we've seen the men'swheelchair record, marcel Hug
he's just absolutely a dynamiteon the course 123.44 for 2023.
And the women's wheelchairrecord by Catherine DeBruner
138.24.
Recently she just set that in2022.
Those are some incredible,incredible numbers and obviously
(07:52):
marathon times like when I lookat these and we should run them
that quickly, and then youcould go cheer everybody else on
right oh, but then we do havethe golden question for these
races how do you gain entry intothe London Marathon?
Speaker 2 (08:11):
So there are a few different options for this race.
Much like any of the others,there is a general ballot, but
this one is very different thanthe others because it is very
highly competitive.
As we saw in the earliernumbers, the odds are only
around two percent they actuallygain entry, which is insane for
(08:33):
the amount of runners in theworld today.
There is also the option, ofcourse, for a charity entry.
We we know they're big for this, so this is is a great race for
testing that charityfundraising out.
There is also a good for age,so if you meet a qualifying time
at a certified marathon, youcan gain entry into the London
(08:56):
Marathon.
They also have the Abbott WorldMarathon major draw for runners
with three to six major starsmarathon major draw for runners
with three to six um major stars.
So obviously want to make sureyou are registering on their
website so you have theopportunity to do this.
And then they also do have thetour packages.
This is something that is greatfor a lot of people.
(09:17):
I know a lot of people that umuse this to get into the races.
So if you are travelinginternationally and book with an
official tour operator that cankind of give you the whole deal
, that is a great option to getinto the London Marathon as well
, absolutely, and I think thatwhat we should take into
consideration is because thatGFA is only allowable for the
(09:38):
residents of the UK.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
That people sometimes get frustrated with, like, well
, if I'm a resident of thecountry, I can't book these
international tours.
But again, this kind of evensthat playing field where maybe
you can't utilize your GFA whichis kind of like their version
of VQing but you can still gainan international tour package
option that residents of the UKcannot use.
So I think it kind of evens theplaying field and if there is a
(10:00):
will, there is a way to getinto your golden ticket of this
Willy Wonka fund that is theLondon Marathon.
So, as we've mentioned beforeand I think it's near and dear
to both our hearts is, if youdon't get into the ballot, you
could do the charity system.
It's really truly one of themost robust in the world.
These teams are extraordinaryin how they can support you and,
ashley, I'm going to ask you,because you've done fundraising
(10:22):
quite a few times Do you feelthat it adds an a layer of
complexity or, for you, do youfeel like it's just it gives you
so much more of a pep in yourstep during training and the
actual race.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
I think it gives you a little bit more meaning to all
of your training miles.
You have something that youknow you're supporting a group
of people that might notnecessarily have this support
otherwise, so you're kind ofsupporting that mission.
A lot of them have a lot ofgreat missions out there, but
(10:54):
finding one that speaks to yourheart makes it easy out there.
But finding one that speaks toyour heart and makes it easy, um
, it's not an additionalchallenge or a layer to uh your
training or anything like that,because it comes very natural,
um, and you're, when I'm lacingup my shoes, I know, okay, I'm
running for this reason and thisis why I'm coming out here,
like I have more purpose to whatI'm doing, um, which makes me
(11:17):
like kind of lights that thatfire under my butt to keep on
going.
You know it's not time to giveup, because these people don't
have the option sometimes togive up.
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
I love that, I love that perspective, and if you are
thinking, you know what?
I don't want anything more inmy life than to just I want to
run London in a rhino costume.
Do you know that you can dothat with Runwood Charity,
because actually that would belike the World Wildlife
Federation.
So look into the things thatkind of make your heart tick, as
exactly Ashley said, becausethere is a lot of fun across the
board to be had.
So, not looking at it assomething that you have to do,
(11:47):
but something that you have awonderful opportunity to do.
But we're going to talk a littlebit about the course layout,
because it is a scenic tour ofLondon.
The race is going to start inGreenwich Park and it finishes
at the mall right nearBuckingham Palace, and along the
way you're going to pass someof the most iconic landmarks,
like Cutty Sark, where again youcan wave to the 19th century
(12:10):
ship, tower Bridge, canary Wharfand the Tower of London and the
mall.
