Training support with a charity

If you opt to sign up to run for a charity, you won’t be left to your own devices to deal with the twin tasks of fundraising and training. Most charities will give you support with your fundraising, but most importantly your training – after all, if you don’t make to the start line on race day, then you’re not going to raise anything at all!

Opting to use your place for a charity will open the door to plenty of training support, which means you'll be able to get on with your training in a sensible and safe manner - making sure you cross both the start and the finish line on race day.

So, what can a charity do to help you prepare for the testing 26.2-mile challenge that is ahead?

A typical charity may provide you with some of the following:

• Specific training plans compiled by an expert with a week-by-week approach (usually over at least an 18-week period). These tell you what running exercise you need to do each and every day leading up to he race, including factors such as time, intensity, terrain, and when exactly to take rest days – which is an important factor in helping you avoid injury. Even if you are a complete beginner there will a training plan to suit your requirements, and possibly even a lead-in plan to ready you before you start the main plan.

• A training pack with expert advice on a range of topics, including the importance of the right gear; dealing with aches and pains; warming up, stretching, and cooling down; cross-training; running gadgets; and diet and nutrition.

• Monthly newsletters providing a range of tips and advice that are targeted at specific points in your training to generally gee you along should your motivation be on the wane, particularly in the winter months. These could involve running training tips, motivational advice and nutritional and health information.

• E-mail support is provided by some charities whereby they have an arrangement with a team of experts who may be able to answer any queries you as a runner have. These could be quite general or even specific – for example, related to any injury concerns or training questions you may have.

Completing the Flora London Marathon is a physically demanding challenge, and it is in charities’ interests to provide its runners with as much support as possible.

As a charity runner you will be offered constant encouragement and assistance, and support from them will be comprehensive and well prepared. Everything is geared up to ensure that you get to the start line in tip-top shape – and the charity will have a runner whose effort is rewarded with funds for their chosen charity. Everyone is a winner!