How To Finish Your Marathon Training Strong
For A Natural Energy Boost
SAP
Created by two runners, SAP was born out of frustration with overly synthetic gels that did the job on paper but left them feeling sluggish and bloated. Their solution is deliberately minimal: just organic Grade A maple syrup and Himalayan salt. You still get the fast-acting carbs needed for endurance, but in a form that’s easier on the stomach and far more palatable. For runners who’ve struggled with traditional gels, this is a smoother alternative.
Visit SapGoodEnergy.com
For Real-Time Coaching
OneTrack App
Founded by Anthony Fletcher, the coach behind Equinox’s respected running programme, it’s evolved from a London-based run club into an innovative coaching platform. The standout feature is real-time feedback: during live sessions, coaches can see your heart rate, pace, distance and perceived effort, adjusting your workout as it unfolds. If you drift into the red or fatigue sets in early, the session adapts instantly. Delivered in small groups, it feels far closer to personal coaching than any static plan.
Visit OneTrack.Club
For Sweat-Proof Essentials
Polarwise
Sweat is inevitable, but excessive sweating or chafing can derail performance over 26.2 miles. Amsterdam-born Polarwise combines advanced antiperspirant actives – designed to regulate sweat at the source – with skin-conditioning ingredients that keep things comfortable, even under the strain of long-distance effort. The result is long-lasting dryness across key areas like underarms, face and hands – and without the heavy, overly clinical feel of traditional products.
Visit PolarWise.com
For Performance Tech
CORE Sensor
Most runners know the feeling – you’re cruising, then suddenly everything starts to unravel. Your pace drops, effort spikes, and you’re not sure why. Often, it’s heat. As your core temperature rises, your body diverts blood away from working muscles to cool you down, hurting performance in the process. CORE lets you see that happening in real time. The lightweight sensor tracks your core temperature during runs, helping you make smarter pacing decisions – and avoid overheating before it’s too late.
Visit CoreBodyTemp.com
For Race Weekend Itself
Raffles London at The OWO
No one needs any logistical stressors on race weekend. That’s why Raffles London at The OWO is removing them entirely, and adding a layer of luxury. Its Rest, Run & Recover package is built specifically around marathon performance, starting with location – the hotel is just two minutes from the finish line. Pre-race, there’s a pasta dinner at Saison, designed to support carb-loading without sacrificing flavour, followed by a race-morning Power Breakfast from 6am. Post-race, it’s champagne. The real standout, though, is recovery. You’ll have access to the Guerlain Spa, plus Pillar Wellbeing’s training, stretching and mobility support. Think of this as a seamless, high-performance base wrapped in five-star comfort.
Visit Raffles.com
For A Training Boost
Barry’s Red Room Run Club
The final weeks before a marathon aren’t about grinding harder – they’re about sharpening intelligently. Barry’s Red Room Run Club is designed with this in mind. The eight-week programme supports runners of all levels, blending structured treadmill sessions with runner-specific strength work that enhances performance without adding unnecessary fatigue. Key sessions focus on tapering properly, refining pacing and maintaining movement quality. Beyond the studio, there’s a dedicated WhatsApp channel and curated playlists to support long runs, adding layers of accountability and community. Early morning class times (6am in Manchester, 7:30am in Soho) mirror race-day conditions, helping you rehearse the experience.
Visit Barrys.com
For A Kit Upgrade
SOAR RHEON Speed Shorts
The idea behind SOAR’s RHEON shorts is simple: when you run, your muscles move around more as you get tired. That movement wastes energy and contributes to fatigue. These shorts help steady things. The fabric subtly firms up as you move faster, giving your muscles more support without feeling restrictive. In practice, that means your legs feel more stable and efficient, particularly in the later miles when form usually starts to slip. While formal lab data is still limited, early feedback has been strong, with runners reporting improvements of around 15-20 seconds per kilometre.
Visit SoarRunning.com
For Mental Fitness
Getahead
Developed by an ex-pro athlete alongside sports psychologists, Getahead delivers structured mental training in a format that fits into daily life. Sessions are short – typically 90 seconds to three minutes – and focus on key areas like confidence, focus, motivation, self-talk and emotional control. Each session includes a practical follow-up, helping you apply what you’ve learned directly to your training or racing. There’s also progress tracking across these core areas, making mental development measurable.
