How One Race Day Strategy Could Make or Break Your Marathon – Here’s What 13 Races Have Taught Me

Today, I’m breaking down the crucial art of race day strategy—the difference between nailing your marathon dream and watching it unravel. If you’re a regular at mad marathons, ultra marathons, or about to toe your first start line, stop scrolling and read this. I’ve run 13 marathons and ultras; I’m on a journey to 100. Here’s what I wish every runner knew…

Why Race Day Strategy Is Make-Or-Break

It doesn’t matter if you’re gunning for a PB, fundraising for an epic cause, or simply testing your limits. Race day isn’t just about training hard and showing up. It’s about planning every single variable—because the smallest glitch can tip your world upside down.

Think of it as golf: You can have a world-class swing, but if you can’t putt or get out of the bunker, you’re toast. Running is no different. Your fuel plan, pacing, carb loading, kit, hydration, tech, and mindset—they ALL matter.

My Strategy, Tweaked by Real Life

Injuries. Life. The unpredictable. This year, I’ve battled everything, and my fitness hasn’t matched my ultimate ambition (that magical sub-3:15 marathon). Reality check? Yes. But I’ve adapted, with a strategy built on three crucial targets:

• Stretch Target: 3:25 (If all stars align)

• Realistic Target: 3:30 (Based on current training and the honest truth)

• Worst-Case Target: 3:45 (Because sometimes, you just hang on)

Setting these three keeps you motivated: If things go sideways, you pivot, re-focus, and still find pride on the finish line, not heartbreak.

The Secret Weapon: The Tanda Formula

Here’s what the science says. I use the Tanda method (shout-out to the Italian sports scientist!)—crunching my eight-week training averages (pace + distance) to predict a realistic outcome. That’s how I face the truth and plan my triple-targets—stretch, realistic, worst-case—every single race.

The Checklist for Race Day Victory

Let me be painfully clear: Fail to plan, plan to fail. For marathons and ultras pushing body, mind, soul to the edge, you need these in your arsenal:

• Training tailored to the real goal

• Nutrition and hydration dialled in

• Carb loading scheduled (not guesswork)

• Kit, shoes, and tech sorted (with contingencies)

• Mental game locked (visualise your finish line and those moments it gets dark)

TL;DR – Your Takeaway

If you dream big, you’ve got to plan smart. Whether it’s for a trophy, charity, or pure personal best, treat every marathon with the respect of meticulous strategy. That’s how we cross finish lines, one day closer to those audacious goals—like our Runpreneur mission: running further, raising more, saving children’s lives.

Let’s talk!

What’s your non-negotiable race day tip—or your nightmare storey? Comment below. Share your goals. Join our movement on the Runpreneur Challenge as I run 40,075km and raise £1,000,000 for children who need a fighting chance.