London marathon is one of the world’s biggest marathons, especially unique because it breaks the craziest Guinness World Records. This year there were as many as 34 attempts, 18 of which were successfully defeated by runners who were dressed as mythical creatures, dentists, or were dressed in silk pajamas.

Running in costume as a personal challenge or for charity

This year, too, thousands of people descended on the streets of London, where many donned costumes, either as a personal challenge or to help a charity organization.

The official judge of the Guinness Book of Records was Will Munford who stood at the finish line as a checker. And he welcomed David Jones who was the first runner to break the record by crossing the finish line and breaking the record for running in his pajamas in 2:47:15.

To be honest, my family knows that I’ve always been fit and that I give my best in whatever I do, so this venture didn’t surprise them. They just said, ‘You should be slower at 41, not faster’, but everyone was very proud of me, and everyone who knows me already thought I was going to make it.

David Jones, new World record holder for running marathon in pajamas

Among the other records was Sarah Dudgeon, who broke the Guinness record by running dressed as a witch in 3:11.52.

Donato Esposito became the fastest marathoner dressed as a hospital patient in 3:19.23, and Victoria Carter ran the London Marathon in 3:23.48 dressed as a vampire.

The official referee is delighted with the records

The official judge chimed in when he saw the records being broken, saying “It’s very inspiring to see these records first hand.”

Marathon is a team sport

A group of six runners, Tristan Clark, Freddie Flanagan, Freddie Wright, John Lavelle, George Peirson, and Hugh Williams ran the marathon all in a pack and literally in 4:25.12. In this way, they broke the record for the fastest marathon in a costume for six people.

Lexi Chambers broke the world record for the fastest marathon in a non-racing wheelchair.

Najluđi Ginisovi rekordi – Kompletna lista

And here is a complete list of 18 Guinness World Records achieved at this year’s 2022 London Marathon from 34 attempts.

1. David Jones: The fastest runner in silk pajamas – 2:47:15
2. David Henson: Fastest Handcuffed Runner – 2:54:57
3. Sarah Dudgeon: Fastest Witch – 3:11:52
4. Gower Tan: Fastest Scientist – 3:14:16
5. Donato Esposito: Fastest hospital patient – ​​3:19:23
6. Andrew Roberts: The fastest badminton player – 3:23:33
7. Victoria Carter: The fastest marathoner dressed as a vampire – 3:23:48
8. Jeremie Maillard: Fastest Mythical Creature – 3:26:38
9. Emanuela Pizzoni: The fastest marathon runner in a toga – 3:27:18
10. Belinda Neild: Fastest Office Item – 3:38:22
11. Kristina Beadle: Fastest Mythical Creature – 3:43:41
12. Matt Brooks: Fastest Star – 3:44:00
13. Martin Porter: Fastest Harlequin – 3:51:35
14. Joan Pons Laplana: Fastest cup – 3:58:52
15. Tristan Clark, Freddie Flanagan, Freddie Wright, John Lavelle, George Peirson, Hugh Williams: Fastest Six Person Costume Marathon – 4:25:12
16. Kellie Clark: Fastest Candy – 4:24:06
17. Sadie Smith: Fastest three-dimensional part of the human body – 4:26:43
18. Lexi Chambers: Fastest non-racing wheelchair marathon – 4:32:11

By now, you’ve probably implemented a running plan that helps you reach a clear goal – run a certain distance or achieve a desired time. Running alone or in a group, with or without a coach, you know that you need to prepare your body and mind for the race. Various programs are available to everyone to help with this. But how to plan your race season?

Planning is half the battle!

Should I have a race plan in addition to my training plan?

If you train regularly and enjoy going to races, creating a personal race plan is also a great tool for reaching your goals.

Do you register for races “spontaneously” or according to plan? Read below what you should pay attention to when planning your race season.

Do you have your goal?

For example: This year I decided to break my 10km record. This race season I will run a half marathon in less than 01h50′. I’m planning to run my first ultra. I want to place high in my league.

Although these statements are not measurable in the same way, they can be the basis for determining personal goals. It is important that each goal is clear and realistic for you. Then you’ll know if you just need to be in shape to finish the race or if you need to push yourself to be better than you are now.

The goal doesn’t have to be just one. But you shouldn’t set too many different goals at once. A goal should constantly motivate you.

Why is it useful to have a plan (race season) in advance?

Better results require even better preparation. And good preparation takes time. Another time we must count on is recovery time! Both are important because of changing the possibility of injury and overloading the body.

In short, if you balance your activities on time, the realization will be of better quality.

In addition, if you like to fit as many races as possible between your work and other obligations, it will mean that you plan your time and finances and logistics in advance.

