I have done nowhere near 26 miles how am I going to manage it on the day? By Marathon Physio Lucy Macdonald

Should I be worried if I have not yet ran 26 miles?

Try not to worry, you don’t need to run anywhere near 26 miles before you run the marathon.

Why should I not be worried?

The longer the distance you run in training the more likely you are to get injured so don’t push the distance too hard.

Does distance matter?

Remember you are better off doing lots of interval training rather than focussing on long runs. Intervals will get you fitter quicker and with less risk of injury.

How will I know I can run 26 miles on the day?

A lot of people feel they need the psychological reassurance of running a big distance before the marathon. However, once you get to marathon day and feel the support and positive buzz all around you, you’ll have all the psychological motivation you need.

More marathon physio advice 

Follow @octopusclinic on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and/or Lucy Macdonald on YouTube to access our latest free videos on marathon training and injury prevention. If you would like our marathon handbook and are running for charity please contact Lucy Macdonald directly on lucymacdonaldphysio@hotmail.co.uk or if you would like to get the video course Your Marathon: Your Physio please click on the link.