The York Marathon Festival 2024 proved to be a fantastic day out for charity and sport, with the event showcasing what York as a community was all about. I was lucky enough to interview some of the elite marathon runners that the event boasted.
I was privileged enough to speak to Ultra Runner Alice Bourne who finished the marathon in an outstanding two hours, 48 minutes and 35 seconds. Alice finished second in the women’s marathon in what proved to be an elite run.
I asked Alice what goes into preparing for a marathon, she answered:
“The long term preparation for race day comes not only from the training block and increasing weekly mileage/intensity to condition the legs for the running, but also practising mental discipline in consistent training and practising fuelling and hydration techniques. I train as part of a very supportive local running club and work together with my teammates to train through the block and get ready for race day.”
When asked what goes into the morning of a marathon, Alice replied:
“I like to get up early and have a leisurely coffee and breakfast. I try to lay out race day clothes the night before so all there is to do in the morning is eat and get dressed! I always allow plenty of time to travel to the start in plenty of time for a decent warm up and plenty of toilet trips!”
I also got the chance to ask Alice what troubles her the most when running a marathon:
“The most difficult challenge I face when running isn’t from the running itself, although that is challenging as I push to get faster and stronger, but the mental battle of staying positive and focussed when it gets tough in the race!”
Nouse would like to thank Alice for the interview. Make sure to follow Alice on Instagram (@alicebournee) to keep up to date with her upcoming events!
I was also able to speak to George Mallet who came second in the men’s marathon. George recorded an incredible time of two hours, 26 minutes and 7 seconds.
When asked what George does in the long term to prepare for a marathon, he said:
“A marathon build up for me will take something like 14 weeks, gradually increasing the amount I run each week as well as how much I'm running at a higher intensity. Things like illness and little niggles will affect it but generally speaking I'd like to run something in the region of 90-100 miles a week. I've been running relatively seriously for five or so years now, so I wouldn't recommend it for most people but over the years the body learns to handle a bit more.”
I was also able to ask George what he goes through on race day to be in the best shape possible for a marathon, he responded:
“For me it's pretty simple, I'll get up and try and eat 2-3 hours before the race. Something simple and easy to digest. A medium sized bowl of Porridge always seems to settle well and sometimes I ll swap that for a couple of bagels with honey.”
“A coffee and some orange juice as well as a decent amount of water and I'm generally good to go.”
“Depending on the race I'll do more or less of a warm up, strangely enough for a short race I'll do longer than for a marathon where generally you can take the early miles to ease into it.”
Finally, I was able to ask George what he finds the most troubling while running a marathon:
“For a race like the marathon, I think the two biggest challenges are making sure you don't set off too fast (easy to do when you're quite nervous) and making sure you consume enough fuel (usually in the form of 4-5 gels throughout the race for me). It's difficult to take on gels sometimes, as they can be quite sickly but it will catch up with you late on in the race if you don't.”
“Those final miles will always hurt, it's to be expected in a marathon but just remembering all the work you've put into get there and how the marathon is essentially just the final pay off, generally gets you through.”
Nouse would like to thank George for allowing us to ask him some questions. George is the editor for the Athlete’s Voice, a website designed to give elite athletes from across the world a voice through feature length interviews. Also make sure to check out George’s Instagram (@gjmallett) to keep up to date with what he’s doing!
Last, but most certainly not least, I had the privilege to interview former Team GB Triathlete Heather Townsend who finished in pole position in the marathon with an outstanding time of two hours, 39 minutes and 14 seconds, a course record.
When asked what Heather does in the long-term to prepare for a marathon, Heather stated:
“So I like to do a 8 week build for a marathon! This one was slightly different as I was meant to go to the Berlin marathon a couple of weeks before. I have been struggling mentally with the marathon distance so I dropped out of Berlin and was devastated. So, my coach/husband entered me into the Yorkshire marathon! Which I’m so happy about now!”
“It got me over the mental block I kept having as it was a lot less low key than the major marathons and got my love back again for the marathon! So happy to get the course record too! And so nice to win a local race.”
I also asked Heather what she does on race day to prepare for the challenges a marathon presents:
“On race day I like to be all prepared the night before and then I always eat three hours before the race starts. I then just sip water and hydration tablets leading up to the start.”
“I then do a mile jog as well as drills and have a gel before heading to the start line.”
“For this marathon, my coach also wrote ‘relax calm strong’ and ‘brave’ on my arm to keep looking at.”
I also asked Heather what the biggest challenges that she faces personally on race day, she said:
“My biggest challenge at the moment is doing a time I know I’m capable of. I know it will come and I have been letting it get the better of me and not actually focussing on the process and the reason why I do it. I have twin boys and I love running so focussing on that is what I know I need to focus on and enjoying it again and the time will come! Sometimes it is the process and the journey and not focusing on the time!”
Nouse would like to thank Heather for the interview, make sure to follow her on Instagram (@hevsellars) to keep up to date with what she’s doing!
Once again we would like to thank and congratulate Alice, George and Heather as well as everyone involved for a fantastic event!