I mean, if you can even seethese things though, because the
throngs of spectators are huge,so you may actually have to
just kind of aside from theTower Bridge.
A lot of these are going to beswamped by people.
You are going to have all ofthe good vibes people cheering
(12:30):
you on.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
Absolutely.
And for those that havespectators, just make sure you
remember that the mile markersaren't in miles, but your timing
splits post race will be inkilometers, so don't panic when
you see both.
You are correct, but they douse two different measurements.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
You know I do love that.
Actually, I love when races aredone in kilometers, because I
love not knowing Like I mean Ijust want to like go out there
and enjoy myself and somethingabout not hitting like that wall
that you associate withspecific mileage is a lot of fun
.
But again, I didn't really seea lot of the course mile markers
just because it was, so I meanit was truly a feast for the
(13:14):
senses.
Now, this one is one of theraces where, if you are back of
the pack, there is a more cushytime limit.
It's an eight hour course limit.
But don't be lulled intocomplacency.
The course has rolling cutoffsand you do need to maintain a
steady pace to avoid being swept.
But I do think that they'veworked really hard in the past
few years to really remedy someof the previous issues they may
(13:37):
have had with closing up thecourse early.
So I think that now they havedefinitely come a very long way
of making sure that it isinclusive and a full party, no
matter what pace you run.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
And before you can tow up to that start line, to
even get to your race, you dohave to go to the expo race.
You do have to go to the expo.
So the expo is held at ExcelLondon, where you will pick up
your bag, check out the gear,attend any pre-race seminars,
meet your friends and family Ifthey might not be traveling with
(14:09):
you.
This is a great place to kindof hang out, see some of the
stuff that they have to offer.
But don't forget to stay off ofyour feet.
That is another thing to keepin mind.
I know we go to the expos andsee the shiny new things and
completely forget that we needto sit for a little while.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
I feel so seen in this, I feel so seen For the day
before London.
I think I put in like 20 mileson my feet.
We walked and walked and walked.
So do not do that.
That's definitely I would notadvise that.
But because the weather is sodrastically hard to predict, the
expo is a great place that ifyou are concerned of leaving
something behind, whether rainor shine, you can, if you didn't
(14:50):
pack it likely find somethingat the expo.
But let's talk about theon-course fueling and hydration.
Water is available at waterstations every two miles,
starting at mile two, and waterstations this is something that
I had difficulty with they'renot always directly on the mile
markers, so, runners, you reallyneed to be on the lookout for
(15:11):
them, because I truly missed atleast six of the water stations.
So that's something to takeinto consideration.
They do offer them in waterbottles with little drink spouts
, so you might want to practicethat or, again, if you feel more
comfortable, carrying your own.
And their electrolyte drink ofchoice is Lucozade and it's kind
of similar to GatoradeEndurance and it has about 32
(15:33):
grams of carbs with 250milligrams of sodium per 16
ounces.
But again, if you've beenpracticing with something else,
you can take your own hydrationon the course or order it on
Amazon and start practicing withit.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
And they do have energy dolls also available on
the course.
These are towards the end ofthe race.
After that kind of halfwaypoint, runners can have time,
can time their gels so they canwash them down with water at
nearby water stations, becausethey do plan that accordingly.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Or you can do what I did and just go into a
convenience store and grabyourself a beer.
I mean, literally, I missed thewater stations and I needed
hydration, so why not I?
Speaker 2 (16:12):
mean, you only run it once.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
Exactly, but most runners are only once, so you
got to do it so truly.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
If you don't want to Exactly, maybe once more, but
most runners are only once, soyou got to do it so truly.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
If you don't want to be unprepared like I was, you're
going to want to carry thathydration pack, that handheld or
that waist belt Specifically, Ithink and I've mentioned this
in the back of the pack.
If you are back of the packsometimes it's just it gives you
a bit of that comfort to knowthat you've got your water on
you in case you do miss a waterstation.
But again, one of the thingsthat I think we've talked about
before, ashley, is like the bestway to tackle a water station
(16:43):
is, of course, to slow it down,time it with your your walk
break, or take your walk breakand then make eye contact with a
volunteer that you're planningon taking it from, give them a
good thank you and grab yourwater and or your gel and keep
going.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Absolutely.
