I guess I'm running a historic marathon this year, with one of a kind COVID restrictions. To be honest when I got the email this week I was a little depressed by it all, but I think it could be good. Here's a list of the main changes, what they mean to me, and how I'm making the most of them.

1) Separate waves starting over 90 minutes.

There's going to be such a huge difference between gun time and chip time this year, with some runners starting a whole 90 minutes after the first starters! To make this work, everyone has to submit their estimated finishing time, and then they're going to send us off in groups that have around the same time. That way there's less mingling between the thousands of runners. 

For me...

I guess it's fine. I can plan my timings (breakfast, loo breaks etc.) around the time they give me. The main thing for me is I need to guess my finish time. Is under 4 hours too ambitious? I might go for 3:59. I also start off at a much slower pace and then speed up after a few miles. Am I going to feel like I can do that or will I feel pressured to stay with my group? This is made even more complicated by...

2) There's no pacers.

This is the one I'm most gutted about. Usually there's pacers that you can run with for specific finishing times. These pacers know the route too and know when to slow down and speed up, and I had quite a few of my hopes pinned on not having to worry about these things. But no. The official line is "Please note there will be no official pacers at this year’s Virgin Money London Marathon to reduce crowding on course, so you’ll need to follow your own pacing strategy and plan this ahead of the event."

For me...

It's something I'm going to have to cope with, with a bit of research I should be able to figure out what my pace should be at various points of the course, or maybe I'm over thinking it and just need to aim for a steady pace. Alternatively I can trust in the crowd that's leaving at the same time as me, and just run alongside them. Not sure.

3) Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag...

There's nobody to give me a medal at my point of triumph at the end. In fact there's nobody to give you anything at the end. Instead, a kit bag is being posted to my house. I fill it with things I want at the finishing line, stick a sticker on it and hand it in when I pick up my race pack. They'll then add my medal, a T-shirt, a Lucozade Sport and a water, and stick it somewhere after the finishing line where I can pick it up.

For me...

I suspect this means that if I collapse on the course and don't finish, then I'll still get a medal, so that's nice! Actually Katie's found the silver lining on this one. She's going to pack a surprise bag for me! She knows I want a Mars Bar and a banana (all post race bags should have a Mars Bar and a banana) but apart from that, the bag is going to be a complete surprise. 

4) Nothing goes from the start to the finish (except me!)

Apparently in previous years you could hand in some stuff at the start line, and a big truck would take it to the finishing line with you. For example you could take warmer clothes, and hand them in to be ready at the finish line.  This doesn't exist this year.

For me...

Isn't it good that I'm running for a clothing charity! The plan is for me to take some old clothes that couldn't be redistributed but that would keep me warm at the starting line. I can then throw the clothes in the bin just before the start.

5) Go with the (lateral) flow.

Although there's surprisingly little about the need to be vaccinated, a lateral flow test is needed for both a) the running show where you pick up your race pack and b) the run itself. You need to show your test result to enter the running show, and there will be spot checks on marathon day.

For me...

I suppose this is inevitable, and COVID's been around a while now, but it's still scary that one failed Lateral Flow Test could mean that all my training is for nought.

6) Only my biggest fan...

Although crowds are allowed at the event, each runner is asked to only bring one supporter. Only one non runner is allowed to accompany you to the running show as well. Everyone else can watch the coverage on the tv, and runners are trackable on the London Marathon app.

For me...


I don't think there were many people planning on coming down and cheering me on. But if you were planning on surprising me, I'm so sorry, you can't!