Grisly reality of running the London Marathon - from toilet trouble to unbearable chafing

Tens of thousands of runners will line up for the London Marathon today, but while the race raises millions of pounds for good causes, it isn't all feel good for the competitors.

Injuries caused by pounding the streets for 26 miles can be nasty and needing the loo can be tricky to boot. From needing to urinate to vomiting and unbearable chafing mishaps, The Mirror takes a look at the grim side of the nation's most famous race...

Toilet troubles

The marathon has Portaloo stops every two miles en route but runners can still be spotted taking a wee in a bush, against a wall or in a bottle. Top tips for competitors include queueing for the toilet as soon as you arrive, taking loo roll with you, or if you need to go during the race, those close to the start have less of a queue and aren't as unpleasant.

Energy gels could have an unwanted effect on bowels with some experts advising to avoid them on the day. 2005 London Marathon champion Paula Radcliffe famously suffered from stomach cramps at 15 miles into the race, forcing her to squat down by the roadside. The athlete had been suffering from runner's diarrhoea but it was worth it - she went on to break the world record by over a minute, apologising to viewers for her toilet break.

"When I'm racing I'm totally focused on winning the race and running as fast as possible," she told the BBC. "I was losing time because I was having stomach cramps and I thought 'I just need to go and I'll be fine'."

Nasty blisters

Feet can swell in heat, making shoes tighter and creating blisters on pressure-affected areas. Runners have reported some shocking examples in the past, sharing examples of gruesome photos on social media of toes with skin hanging off and red raw heels.

Back in 2017 police officer Tom Harrison suffered huge blisters on his knees which burst, leaving huge amounts of his skin peeled back, after he crawled the entire route in six days. His gorilla suit can't have helped - he experienced painful burst blisters on the back on his knees too. Tom raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity The Gorilla Organisation.

Chafing

Painful chafing hotspots for runners include nipples and inner thighs, with competitors suggesting applying Vaseline beforehand. "It’s not just for nipples and armpits like everyone says," marathon runner Lily Green told the Evening Standard. "Having experienced bum-chafing during my first marathon I am not ashamed to say I put it on my cheeks for the second and it saved the day."

Applying Vaseline everywhere for the race might sound like an exaggeration but as well as plasters over nipples and covering inner thighs, runners should consider applying it to avoid chafing caused by sports bras and shorts.

Missing toenails

Known as runner's toe, a subungual haematoma is when your nail bed turns red - later black - due to continuous bruising during the race. Unless the affected area is small, toenails will fall off after several weeks because the pooled blood will separate them from their beds. It may be necessary to avoid sandals or flip flops for a while - a new toenail may not fully regrow for six months.

Excruciating pain

Even those in great shape can take weeks to recover from competing in a marathon. Resting up, plenty of protein and fluid and ice baths are advised for worn-out bodies and minds.

But some runners enter the race with existing injuries - in 2021 Angie Hopson ran the distance with a broken leg she had mistaken for a muscle strain. Angie, from Shropshire, had injured herself in training and by mile six she was in 'excruciating' pain. The plucky runner went to a minor injuries unit the day after finishing the marathon in six hours and was 'in shock' to discover she had broken her fibula, located midway between her knee and her ankle.