# running / London Marathon 2025: Week 13

06 Apr 2025

Goals for the week

• Solid over-under session in the week
• Final big long run – get 4 gels down

Over-Under

I tried to do this session last week and I didn’t complete it due to issues with gels. This week the gel went down better and the workout went really well. The paces felt good, not smooth which probably proves that I need more neurological time at this pace.

Happy with the effort though: ⬆️ 6:28 - ⬇️ 6:39 - ⬆️ 6:27 - ⬇️ 6:43 - ⬆️ 6:23 - ⬇️ 6:40

Long run and Gel/Stomach stress

21 miles, my last big long run. This was meant to be a race rehearsal and final vote of confidence. Unfortunately not.

From the very first gel my stomach wasn’t happy, and though I forced myself to keep going with them roughly every half hour, by the 4th it was done and I had to make a pitstop.

Over the past few weeks I’ve noticed that my gel adaptation has gotten worse.

It could be a few issues:

• Overuse of the gel can create a sensitivity.
• My days before nutrition isn’t there

With just 3 weeks to go, I’ve got a lot to figure out.

• I’m going to try a different set of brands to see what lands. I’m cutting this a bit fine but I’ve got to try.
• Apparently rotating different gels can help, so I’ll experiment with that too.
• Reduce all possible irritants from my diet.

These are good options, but with 3 weeks to go I don’t have many opportunities to get it right.

Worst comes to worst, I think on the day if I am listening to my body I might have to sacrifice the number of gels for the sake of the race.

This is not the problem I needed, and it is stressful, but I have to figure it out and I will get my dream of having a great day running London marathon.

Thoughts

From the above my thoughts may be obvious. But there are positives still to draw from everything.

Aerobically I’m fit. Legs are feeling strong though fatigued. I’ve had a solid block with some good racing.

If I can get my stomach in line, we should be on for a good day.

The taper officially begins now, though only slightly. This week I’m reducing by about 10%, down from 50s to 45-ish miles, taking miles out of the long & mid-week run. I’ll maintain intensity in both those runs, racking up as much marathon effort as I can, as well as gel practice.

3 weeks to London. Let’s go.

Goals for next week

• Trial some other gels at race pace, and take notes
• Optimise diet
• Another over-under session
• Another race rehearsal long run