Reflections on my first wheelchair marathon

Every year I put my name in the ballot for the marathon then feign disappointment when I receive an email telling me I have been unsuccessful securing a place. This year was slightly different.

I found out that there were a number of spaces for disabled participants that had been ringfenced to ensure more representation. I’d been putting my name in the ballot for years, not entirely disappointed when my name didn’t get pulled out but now I had an opportunity to have a real chance to do the marathon, how could I not go for it?

A couple of weeks later my marathon place was confirmed.

When I decided to write this blog, I wondered what I would like to read from someone who had run the marathon. So here are my reflections on the most important things I did (or should have done) as a non-runner taking part in the London Marathon for the first time.

Equipment

• There are two options you have when doing the marathon using a wheelchair – a racing chair or your day chair – and the racing chairs can only be used in the elite event. I’m certainly no elite athlete which meant I’d be using my everyday chair.
• After testing a couple of methods to keep my feet on my footplate, I velcro straps for a couple of quid on eBay to be the best solution.
• I heard mixed reviews from people about using a Freewheel. After testing it, I found gliding over bumps made for a more comfortable pushing experience and maybe improved pushing speed.
• I don’t wear gloves for daily pushing but learned early on I would need some protection for the marathon. My first attempt with self adhesive elastic bandage worked well for short distances but needing even more protection I went to a DIY shop and found a pair of Portwest gloves which had rubber palms that meant I didn’t need to grip to push, I could just let my hands glide over my pushrims – a technique more akin to the elite racers. Turns out the gloves were only single use having holes in by the end of the marathon, but for a fiver I can’t complain!

Training

• I should have started earlier. It’s tough to find the motivation to start a new habit and even more difficult over winter with darker days and dismal weather. I started my training at the beginning of March and even though I got into a good routine then, I would have been in much better shape having started earlier.
• I have a good route around the local park which is relatively flat and a circuit is 2.5km which at 15 minutes makes for an easy thing to slot into your day. The only issue is after 3 or 4 laps it starts to get boring.
• With more time at the weekend I did a couple of half marathons. Even though I didn’t have all the equipment I used on race day, these were valuable.
• I started off with weight training to supplement my pushing but that fell by the wayside. I feel keeping that up would have helped with the steeper hills on the course.
• Most of the training I did was across flat terrain. The marathon is not that flat. Incorporating more hills in training, especially in the half marathon is important.
• I’m not sure that long distance running is for me. What I did really enjoy about training was waking up early and getting to the park when it was quieter for a 5km run. A great way to start the day and it improved my sleep pattern. Something I’ll try and stick to.

Accessibility

• I only managed to get a place in the marathon through the ringfenced spaces for disabled people. Good start.
• London Marathon had a training guide for wheelchair users on their website. I was impressed that this was designed by the current record holder for completing the course in a day chair.
• Overall the event has a lot of accessibility aspects well thought out. Though there were a few things not quite joined up.
• They have toilets at every mile on the route. But accessible toilets every other mile. I didn’t use the toilet when on the course because I was sweating it all out. It’s the principle of the matter though.
• As in everyday life, getting past people in your wheelchair is not as easy as it is for non-disabled folk. It did become much easier when I got more comfortable shouting “WHEELCHAIR COMING THROUGH!”.
• I am militantly independent so would not usually seek assistance. I applied for an assistant runner because I know how difficult the spaces are to get and reached out to my cousin knowing he’s a runner. Found out he missed out in 2020 and had written the idea off. Happy I ran with him both because he was helpful carrying bits, collecting water and clearing other runners out of the way but also great to share the whole experience with someone.

Nutrition

• Not my area of expertise but signing up for the marathon made me think more about my diet. Making a shift to smaller portion sizes, less packaged food and more vegetables.
• Everyone talks about eating a lot of pasta in the lead up to the event which I didn’t focus on but I eat a lot as a matter of course.
• Pre marathon day was about burritos and sweet potato fries. On the morning of the event we ate oats, fruit and peanut butter, with a final banana at the start line.
• I dropped into Holland & Barrett a few days before in a state of panic buying for race day supplements, picking up isotonic energy gel packs and electrolyte fastchews. I worked my way through a pack of fastchews on the marathon but only a couple of energy gel packs. I think my light headedness towards the end of the course may have been lack of gel packs or lack of water.
• The burrito that we took with us and ate on a bench in St James’ park after finishing the marathon was one of the most satisfying meals I’ve ever had.

Taking part in the London Marathon was so much fun. Easily the best thing I’ve done in a long time. Do yourself a favour and sign up for the ballot!