Marathons

The Road to London Marathon 2022 with Chloe Guest

We spoke to our Sportsshoes x New Balance Ambassador Chloe Guest about her road to the TCS London Marathon 2022.

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Hi Chloe! Thanks for taking the time to chat. Could you please start by introducing yourself.

Yeah sure! My name is Chloe Guest and I’m an avid runner, a qualified Personal Trainer and a run leader for Run Talk Run – a global community that supports mental health through exercise.

What inspired you to start running?

I first started running in 2017 after recently moving to London and discovering how popular running was in my area. At the time, my mental health wasn’t great, I was really struggling with anxiety, low mood, low energy, not sleeping or eating well - I knew I needed to make some changes.

I got hooked pretty quickly and after my first half marathon I just wanted to push myself further and further. I had no idea it would end up being one of the most important parts of my life, and that I’d have taken on some of the challenges I have today. Since then, I’ve run over 60 different races and I love every distance, from chatty social parkruns to ultramarathons.

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How has running helped you personally?

Running has without a doubt made me a better person in so many ways and allowed me to meet so many new people. When I’m running regularly, I have more structure to my week, I’m more energised and focused in other areas of my life, I sleep & eat better, and I have time to switch off or be alone with my thoughts on a run. I have a much healthier relationship with my body since I started running, I value it for what it can do rather than how it looks. I recently trained as PT to understand more about how our bodies work when it comes to fitness. I love learning more about female-specific training & fitness in particular.

I recognised the positive changes it brought to my life and I wanted to make a difference to the lives of others, so I trained as a run leader in Hackney for Run Talk Run. Our global mission is to increase accessibility to mental health support through running & walking peer support groups. It allows everyone involved to meet new people and support each other in a non-competitive environment. Most importantly, it facilitates a safe space to talk about your mental health. Running has helped me to help others and I’m extremely proud of the work that we do as a global organisation. I’d encourage anyone to get involved – it’s good to run AND talk!

Why are you running the London Marathon 2022?

Running the London Marathon has been a huge dream of mine, despite 26.2 miles feeling like an impossible distance. I was lucky enough to secure a charity place with Mind in 2018 but I sadly got injured, and although it was still one of the best experiences of my life, I didn’t feel like I’d been able to give it my best shot. So, I was over the moon to be given the chance to run again with Sportsshoes & New Balance in 2021 and now again in 2022!

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How has the marathon training been going?

Overall, it’s going well so far - I write my own programmes with long runs, easy runs, speed-based sessions and plenty of rest to avoid injury. Training in the heat of the summer is tricky, but I still think it’s better than winter training.

Can you share your favourite pieces of kit and equipment?

Sure thing! Here are my top 6 picks;

1. New Balance Fuelcell RC Elite V2 Running Shoes
2. New Balance London Marathon Running Jacket
3. New Balance London Marathon Running Vest
4. Feetures Elite Max Cushion Low Cut Socks
5. Coros Pace 2 Premium GPS Sport Watch
6. Salomon Active Skin 8 Backpack with Flasks

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Let’s talk nutrition. How do you fuel your body?

I’m not at all strict with what I eat, I absolutely love all kinds of food. Luckily, I’m a huge carb lover which works well for marathon training! I always make sure to eat when I feel hungry, otherwise I know my running will be a struggle.

What’s your go-to treat?

The night before a long training run or a race I ALWAYS have pasta & garlic bread. I have a huge list of London restaurants I want to visit, so after my long runs on a weekend my reward is usually to head to one of those (or a pizza on the sofa if my legs won’t work!).

Sportsshoes x NB x Mob Kitchen

I’ve been working at Mob for almost a year now as Brand Partnerships Lead and absolutely love it - we work with some of the most exciting brands and every day is different! I’m so excited that Mob are partnering up with Sportsshoes.com and New Balance to create a Mob Marathon Menu - making delicious, accessible recipes is what we’re all about and I’m excited to bring this into the fitness space!

You can download the Mob Marathon Menu by visiting our New Balance 2022 TCS London Marathon virtual space

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Want to find out more? We've been busy collecting all the latest tips & expert advice for marathon training and race days. Our Marathon category lets you experience real in-the-moment stories as we dive deeper into Q&A with athletes, kit reviews, nutritional advice and so much more!