London Marathon 2024: 5 Women On What They Wish They Knew Before Their First Marathon

First marathon: Barcelona Marathon 2024

What I wish I'd known: On the days before and after the marathon, it's best to rest and eat. I did neither particularly effectively, unfortunately, and paid the price. The day after, my legs swelled up like two huge barrage balloons. This didn't stop me from walking (hobbling) 10k around the streets and sights of Barcelona’s gothic quarter in search of the best cake and coffee. I got so many funny looks, which at the time I thought were looks of admiration ( I was wearing my marathon tee), but on reflection, were probably looks of concern and horror over my fluid-filled knees.

Top marathon tip: Get to the start line/entry with a good amount of time before the start of the race.

Runner: Frankie Edwards, Senior Account Executive

First marathon: Brighton Marathon 2023

What I wish I'd known: Food is your best friend. Running puts so much strain on our bodies and uses a lot of energy, so you must fuel your body correctly; I made the mistake of not eating enough before my marathon. The adrenaline can make you feel that you aren't hungry or don't want to eat, but my biggest piece of advice is to make sure you eat regardless. I also wish I had more faith in my ability, you have done all the training and are more prepared than you think, just have faith that your body and the crowd will get you through it.

Top marathon tip: Enjoy it, and make sure you have your name on your top! I regret not taking in the crowd and feeding off their energy during my first marathon. Everyone is so supportive and random people shouting your name gives you the boost you need to get through. A tip to distract you from the distance is reading some of the signs and posters in the crowd, some of them are hilarious so it's a great distraction.

Are you thinking of signing up for your first marathon? Check out our beginner's guide to running, our round-up of the best running shoes (as tested by a triathlete), and the best running watches. If you don't fancy pounding the pavements, check out our guide to the best at-home treadmills.

For more from Glamour UK's Lucy Morgan, follow her on Instagram @lucyalexxandra.