Visit GetaheadMindset.com
For Avoiding Injury
Pliability
Injury is one of the biggest threats to marathon prep, with studies suggesting up to 50% of runners experience issues during training. Pliability is a mobility and recovery platform designed to reduce that risk through guided routines. Its Running Hub is tailored for endurance athletes managing high mileage, offering targeted programmes for everything from hip health and stride efficiency to overall running stability. You’ll find guided warm-ups, post-run recovery sessions and quick fix routines for when something feels off – all easy to follow and designed to slot into a busy schedule.
Visit Pliability.com
Ready for race day? Here, four performance experts share their smartest tips for running stronger from start to finish…
Pace The First 10k
“The energy at the start is unreal, but that’s exactly what catches people out. Too many runners go off too fast, burning through energy they’ll need later. You have to stay disciplined early on, even if it feels easy. Stick to the pace you trained for and trust it. The marathon really begins after 30K, and that’s where patience pays off. If you’ve held back early, you’ll be passing people later rather than hanging on – and that completely changes your race experience.” – Dejon Noel-Williams, PT & athlete
Control Your Breathing
“Sophrology is a mind-body method that combines breathing, relaxation and visualisation to help you stay calm and focused under pressure. Try rhythmic breathing: inhale for three steps, exhale for three steps, and at the same time consciously relax your shoulders, jaw and hands. It’s a quick reset you can use at any point in the race to steady your breathing, lower tension and regain control. If your mind starts to spiral, bring your focus back to something physical, like your footstrike or breath. That shift alone can help you move through tough patches far more efficiently.” – Dominique Antiglio, sophrologist & founder of BeSophro
Fuel Early
“A lot of runners think fuelling is just about carrying gels, but it’s really about timing and consistency. You shouldn’t be waiting until you feel tired or depleted – that’s already too late. Go in with a clear plan of when you’ll take on fuel, and stick to it from early in the race. Small, regular intake helps keep your energy stable and prevents that big drop-off later. It’s one of the simplest things to get right, but it makes a massive difference when fatigue kicks in.” – Dejon
Don’t Do Anything New
“Race day is not the time to try new shoes, new nutrition or a completely different routine. Everything you do on the day should be something you’ve already tested in training – what you eat, how you fuel, what you wear. Familiarity reduces stress and helps your body perform as expected. When you remove uncertainty, you give yourself the best chance of executing your race plan properly.” – Anthony Fletcher, founder of OneTrack
Balance Pace & Fuel
“Hitting the wall isn’t random – it’s usually the result of pacing and fuelling not lining up. The faster you run, the more fuel you burn, and once your glycogen stores are gone, that’s it. That’s why you need to balance your pace with your fuelling strategy. Either slow things down slightly or make sure you’re taking on enough energy to support your effort. The runners who get this right are the ones who finish strongest.” – Anthony
Tier Your Goals
“Going into a marathon with one fixed goal – usually a time – can add unnecessary pressure. Instead, set layered goals. For example: finishing the race, achieving a target time, and then a stretch goal like a personal best. That way, if something doesn’t go perfectly on the day, you still have something to aim for. It keeps you mentally engaged and stops one setback from derailing your entire race.” – Arj Thiruchelvam, head coach at Performance Physique
Don’t Follow The Crowd
“It’s easy to get swept up in the crowd and other runners around you, but that’s where mistakes happen. Whether it’s chasing someone else’s pace or getting pulled along too quickly, you need to stay focused on your own plan. Treat the first 10k almost like a controlled warm-up. Settle into your rhythm, ignore the noise, and run your race – not someone else’s.” – Arj
Keep Race Week Simple
“The night before, don’t overcomplicate things. Eat what you’ve been eating in training, lay your kit out, and keep your routine familiar. At that point, the work is already done – you’re not gaining fitness. Trust your training, stay relaxed, and focus on turning up in the best possible state. The simpler you keep things, the more confident you’ll feel on the start line.” – Arj
For more, visit Be-Sophro.com, OneTrack.Club & PerformancePhysique.co.uk – and follow @DejonNoelWilliams
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