Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon: The do's & don'ts

Don’t stress about your time

It's easy to pick goals and then try to beat them as you count down each mile, but your body will let you know whether it's gone off too fast or if it's got some spare energy in the tank.

Don’t panic if you need to walk!

Give yourself time to recharge and hydrate. Take in the atmosphere, breathe and then when you feel up to it, start jogging again.

Don’t wear new shoes

Guaranteed some beginners will rock up with sparkly new trainers, looking the real deal. When mile 8 kicks in…they'll not be looking so fresh. Best to stick with the shoes you've worn to train in, they've gotten you this far.

Don’t forget to wear Vaseline

Trust us, you don't want 'runners nipple' – carrying a tiny tin of Vaseline can help prevent chafing in those delicate areas as you run.

Do Pace Yourself

The energy and atmosphere on the day with everyone cheering can be overwhelming. You know your body, so stick to your game plan – slow and steady wins the race!

Do fuel up!

As the saying goes, you are what you eat. So you must make sure you're eating healthy and fuel-efficient foods in the build-up to the race. Food you should avoid are cheese, spices, high-fibre fruits and caffeine in large amounts.

Do Hydrate Properly

Drinking water in the days leading up to the event is important to get your body fully hydrated. Our top tip is to drink little and often, don't go downing pints on Sunday morning. You'll be racing to the toilet, rather than the starting line.

There's nothing like some of your favourite tunes to get you totally pumped up before and during your marathon. We're talking the hottest dance tracks that will motivate and inspire you across the line – that's Cool Marathon Mix. You can listen via the app and online!