It’s almost here. Yesterday, it became very real, as Jasper and I headed down to the eXcel London venue for the 2025 London Marathon Expo.
We had a cracking day, grabbing bibs and (curiously premature) finisher’s t-shirts. Hundreds of stalls pushed everything from trainers to tablets, yoghurts to massages, and we got around everything. We drank yoghurt, met YouTube stars (who I had zero knowledge of) and I even had a foot scan, which turned out to be a covert way to try and sell me a special insert for my running trainers.
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I saw some gear there that made me want to cry out with joy. £300 trainers (that, on my recent form, would last three months). Watches, shorts, tops, trainers, potions, pills, trainers, hats, belts, vests, trainers, and on and on until eventually, I’d be bankrupt, but have great feet until I hit 75.
The main reason for heading down was to get our numbers, and that was so easy. I feared queues and a bit of a bun fight, but the organisation was impeccable. We were in, numbered and looking around the New Balance store within minutes of our arrival. The only queues were for the photo-opportunity boards, the map of the course, stuff like that. As you’ll all testify, I’m not exactly a social media fiend (!), so we didn’t bother.
I think the big takeaway was the kit. I made a couple of minor purchases, some clips for my number, rather than pins, and a hat that will easily fold into my pocket. Grand total? £15, and that wouldn’t have bought the laces of the shoes I really liked. I’ve been a Brooks Ghost man since I started running, but when I plan my next event, I have got to seriously look at New Balance. Or Hoka, maybe. Or Nike. I don’t know, something like that.
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My biggest issue now is fathoming out my kit. When I did my 20 mile run a few weeks ago, I wore my hydration vest, with bottles of water so I could drink when I wanted. However, there are no water stations around the Lincolnshire Wolds, but they’re every three miles or so in London, so I can’t decide whether I need my vest. However, I do need seven gels (one every 25 minutes or so) and they’re heavy – if I put them in a belt, it’ll be a different feeling from any of my practice runs. Plus, I need my phone (more weight around my waist), and what if I wish to take my hat off? Where do I put it?
However, with temperatures set to be around 20 later in the day, I could be far, far too warm in my vest.
I’ve been fairly good and not changed any of my kit ahead of the race, but this feels like a huge decision, and one I’m not sure I’ll get right either way. The belt would be heavy and I’d fear it coming a little loose, and I didn’t use a belt for my big run, which should have been my marathon plan. However, if I wear a vest, I might get far too warm, especially around 2.00pm, when it’s projected to get much warmer.
Decisions, decisions.
Thank you to everyone who sponsored me yesterday, you’re all incredibly kind. My total went past £5500 (£5594) and there’s more to come – I’ll announce my book next week, and any pre-sale profits from that will go on. I’ve got a funny feeling it might get past £6000, or certainly close to it.
Imagine what the Lincoln City Foundation can do with £6,000…..
YOU CAN SPONSOR ME HERE
For those who wish to track me, my bib number is in the pictures. If you download the TCS London 2025 App, there’s a way to track my progress, and even send messages of support to billboards as I go around the course. That might be the difference in those gruelling final six miles from the Tower of London to the Mall.
I’ll do another update tomorrow evening from Greenwich!