r/UKRunners

Hi all

My running shoes are coming to the end of their life so looking to buy a new pair. I run fairly casually at the minute (average 1 run / week) but looking to up to 2 runs per week.

I usually run between 5-10K but also looking to up this and do a half marathon sometime over the next 12-months. Pace ranges from 4:30/km - 5:15/km depending on how I'm feeling (5K PB is 4:10/km).

What would everybody recommend based on their experience?

When I got my last pair around 4 years ago I had gait analysis which was neutral. I'd also say I have an average foot width.

Thanks in advance.

I originally put down an estimated finish time of 4hours 30 but my training has gone better than expected and now looking to finish around the 4hr mark

This is my first marathon, how tricky is it to overtake people during London? I am locked into my wave now so my plan at the minute is to start at the front of the wave and hopefully people will have spread out after a little while and then I can pick up the pace in the second half. Ultimately the goal is to finish and enjoy it but I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to give it my best shot to get sub 4!

I turn 40 in June. Signed up to do this race on my birthday to do my first marathon.

I’ve done HM, I’ve got my distance up to 25km with 8 weeks to go.

I wondered if anyone has run this race, does anyone have any advice for running your first marathon?

I just want to get under 4 hours, ideally.

Thanks to the kind people who commented on my previous post regarding ITB issues. I have the marathon coming up this weekend. To summarise, I ran a half 2 weeks back, recovered in couple days. Did not run for couple weeks and couldn’t increase mileage due to a bad flu. Have run London Marathon before in 2024 without issues. Fairly active. Tried a 10 mile last week and had a 4/10 pain in ITB area by Mile 10. Rested, Ice, stretches for next 3 days. Did a 2.5 mile yesterday easy pace and felt a discomfort and niggle (2.5/10 pain) and stopped. It seems fine today morning apart from a slight niggle when up and down steps etc. I really need to run this weekend as it is for a cause I cannot avoid. Will KT tapes help or braces? Would you recommend a sports massage today or tomorrow? I will be taking a break from running for quite a while after this but I want to do LM. Mentally I am there 200/100. Please help.

Does anyone know an app similar to Runna where I can put my training plan from my coach into and it prompts me when I’m running (tells me when to change pace,speed up,slow down etc)

Runna’s plans are premade so doesn’t allow you to drop your plan in week by week etc

Which UK marathons have the best atmosphere other than London?

Ran Manchester yesterday as my first, and absolutely loved the atmosphere, no way I would have got through it without.

Looking to the next marathon now and wondered which UK marathons have a good atmosphere?

I’m relatively new to running and wondered if people do this? I noticed it was available for 2027 Manchester marathon and at first thought it was a way to squeeze more money out of the runners but after thinking about it I decided I could get my late mum’s birthdate as my number so have paid the extra fiver to do this.

I think it’s probably a bit of a waste of money but I’m quite pleased she’ll be with me in a weird way when I do the run.

Hi I've got some silly questions about London marathon that I don't see the answers to anywhere, but my autistic mind is making me worry over them.

Where can I download the GPX? The official site sends you to Strava and you need a subscription to save it from there.

Are the water stations on both sides of the road?

Can I pin my bib to my shorts instead of my top?

Do I really need to get to the start area as early as it suggests if I won't be using drop bag or queuing for toilets?

Are there regular rubbish disposal areas or do people just chuck it anywhere? My autism won't allow me to throw empty bottles or gel wrappers in the street even if everyone else is doing it.

Feel free to ask anymore you have in the comments!

Mine was a personal worst time but I’m just glad I could finish! NEVER AGAIN!

I’m planning my first ever marathon for autumn, ideally late September or October. I’m happy with anywhere in the UK and potentially even in Europe. I want it to be: relatively flat, lively/fun/a good atmosphere, and not sold out for 2026 (lol). Where do you recommend?

