Why the Edinburgh Marathon Nearly Broke Me – And Why That’s an Incredible Win | Reflections from Day 1,820

Have you ever poured your heart into something, only to have the weather, your nerves, and the elements throw everything at you? That was me at the Edinburgh Marathon yesterday, and here’s why I wouldn’t change a thing.

Today marks Day 1,820 of my Runpreneur journey—one step closer to my ultimate goals: 4,292 consecutive days running, 40,075km completed, and £1 million raised for children’s causes. Trust me, Edinburgh tested every ounce of my determination and taught me more in a few hours than months of training ever could.

The Edinburgh Marathon: Flat Course, Wild Conditions

On paper, the Edinburgh Marathon should be fast and pleasant. Flat terrain, a bit downhill to start, relatively smooth going. But let me set the real scene: 25mph winds, 40mph gusts, and bursts of torrential rain and hail. The organisers even sent us warnings beforehand!

Marathons are rarely perfect, but this was the most erratic, challenging, and downright unpredictable event I’ve tackled. And having now run my fifteenth marathon or ultramarathon, I can confidently say – no two races are ever the same, especially not in Scotland.

Predicting Performance – And Learning to Adjust

I pride myself on meticulous planning: training plans, fuelling strategies, careful time predictions. But, as I quickly discovered, the weather doesn’t care about your meticulous spreadsheets! I’d aimed for a time between 3 hours 28 and 3 hours 32, but given those brutal conditions, I made a last-minute call to push my expected finish by five minutes.

End result? 3 hours, 37 minutes, 55 seconds—right at the back end of my adjusted target. Could I be disappointed? Maybe, if I ignored everything that went right. But if there’s one thing every runner must learn, it’s this: Adjust expectations, adjust attitude, and celebrate resilience.

Lessons Only the Marathon Teaches

What did I really learn out there?

1. Weather is the Toughest Opponent

There were sunburned foreheads, punishing hailstones, and a soul-crushing headwind for the final eight miles. If you’re prepping for a marathon, especially in the UK or anywhere north, train for all conditions—and don’t beat yourself up if the elements get a win.

2. Find the Wins Beyond the Stopwatch

Past marathons left me disheartened—injuries, poor training, or just not hitting targets. This time, despite hitting the wall at 32km (thanks again, headwind), I kept perspective. I managed my energy, stayed on pace until conditions simply wouldn’t allow, and even got through mostly blister-free. That’s a genuine victory.

3. Fuelling Is Everything (and Dextrose Isn’t Always Your Friend)

I played with fuelling strategies. Dextrose tablets gave me a reliable boost, but one too many left me feeling queasy. Next time, I’ll mix it up—jelly beans might be kinder on the stomach, especially in the crucial closing miles.

4. Barefoot Running: Every Pebble Counts

Running in barefoot shoes means you feel every lump, bump, and grain of tarmac. In Edinburgh, surface changes were, literally, painfully obvious. Seek out smoother tarmac wherever you can, and if you’re not running with thick padding, plan ahead. Every margin of comfort counts over 26.2 miles.

Reflect, Adjust, Move Forward

The real takeaway? Reflect deeply on every marathon. Don’t just log your time—review your preparation, planning, race experience, and what you learnt. Weather off? Adjust expectations. Fuelling off? Tweak your approach. Blisters sorted? That’s huge! If you adapt and grow, every race is a win.

Join the Mission – Together We Can Change Lives

Every day, I lace up and push forward not just for my personal goals, but to raise £1,000,000 to save and change the lives of children worldwide. Your support—watching, sharing, commenting, and donating—makes that possible.

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What’s the wildest weather you’ve faced on race day? Do you also adjust your expectations when the elements turn? Drop your thoughts below—I read every comment!

Stay positive, stay happy, and see you on the next run.

Kevin Brittain
#Runpreneur #EdinburghMarathon #RunningForCharity #BarefootRunner