There are only a few days left before runners pound the pavements of East London in the Hackney Half Marathon.
The capital’s most attended half marathon will take place around Hackney streets on Sunday May 18.
But if you are looking to perfect the run-in to the distance or get yourself in top shape, here are some relatively 11th-hour tips for a great day.
Top tips when training for the Hackney Half
Don’t bother with the long run in the days before
You don’t want to run too far, too near the start date, so you should have aimed for your longest run to be about three weeks before.
Take it easier on the runs this week, as you don’t want to injure yourself in the days before.
Taking part in a half marathon is a good idea
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The best part of marathon training might be the few weeks where you’ve reached your peak distance and then begin to taper in order to avoid being too tired on the race day.
Aim for the final two weeks to be a lesser overall mileage than your peak. It’s also satisfying when 10km feels like a short run.
Eliud Kipchoge will be back in the elite men’s field
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The half marathon distance is slightly too far for a body to do on its own fuel and you will need to take on food and energy supplies as you go around.
It’s important to find something that works for you, whether it be satsumas, jelly babies, or one of the more professional-looking gels or bars on the market. Practising fuelling while training is important to acclimatise your body and decrease the risk of suffering cramps.
Make sure to have done a few training runs in your shoes
Wearing shoes for the first time on race day is a no-no. You want to make sure your footwear is a good fit and you don’t want blisters.
It’s also a good idea to know which shorts and top you will have on to minimise the chances of this chafing. Wearing Vaseline on sensitive areas is a tried and trusted method.
Yoga is a good idea to incorporate into your training
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You’ll have clocked up hundreds of kilometers by this point so give your joints some R&R in a yoga class. Stretching and strengthening can aid recovery and reduce the chance of injury.
