Runners Prepare for Upcoming London, Boston Marathons

Long distance running and marathon participation present significant physical and mental challenges, with many runners using personal mantras and mental strategies to stay motivated and resilient. Several first-time marathon runners, such as TikToker Liv Barbier at the Boston Marathon and volunteers like Lindsey O’Reilly and Amy Turner at the London Marathon, highlight the importance of mental toughness, community support, and running for charitable causes. Barbier emphasized breaking the race into mental segments and employing motivational phrases, while O’Reilly and Turner are leveraging their runs to support therapeutic and mental health charities. Experienced runners and coaches also stress the value of strategic pacing and preparation, noting that even seasoned athletes find marathons a mental grind but rewarding. Across these stories, the combination of psychological resilience, community encouragement, and purposeful fundraising emerges as central to many runners' marathon experiences.