We wouldn't have these raceswithout the so many volunteers
that are out there.
So I always definitely makethat a purpose to thank as many
of them as I possibly canbecause they truly.
I mean, we're out there running, so the race wouldn't happen if
we weren't running, but wewouldn't be out there running if
we didn't have them.
So, volunteers, thank youEverybody out there.
(17:18):
If out there running if wedidn't have them.
So volunteers, thank youEverybody out there.
If you ever get a chance tovolunteer, definitely do it,
because it is very humbling tosee the amount of people that do
truly appreciate it, and I knowI do.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Yeah, I do too.
Now, you mentioned spectatorsearlier on, so tell me, where do
we find our friends and familyon this gorgeous, incredible
course?
Speaker 2 (17:35):
So for anyone that has their family and friends
coming along with them, theCutty Sark is a great spot early
in the race.
The right after the towerbridge is one of the most iconic
spots to meet up with yourrunners.
The embankment is just beforethe final push so you can make
sure you're cheering them on,getting them that extra little
(17:56):
pep in their step to get itthere, and then the mall, which
is the obviously coveted finishline area.
So making sure you're cheeringthe runners completely through
the finish shoot and watchingthem get that lovely metal dawn.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
Actually these are all four of the spots that I had
my spectators at for the record.
So you, like you nailed that inregards to these are really
wonderful suggestions because,specifically with Tower Bridge,
the course is going to kind ofgo in and out, where they're
going to have to kind of cross,maybe underneath, through the
tube, but you can see them acouple times around there.
Cutty Stark, it is a madhouse,but if you plan it accordingly,
(18:33):
you can definitely find themthere as well.
And, of course, who doesn'twant to see their other half or
their family and friends waitingfor them at the finish line?
Again, extraordinary race, tonsof spectators.
So, whether you're travelingwith friends or family, just
know that you already haveeverybody there at London is
cheering you on.
But how are they getting around?
And how are we getting aroundAshley?
Speaker 2 (18:51):
Yeah.
So the London Tube system isyour best friend for this race
and anything around there, soyou're going to want to grab
your oyster card or use contactpayment to hop on and off easily
.
The riverboat is also awonderful thing.
It's fun and scenic option forthose to view the sites before
(19:12):
or after the race withoutspending too much time on your
feet.
If you're not a fan ofsightseeing from the water,
there is a ability to book adouble-decker tour and hop on,
hop off bus.
These are wonderful.
I love seeing them around thePittsburgh area.
It kind of gives you adifferent viewpoint of the city,
(19:33):
but I love that ability to hopon, hop off If you see something
you love just get off and itsaves your legs and you still
get an opportunity to see thesite.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
Because, I mean, let's be honest, for a lot of us
, these are destinations thatwe're going to, and if we do get
a chance to go back, it mightbe seen from a whole different
way.
So I think those are awesomeopportunities.
Now we're going to stay.
We've chatted about at eachevery episode.
We're going to keep talkingabout that, because it really is
all about personal preference.
There are folks that like tostay close to the start Again,
this is not this is a point topoint, course with a few out and
(20:05):
backs as well.
So you could start close, oryou could stay close to the
start at Greenwich.
You could stay close to CanaryWharf, which is kind of more of
in the middle, or you could stayit's a little bit after the
middle, I should say a littlebit after Tower Bridge, which is
the halfway point, or you couldstay close to the finish line
in Westminster.
So it's ideal for sightseeingafter the race as well, Again,
(20:28):
knowing that the city does shutdown for this race, like it does
for most of the all the majorcities do.
So you're going to be able toget around rather easily
regardless well around the worldfor many runners.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
So there are some must-see things that you can't
see anywhere else.
So the first thing isdefinitely make sure you are
riding the London Eye, kind ofgive you a different perspective
of things.
Visit the Tower of London,which is seen in so many movies
I know the first one that comesto mind for us Disney folks is
Peter Pan.
Now, the first one that comesto mind for us Disney folks is
(21:04):
Peter Pan.
Or you can also tour theBuckingham Palace.