Some races I’m considering:

- MBNA Chester

- Yorkshire

- Frankfurt

I'm in the initial stages of developing a running pack and am in dire need of some honest feedback from potential end customers before I commit to spending money developing it. I'm not a runner and the idea came to me when I was snowboarding last month but think it could be well-served by runners.

Having done some research it seems that most of the options on the market are like vests that either hold water bottles or carry water, and have extra pockets for storage. This seems like a practical solution. My idea was for a cross body, sling-like bag that would have a pocket for your earbuds case, phone, wallet, a hanging clip for your keys and of course, space of a water bottle. It would be adjustable via a strap on the back.

I think the idea is a practical solution but I'm not confident it would outcompete the vests that seem to be the dominant method for carrying your stuff on a run.

Not being a runner myself i'm unsure on how this would be viewed by runners and would be keenly grateful for feedback.

Re MUFC parking: Overall I was very happy with this event so this is not really a reflection on the Marathon organisers BUT the pre-booked parking at MUFC Old Trafford football ground was an absolute disgrace. DO NOT USE THIS. The queue of cars stopped moving 2 miles before the car park (we arrived 1 hour early) and I had to get out and walk the rest of the way to the race starting area. If I had been driving alone then I would certainly have missed the race altogether and I'm sure this must have happened to some people. Luckily my wife was with me and able to stay in the car but it took her 2 HOURS to reach the car park! When she finally got there, the staff would not accept my print-out as proof of booking or her screenshot of my booking, they would only accept the proof from my phone wallet and thankfully I left my phone with her as without it she may have been refused access even though I pre-booked! To the race organisers I would say you need to sort his out. To everyone else participating or supporting I say DO NOT USE THIS CAR PARK! (2026)  

Hey team - doing my first ‘proper’ London Marathon Sunday (ran it with a friend when it was the lockdown version) and feeling the nerves.

I’ve done 90% of my Runna plan and feel ok. Not sure I’ll hit my target time, but I’m at peace with that and aim to start gentle, reach target pace if it feels right in the second 10 miles and wince through the final 10km, as is tradition.

My one question for this lovely community, if anyone had this happen before - Runna wants me to do a 6.6km interval session at race pace Friday, 2 days before the big day. That seems crazy to me? Surely my legs will feel even somewhat tired from that Sunday? What are people doing for this ‘shake out’ run?

Best of luck to anyone else doing it and feeling nervous! We’ve got this!!!

Hi all, best of luck to everyone running Manchester Marathon today.

My partner will be joining you, however she was in tears late last night because she left her running shorts at home - 6 hours away in Somerset.

I plead to you to make a very sad girly happy again - and avoiding the hour+ trek across Manchester to the only running shop potentially open early enough to get her a replacement, does anyone in the Salford area have a pair of size 14 running shorts she can use?

I am more than happy to buy them from you, as I would never want to return a pair of shorts that have experienced 26 straight miles of running in April.

We are in the Salford area, let me know.

Again, best of luck to everyone, you got this 💪

It was the first one for me. Training went really well - 45mpw peak volume, several long runs at 9:40 - 10:00 min/mile (17, 20, 21, 22 miles), 3-week taper. I found I was wearing too much on the day, I didn't think I set off too fast at 9:30 min/mile, but I probably started going backwards around mile 15, then had bad cramp for the last 5 miles, finishing in 4:30. I think if I set off slower I would likely have beaten that time, and next time I'll take a vest with some electrolyte drink as I probably started drinking the Gatorade too late. Fuelling was ok but I prefer energy bars to gels and found I had just lost the stomach for them during the race.

It's really strange that my long runs, at 6am and with no food before I set off, were better than the race, but that's a lesson learned!

I know the lanes quite well, I used to cycle them a fair bit, but had forgotten how uneven the surface can be. Some of the verges have been repaired by a blind man, I swear, which isn't such a big deal when you have lots of energy, but can be tricky with heavy legs.

I saw a young lady stacked it after barely a mile, blood everywhere but I think(hope!) she was OK.

*your*