Overview
- The i Paper publishes a first-person warning ahead of the London Marathon, which is expected to start almost 60,000 runners.
- The author trained for about three months on a strength-focused plan with trainer Mike Weeks and peaked at an 18-mile long run.
- Severe back pain followed the race, an MRI showed an extruded disc in the lower back, and surgeons later removed the damaged disc material.
- Consultant knee surgeon Khalid Al-Dadah says running can load the knee with several times a person’s body weight and advises switching to cycling if pain persists.
- The article notes fresh debate after Joe Wicks deleted a podcast clip claiming he ran a marathon without food or water, and it stresses steady training with proper fueling and hydration.