With the London Marathon 2022 coming up this weekend, we thought it a good time to share with you some questions we asked a multi-marathon runner, Raymond Richford.

As we personalise each of our London Marathon route map prints, we love seeing the different messages and memories each runner wants to include, to remember their remarkable challenge. After completing a few marathons and creating some prints for Raymond, we decided to reach out to him, to see what Raymond had to say about running Marathons, among other things…

What first attracted you to running in a marathon?

Since 2015 I’d been going along to the gym and got involved in a couple of classes with one Physical Trainer (PT, his name is Connor).Connor was and is still involved in OCR (Obstacle course racing – think of Tough Mudder!). One of the girls that also went along to his classes asked him to help train her for the Edinburgh Half Marathon in 2016, in some ways I think I was initially inspired and challenged by that (‘I could do that’) and started going along to an informal running group on a Monday evening (with the same PT). When Connor left the gym to set up his own PT business, I’d decided to join my local running club, Penicuik Harriers and enter their 10k race in May (2017) – I’d set myself that goal and there was no turning back! After two or three months of training (including on holiday in Majorca) I was on the start line of my first 10k race – 48m 17s, not great but it was hilly and it was brutall! Edinburgh 10k followed a few weeks later and then the Haddington 10k and Half Marathon followed that year too – I had the bug. I felt challenged.

How many have you completed so far? Any favourites?

Thus far I’ve run in six actual big city marathons, London (2018,19), Edinburgh (2018,19), New York (2018), Chicago (2019). During Lockdown I ran in the Virtual Boston Marathon (2020) and my own Marathon challenge in early 2021. Picking a favourite out of the first six is almost impossible as different parts of each race have such high points. Overall, if pushed the atmosphere of the London marathon is the best, followed closely by New York, the start and end of NY are breath-taking. Finishing each marathon feels surreal.

How is your journey going to complete the majors? Is this the ultimate achievement for a marathon runner?

I have plans to run in Boston and Berlin. That leaves Tokyo as the last of the six majors. I’m not sure that the six majors are the be all and end all for marathoners, it’s such an individual thing. What I can say is that it is and has become a focus for me, something to work towards, almost a validation of the effort I’ve put into this over the last few years. For me, it’s about channelling my discipline and dedication to a challenging outcome.

Tell us about the first one? How did you feel before, during and after?

London Marathon 2018, my first marathon.Before the race I’d been given lots of advice, most of it being – don’t go off too quickly!I didn’t heed that advice then and I still struggle with it now to some degree!I’d trained hard (always do!) and felt as fit as I had for ages. However, a combination of not taking the advice on-board and temperatures of around 25-26 degrees made it a baptism of fire in my marathon career. I hoped to run around 3:20-25 but ended up running 3:48!! I remember at around 13 miles thinking to myself that it wasn’t about the time any longer it was about not stopping and surviving!! Survive I did. I now understood that 26.2 miles is a long way and the marathon distance deserved even more respect! I had to pull myself together quickly and recover as I had the Edinburgh Marathon to run in 5 weeks or so. This wasn’t ideal planning for a rookie marathoner. I was praying for rain and cloud. Edinburgh didn’t disappoint!

Do you have three tips on what to do before a marathon on the day and three tips for after, on that evening?

Three tips for before – i) Get a training plan and follow it ii) Rest when the plan says rest! iii) Take advice!!!

On the day i) Arrive with time to spare ii) Relax – remind yourself you’ve trained for this and followed the plan iii) Have a goal in mind – but be prepared to alter it.

After the marathon i) This isn’t really a tip – personally, I need to reflect on what just happened, whether that be my time (good or bad), what I’ve seen, how I feel, let it soak in.Get someone that really wants to listen to what you’ve gone through as you’ll really want to share the experience, regardless of whether it’s good or bad. Be prepared to feel pain.

How often do you run a week?

I run five times per week, though depends on what plan I’m following.It’s not as bad as it sounds as each session has a different purpose e.g. build speed, stamina etc.On average I’d be running between 30-50 miles per week in marathon training.

Has your training changed since COVID?

My training hasn’t changed too much since COVID. If anything, it’s meant I run outside more than before.Pre-COVID, I’d run some of the shorter speed sessions on a treadmill in the gym.Now that the gym is open again, I’ve found it harder to run in the gym.

What’s your dream finishing time?

Dream finishing time…Even looking at this question makes me feel a little anxious! My current goal is to run sub 3:15 (current PB 3:18:23). 3 mins and 23 seconds doesn’t sound like much, does it!? A dream time… 3:09:59!

Thanks for asking these questions and giving me an opportunity to share my thoughts and answers.I’m sure that some of my answers will be typical of marathoners in general, however I believe it’s also fair to say whatever is driving me to run / race 26.2 miles on a regular basis and challenge myself and my PB is particular to me. I’m ok with that.

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We hope you found that interview interesting and especially inspiring if you too are considering running longer distances or are already on your journey to.

We really love hearing about finisher’s experiences when we would with them on their London Marathon personalised print or another marathon from our range here. (There is also a new design for the London Marathon featuring a skyline here)

Thanks for reading!