As everyone who has ever entered it knows, it’s very hard to win the London Marathon ballot (for the sake of our sanity, we’re going to ignore the lucky ones who got a spot on their first attempt). This means every year lots of runners have to scramble to get a place in the event through other means.
For some that means running for a charity, while others can claim a Good For Age spot if they’re speedy enough. This year, however, there is another option and it’s a doozy.
New endurance event website LetsDoThis.com has launched a competition where the winner and a friend not only get a place in the London Marathon, but are also lavished with other treats to make the marathon experience as excellent as possible.
The prize package includes entry into three other races to help get you set for the marathon itself, a personalised training and nutrition plan created by Team GB coaches, Asics running shoes, a full running wardrobe, and a top-of-the-range Suunto GPS watch.
That’s a lot of stuff, but that is not all. Oh no. The winner gets pacing tips from an Olympic gold medallist (presumably that gold came in the marathon – we don’t care how good someone is at the javelin, they probably aren’t going to be your go-to option for marathon pacing tips), nutritional goodies from TRIBE and a proper VO2 max lab test, a lactate level test, a bespoke physio screening from Six Physio, plus a pre- and post-race blood analysis. There is nothing you won’t know about your body and its ability to run 42.2km by the end of the process.
And we are still not finished. The winner also gets a selfie with Paula Radcliffe on race day and – since LetsDoThis.com is also aware that the marathon experience isn’t over when you cross the finish line – champagne, a table at party spot Mahiki, and a post-race chat and drinks with sporting greats: Paralympian Jaco van Gass, cyclist James Golding and adventurer Levison Wood. The winner and a plus one also get to go to spa for a day, which will presumably help deal with the dreaded post-race DOMS.
It’s a hell of a package, so head to LetsDoThis.com to enter. To do so you’ll need to sign up on the site and then share your referral link with a friend. It’s only once that friend registers that you will have officially entered the competition.
All that remains to say is good luck, and don’t despair if you don’t win – here on Coach we have all the info on other marathons you can enter, along with every piece of marathon training advice you could need, including plans for all abilities.
