Sara Cox is about to complete the incredible 135-mile Great Northern Marathon challenge while raising a jaw-dropping £6 million for Children in Need.
The Radio 2 presenter, who has been running through treacherous conditions since Monday, has battled all the elements as she put her body to the ultimate test of running five marathons in five days.
She’s almost made it, with just a few challenging hours left of her incredible journey to Pudsey. Along the way, Sara has captured the hearts of the nation and even received a supportive message from Prince William, which has spurred her on.
Like any athlete, the 50-year-old has been training ahead of her journey to prepare her body for the test. She was able to build up to five runs a week before embarking on her challenge, but also had to change her diet to increase her calorie intake.
Supporting her has been Professor Greg Whyte, who was tasked with helping the TV personality prepare for the gruelling marathon.
Speaking to Runner’s World, Whyte explained that Sara was starting this journey from zero and had very little background in such challenging running scenarios. The presenter also struggles with posterior patella arthritis, so Whyte had to get creative with his training plan.
“Sara’s running history was virtually zero,’ he told the outlet. “I think that she’d done a couple of Parkruns and been on the treadmill in the gym.”
So what did Greg Whyte have in store for Sara as she prepared for the ultimate challenge?
Strength training
It’s not just running that helps prepare athletes for going the extra distance.
To get Sara in shape, Whyte combined a number of strength training exercises and plyometrics that gradually built up her strength and stamina.
Plyometrics is a type of exercise that requires the muscles to exert short bursts of energy and force in short intervals, helping Sara prepare for the long run ahead.
“The great thing about plyometrics is that as well as improving power, they place the important joints – ankle, knee, hip – under load and create more stability,” he told the outlet.
Walking
Whyte also explained that other types of movement also help marathon runners prepare for longer distances.
Instead, he encouraged Cox to walk as much as she could, and particularly make sure she was talking hills and inclines.
“It’s that sort of classic couch to 5K approach. But of course, unlike the couch to 5K, we only had 10 weeks to get ready for an ultra-distance challenge,” he continued.
Mindset
In addition to getting Whyte physically ready, there was clearly a significant amount of mental preparation that went into this challenge.
While it is normally preferable for athletes to run the length of the route they plan to tackle, in this case, Whyte tried to make sure Cox didn’t get too obsessed with the distance she was about to face.
He told the outlet, “Remember, we’re not racing this. It’s about getting from point A to point B. One of the most critical aspects of ultra-distance running is psychology. It’s often those with the strongest minds that do best in ultras, not necessarily the best runners.”
Recovery
Another major element of Cox’s training included recovery, such as rest, protein shakes, cold baths and compression clothes.
Discussing the importance of recovery, Whyte explained that this aspect of sport is typically crucial for adaptation and can help runners prepare for their final challenge.
“People think that the training is all that matters, but it’s not. It’s the adaptation in response to that training. And most of that adaptation occurs in recovery, not necessarily during the session itself,” he said.
