Are You Setting Yourself Up for Marathon Failure? Here’s How I’m Changing My Game Before Edinburgh, And Why You Should Too!

Today’s blog post is for anyone who's ever stared down the barrel of a marathon, wondering if they’re actually ready—or just winging it and hoping for the best.

I've just ticked off consecutive day 1,812 of my relentless Runpreneur challenge, on my quest to smash past Day 4,292, cover 40,075km (a lap of the world!), and most crucially—raise £1,000,000 for children's causes that desperately need our help. Every stride I take is about saving young lives. If you believe in this mission, keep reading, share the journey, and maybe together, we can do something truly world-changing.

Why My Edinburgh Marathon Expectations Needed a Serious Reset

Let’s not sugarcoat it—my last few marathon performances have been underwhelming. I hit a personal best at Yorkshire (3:24:48, in case you’re keeping score), but since then? Disappointment, frustration, mistakes repeated. Sound familiar? Here’s where I kept going wrong, and what I’m putting right for Edinburgh, just a week away.

The Data Never Lies—So Why Did I Ignore It?

There’s this brilliant training framework called the Tanda Method—maybe you’ve heard me bang on about it before. It takes your weekly mileage and average pace over an eight-week block, crunches the numbers, and gives you a predicted finish time. Every marathon I’ve respected that prediction, I've finished within two minutes of what Tanda suggested. When I've tried to outsmart it? Crash, burn, and an unhappy I’m limping across the line.

So why did I kid myself that I could PR out of thin air? This time, I’m not falling for wishful thinking. My Tanda data says 3:30:00 at Edinburgh is realistic. I’m gunning for just under 3:30 as my best case. If things slide, a 3:39 isn’t a disaster. But chasing a PB that my training doesn’t justify? Not on my watch.

Pain, Blisters & Foolish Experiments: Learn From My Mistakes, please!

Let’s talk pain—specifically, the kind that ends with months recovering from blisters so deep you could store your lunch in them. I faced this at both Yorkshire and Loch Ness. Manchester was better thanks to silicon sheets, but I fastened them wrong. To fix this, I’m testing every bit of kit and every trick up my sleeve, all week before race day. No new gear surprises, no oddball fuelling tests mid-race—just solid, proven routines linking back to my big PB day.

Key Takeaway: Don’t try anything new on race day. It doesn’t matter if the Instagram algorithm or your mate swears by it. If you haven’t tested it, ditch it!

Conditions Matter: Hot Weather? Enemy Number One

Perfect marathon weather? Give me 8 to 12 degrees Celsius and maybe a light breeze, please. If the Scottish weather delivers a curveball, and it’s 20-plus or gale force, I’ll immediately add five minutes to my goal. That’s not defeatism—it’s tactical survival. Hot races are a totally different beast, and I’ve learnt the hard way to respect the conditions.

The Real Secret to Marathon Success

Marathon running is as much mental as physical. If you’re questioning your shoes, gels, or kit at mile ten, you’ll be in a world of psychological pain by twenty. I want zero doubts on race day so I can focus on the only thing that matters: seeing those kids’ lives changed, one finish line at a time.

My Edinburgh Marathon Victory Checklist

• Finish between 3:28 and 3:32 → winning

• Minimal (ideally zero!) blistering

• A strong last 10K—not a survival shuffle

• Stick to the proven fuelling and kit routine

• Taper properly—no last-minute heroics

If I tick those boxes, that’s a massive win in my book.

Lessons You Can Steal For Your Own Races:

1. Let training data drive your expectations. The numbers don’t lie.

2. Test ALL gear and strategies before race day. No exceptions.

3. Adjust for weather and course conditions—don’t be a hero.

4. Don’t let your brain take you out of the race. Confidence comes from preparation.

Join Me—And Help Save Lives

Every marathon, every vlog, every hard-earned mile is about a much larger mission: saving the lives of children by trying to run around the planet. If you care about making a difference, hit subscribe, share this post, and get involved. The more people we reach, the more lives we change. Together, let’s make history—one run at a time.

Stay positive, stay happy, and I’ll see you on the next stride.