For the first time, the Mini Marathon will be a standalone event on Saturday 1 October, the day before the London Marathon. The Marathon is now re-introduced to 80s Casual Classics with the latest Marathon Tech version. Highlights of the updated trail trainer include mesh uppers and suede overlays with active orange 3 stripes to each side. A nod is given to Bill Dellinger with a webbing print added to the midsole alongside BOOST sole technology and original trefoil branding to the tongue. A great ‘old meets new’ addition to any 3 stripes collectors trainer wardrobe. Above: The adidas Marathon Tech & adidas Forest Grove trainers both now available from 80s Casual Classics. In his absence, defending London Marathon champion Sisay Lemma and Ethiopian compatriot Kenenisa Bekele are among the favourites for the men's title, while the women's race is headlined by last year's winner Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya and Ethiopia's Yalemzerf Yehualaw, who set the fastest debut time for a marathon.

But running a marathon on the trail isn’t exactly the same thing as running one on the road. A trail run lets you step outside the pace/splits construct of a road race because your mile pace is dictated more by the terrain than anything else. And while there are pluses (like less impact on your body versus running on pavement and better scenery), a trail marathon also comes with unique elevation changes, different strength requirements, and less aid on the course.

That could depend on the rail strikes that have been causing headaches for those travelling to London.

Our iteration of the 40-year-old runner paints the silhouette in a striking yellow and red colourway. A comfy blend of breathable mesh and suede builds the models uppers, with soft nylon employed for the tongue. Underfoot, we’ve painted the runner’s protruding Trefoil print outsole in a gum shade – a first for the Marathon TR. The adidas Marathon Tech trainer puts an updated spin on the classic 3 stripes trail runner from 1979.This year's marathon marks the third and final time it will take place in October - moved because of the Covid-19 pandemic - with the race returning to its traditional spring date in 2023. Because trail running calls for shorter, choppier steps that keep you light on your feet, it’s important to work on your foot and ankle strength and work on your lateral stabilizing muscles. “I like to do a lot of single-leg stability exercises, whether that’s single-leg deadlifts, bounding exercises or plyometrics where you’re jumping and landing on one foot, or balancing on one leg on one of those Bosu balls,” says Woods. “You need to get accustomed to activating and using those stabilizing muscles before race day.” Road runners tend to obsess over their pace, splits, and finishing time. But “the first piece of advice I would give someone training for a trail marathon is don’t worry about your pace, because every mile is created differently,” says Mendoza. Four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah had been due to headline this year's elite men's race but withdrew earlier in the week because of a hip injury, while women's world record holder Brigid Kosgei - a two-time winner in London - was also forced to pull out. Organisers say they are doing "everything we can" to help runners facing travel disruption due to a planned strike by rail workers, with 90% of rail services not running on Saturday. Services are also due to start later than usual on the morning of the race.

A 9-minute mile on the trail may feel way tougher than a 6-minute mile on the road, so “you should know what your marathon effort, or a 4 out of 10, feels like and what your 7 out of 10 effort feels like, and you can judge your performance from there,” she adds.Don’t be afraid to hike, either. “A lot of people moving from the road to trails have this mindset that you have to run everything, but sometimes running isn't the most efficient thing,” says Mendoza. “I've seen really good hikers hike faster than people trying to run up; they’re conserving energy for when they need it.” How to Cross-Train for a Trail Marathon About 7,000 children are expected to take part across one-mile and 2.6km distances, but the hope is that this will increase to 50,000 by 2030. Weather forecast With the attention heavily focused on adi's City Series lately, we thought we’d draw your attention away from those geographically-influenced lifestyle silhouettes and introduce you to our size? exclusive iteration of one of the brand’s most celebrated runners, the Marathon TR.

This year, a small section of the marathon route will be turned into Rainbow Row to "celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community, promote inclusivity and create a carnival atmosphere for participants as they pass through the final part of their marathon journey".

Breathability

Talking of those markers, new 100 percent recycled mile markers will be in place this year, constructed from four tonnes of plastic waste.