There's so many lovely thingsto see and so much history in
this area that you definitelywant to make sure you see.
And then there's also a way toreward yourself after the race
because we just ran all thesemiles.
So make sure you are doing anafternoon tea or you can hit a
(21:27):
pub for some lovely fish andchips.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
Yeah, I love this.
You know, I am so disappointedthat I did not go to Tower of
London.
So now, when you go back to doLondon and I go to cheer you on,
I'll have to make that happenfor myself, because I'm like, oh
, I didn't do Tower of London, Ishould have made that happen.
But again, there to tower oflondon, I should have made that
happen.
Um, but again, there's alwaysopportunities, hopefully, to
come back to some of thesereally iconic locations.
So, with that said, one of thethings that london is well known
(21:51):
for is that they do have.
It is a world-class city withworld-class cuisine.
But if you want to try some ofthe things that they're very
well known for fish and chips,sunday roast chicken, tikka
masala, which I love so much,sticky toffee pudding, and we
mentioned that afternoon teawith scones and clotted cream I
think it's pretty iconic for,especially for us Americans that
(22:11):
maybe have a little bit ofAnglophile kind of tendencies,
where we are a littleenthusiastic about the customs
that we don't really have in ourday to day basis.
Now, when we talk to friendsfrom across the pond, ashley,
one thing that I figure is likewhile we're talking English, I
don't understand some of theterms that they're using,
especially when we're talkingabout running or our day to day.
(22:32):
So you tell me, do you have anyterms that you've heard of from
runners that you or from otherfriends across the pond that
kind of come in mind to you?
Speaker 2 (22:41):
So the best one, I thinkancy Dress.
This is costumes galore.
There's superheroes, animals,big Ben, you name it, you can
find it, and then there's alsoCheeky Nando's.
This is the perfect post-raisemeal at your British fast food,
(23:02):
which is very interesting.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
Yeah, there's a few other ones that kind of come to
mind.
So have you heard like UKrunners call it, their like gear
, their kit?
Yes, yeah, so that's likealways a really fun one to kind
of hear.
I'm like I don't know whatyou're talking about my kit, I
don't need a first aid kit.
So I'm like I'm okay, I promiseI may look like I need one, but
I'm fine.
But yeah, so kit comes to mind.
And of course, park run, whichreally did take like it's huge
(23:27):
over in the UK not quite sopopular down here, but maybe a
little.
Finding your local park run isa great way to do a shakeout or,
if you're staying for a littlebit longer, want to do a little
bit of recovery run, since it isnot a pace style run, it is
something where you're kind ofrunning at your pace and for
your joy.
There's a few things like doyou watch any of the things that
(23:49):
are like more British, like areyou into the Crown or, I don't
know, bridgerton, any of thosekinds of things?
Speaker 2 (23:56):
No, but I know they're.
They're very popular and I haveto tell myself that I haven't
watched a lot of them, so Ican't say that, hey, you're busy
running.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
Yeah, you're busy running and watching.
Run Disney, I got you, I gotyou.
Or maybe they're wrist to cats,right, are they?
Were they in the UK?
Were they in France?
Oh gosh, I should have checkedthat before I actually did it,
but anyway, of course you canadd some incredible things to
your playlist.
London calling by the clash,god save the queen and we are
(24:26):
the champions I think these areall classics.
Incredible things to yourplaylist.
London Calling by the Clash GodSave the Queen and we Are the
Champions.
I think these are all classicsto add to your playlist.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
Absolutely Now, friends.
We are not quite done seeingthe World Marathon majors.
But that is a wrap on theLondon Marathon.
We are aiming for a personalbest or planning to run it for
fun.
London is an experience thatyou won't want to forget.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
It really is incredible, but we're going to
ask you to join us next time aswe make our way to well,
actually, to maybe the latestand greatest and the newest of
the World Marathon majors, wherewe're going to have a big, long
discussion.
If it's considered a spring,winter or summer, we're going to
see.
We're going to chat about itnext time.
You're going to want to meet usthere.
So, with that said, friends,don't forget to connect with us
(25:09):
at the Stride Collective orWomen of the World Marathon
Majors on Facebook.
Until then, keep strivingtoward the extraordinary.
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