Dedication

's what you need if you want to be a record breaker


However if you just want to be someone that does their best and plods along with the crowd then these are the essentials to pack the night before the race

1: Race number. Essential. Not allowed to run without it. The fact that the organisers think that anyone else would be daft enough to get out of bed to try and nick someone else's " opportunity" to exert themselves in the cold whilst everyone else is still at home reading the papers under a duvet, is somewhat risible .
2: Music a must. There are many times when Blondie, Foo Fighters and Manic Street Preachers ( sorry Paul FS) have kept me going at a difficult part in the race ( so anywhere after about 80 yards then )
3: Water. Just to throw over your head to look seductive at about 4 miles
4: Glucose gels. Heroin for the leg muscles at about 11 miles ( not that I have ever done heroin but my legs tell me the glucose stuff is good )
5: Oh the safety pins. Well I nearly forgot. They are to pin your race number to your top of course ( one year I did this on an unfortunate patterned t shirt and the shapes and the way the material pulled against the pins made me look like I had comedy breasts a la Blackadder The Second and the drunken dinner party with Melchett )
6: The shades?? Well I am just
stupid enough to believe in blind faith and expect some sunshine meteorologically optimistic
7: Gin. Oh bollocks . This may be the one that I need to subsitute for my running shoes. Knew there was something I had forgotten...


Probably my favourite song of all time and the one I crossed the line to at the recent Manc marathon x