And finally, with a plan in place, you can measure progress and results as you rush toward your next goal!

Determine your priorities in race season

Of course, according to your own criteria and wishes, and for the purpose of achieving your goal. For example: If your goal is to reduce your half marathon time, you can do this by training and running shorter distances. You can also reach that goal through marathon preparations. Or you will run several half marathons and reach your peak at some point.

The bottom line is to prioritize races that can help you get there.

You can put all the races during the year in your 3 categories.

Category I – priority races, the achievement of your goal, the moment towards which you direct your training, the races where you want to reach your maximum.

There should not be too many such races if you devote 8-12 weeks to thorough preparation. A few days before the main race, the training intensity will decrease. If there are more, the time between them should be enough for rest and recovery.

Category II – second in importance to you, but they participate in the preparation for the main races. They are good for testing the current preparation.

These races do not even have to be the same format as the main race. They should not feel pressure because of the results. These are, so to speak, training races, where you definitely give your best. And of course, they’re far enough away from the priority race that you don’t use up the energy you’ll need in the main race.

Category III – races and various sports events that have nothing to do with your intended goal, but you enjoy them and the result is not important to you. Here you can recharge your batteries, make friends, maintain your enthusiasm, get to know each other… And it’s a kind of training.

Create your own race season calendar

What you put in the third category is no less important than the first two. The essence is that races from all three categories are spread over a longer period of time. First the main races, then those from the II and III categories, so that the III category does not threaten the first, i.e. it is not too close to the main race.

(Avoid) Overdoing the races

There is no ideal number of races. Just like the number of training sessions during the week. Both are individual. If you rush to every race you can get to, you risk losing the enthusiasm that will benefit you in the main race of the season. Because every race is as much a mental activity as it is a physical one.

A few more details

Before the race – Find out as much as you can about your main race (and other races as well). Find out about everything – from the field to mandatory equipment and rules, to refreshments and other information. This way you will avoid unpleasant surprises and be better prepared.

After the Race – Learn something about yourself after every race. Maybe your plan needs to be adjusted?

Before and after – Leave room for spontaneous decisions. Leave room for rest. Leave room for exploration.

The liver converts carbohydrates into glycogen. Glycogen then goes to the muscles and is stored there. It “burns” quickly and gives the body fast energy. Although this is the basic energy for sprinters, so you should pay attention to the lack of glycogen. It is important to say that marathon runners use it and consume fat.

Glycogen is a fuel

Fat reserves of runners are not a problem. But glycogen reserves are because they cannot be available as long as fat reserves. On average, a runner can store the equivalent of 8 MJ or 2000 kcal of glycogen in the body. Which is enough for about 30 km of running. Of course, this value is not constant for all runners, for some it is less than 30 km. Many marathoners say running after that limit becomes very difficult.

Energy crisis

When glycogen drops to a minimum, the body begins to burn fat. Which then provides the necessary energy, but this fat-burning is not as continuous as the burning of glycogen. When this happens, the marathon runner will feel very tired. This phenomenon is usually called the marathon wall. Because it has the impression that the runner hit a wall – suddenly lost strength and slowed down.

The task of training and nutrition for a marathon race is to keep glycogen stores as high as possible so that the “wall” is not so dramatic. Avoiding or disposing of the “wall” can be achieved by using a higher percentage of the energy obtained by burning fat during the early phase of the race, which leads to glycogen savings.

In order for a runner to start consuming fast energy from glycogen, he must run with as high a pulse as possible. Therefore in the higher aerobic zone, and at times in the anaerobic zone. Then carbohydrate/glycogen metabolism prevails over fat metabolism and energy is expended quickly. If you do the opposite – slow down. Fat consumption increases and the use of glycogen decreases by that much, which then lasts longer. Therefore, marathoners, slow down!

Food on the road

There is another way to minimize the effects of the “wall”. By using energy gels that are based on simple sugars (dextrose) that are digested very quickly and resorbed into the blood. Giving the much-needed glycogen to the body.

Generally, these gels are used for 45 to 60 minutes during the race. And they are drunk with the appropriate amount of water. Gels usually contain sodium, and some gels contain caffeine. Some runners use a solution of dextrose in water or some isotonic drinks sweetened with dextrose instead of gel. Dextrose is a simple sugar (D-glucose, grape sugar) that is not digested but is directly resorbed into the bloodstream and provides energy for the muscles.

After the race, you should eat food (and drink) rich in carbohydrates as soon as possible in order to prevent glycogen deficiency, and you should also add proteins (meat, soy…) to speed up the healing of leg muscles. Intake of vitamin C in any form is also implied (it is a good antioxidant). Rest and recovery are necessary after a lot of effort. Only when you recover well, slowly start training again.