The weekend programme: The advantages of arriving on Friday
Guests able to arrive two days before the race will certainly enjoy several significant advantages over those arriving on Saturday.
Probably the single most important one is the fact that they have no travelling to do on the eve of the race, hence:
- no ultra early departure from home on Saturday … which inevitably make it a long and tiring day
- no anxiety about getting to London in time to race register before Marathon Expo closes at 17.00 hrs
- no rush to find your hotel, sort out an evening meal, get your kit ready and ensure that everyone in the party is sorted for the early start on Sunday morning.
Phew!!! It is inevitable that arriving on Saturday can, especially for the first time runner, mean that things get very hectic… and not a little fraught.
Instead, imagine that on Friday evening you are sitting back and enjoying a nice relaxing meal in your hotel.
Your race number, timing chip and kit-bag etc are up in your room,
… you’ve seen both the Start and Marathon Expo
… had a chance to glance through the official race literature
… and already met the WRP team resident in your hotel.
Tomorrow morning, instead of getting up at the crack of dawn, you can have a lie-in, then a relaxed and full buffet breakfast before possibly taking the WRP tour around the Finish, doing some sightseeing – even going to see a show. Perfect preparation!
Bud Buldaro, one of the UK’s top marathon coaches rates rest before the race as a critical factor.
“Everyone is nervous the night before and you’ll be fine with less sleep that night but you may have problems if you don’t sleep well two nights before the race.”
Note: A trend we have noticed in the last two years is that a number of guests who cannot get away very early on Friday still travel down arriving in the evening. This removes any anxiety about arriving and means that they can be out at Registration when it opens and also book onto the Walking Tour of the Finish at 12.00hrs. Worth a thought!
Better value
One key thing that you will notice also in the list of prices is that WRP have been able to negotiate significant discounts on room rates for those staying two nights … and even greater discounts for three night stays.
There is not doubt that the longer you stay, the better deal you get and the more you will enjoy your weekend! For example you can add a third night, including a full breakfast for an additional cost of as little as £40 per person.
If possible, make as full a day of Friday as you can
For those booking at both Novotel London West and Novotel Waterloo, car parking will be available from first thing in the morning.
If your train, plane or coach arrival is before 12.00 many will head directly to their hotel to get rid of their luggage either in their room or in the hotel bag store.
If it’s a little later, and you want to join the Walking Tour, simply ask the WRP office for advice as we can arrange temporary luggage storage for you at our Novotel Tower Bridge hotel.
So what next? your options include;
- Done the event before? If “yes” you will probably target Marathon Registration and the Expo.
No question, race registration is far quicker, and the exhibition much quieter and more enjoyable on Friday. You get a real sense of the excitement surrounding the event ahead, have a chance to both sit-in on some interesting talks, visit your charity stand and see some celebrities who will be running with you on Sunday.
- Are you a “first timer”? If the answer is “yes” then why not consider combining marathon registration with the Greenwich Walking Tour organised by WRP?
The group meets (in Greenwich) at 15.00 hrs. ( see “Walking tour of Greenwich and the Start”)
At the end of the tour you can either disperse to wherever or join the WRP staff who will be happy to escort you across to the ExCeL Centre where Marathon Registration and the Marathon Expo are located. (That promptly gets rid of any anxieties you may have of how to get there!)
- Friday evening is also a good time to meet up with our WRP team in your hotel and get from them your envelope with the various tickets that you will need throughout the weekend – another little task you don’t have to do on Saturday when it’s busier!
You might also find that this a better/ quieter time to pick the brains of our resident experts about any aspect of the weekend on which you are not sure.
- Clearly you will want to eat in the evening so why not try the hotel restaurant – especially as you are entitled to a 10% discount off all food (and drink consumed with food) in the bar or the restaurant of your hotel – throughout the whole weekend. The WRP “Discount Voucher” is a genuine money saver available exclusively to WRP hotel guests.
- On the other hand….. maybe you (or some of your party) would like to go and explore some sights, spend a little money in Harrods or some other shop or grab the opportunity to see a show.*
* A tip given to us by the hotels is that if you do want show tickets – then use a daily paper and ring the theatre directly to ask about cancellations. Buying tickets from agencies and touts can push up the price from between 20% – 50% for some shows.
Another tip was that you should not just focus on one show. As one critic wrote; “If a show lasts for a couple of months in the West End then it is good and worth seeing so go and enjoy a unique evening out.”
“Going down on Friday also made it possible for us to really enjoy the marathon Expo over at ExCeL. From that moment the atmosphere and excitement really began to kick-in. Following your advice and going down a day earlier than planned was one of the best decisions I made concerning the marathon.“ JW “By coming down early on Friday it made it all such a pleasant, enjoyable and stress-free weekend.” NB “Next time we plan to take advantage of WRP’s long-weekend break." KH “The three night break offers maximum relaxation, greatest opportunity and best value. We are so glad that we added that extra night.” RW |