Bucks New University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor has issued advice to runners ahead of this weekend’s London Marathon.

Professor John Brewer, who has a personal best marathon time of 3 hours 8 minutes, issued a selection of important tips for runners, including:

• Write a list of everything that you will need on race day morning, including your all-important running number, safety pins and even your running shoes.

• Don't be tempted to race in something you have never worn before when running. 26.2 miles is a long way, and you need to be comfortable as chafing will soon lead to abrasions, blisters and bleeding.

• Include plenty of carbs in your diet. These are stored in the muscle and liver as glycogen and will provide most of the fuel you will need to complete the distance.

• It's probably that you won't sleep well on the night before the marathon - but don't worry, you won't be the only one, and no-one has ever fallen asleep running the London Marathon.

• Plan your race day breakfast carefully - don't eat anything you aren't familiar with and take a snack with you on the journey to the start as there is a long wait before the gun goes.

• Equally important is the need for a pacing strategy to achieve your target, based on a sensible minute per mile target that you know you can sustain. Far too many runners get carried away each year by the excitement, and set off too quickly, only to suffer badly, or even very badly, during the final stages of the race.

Bucks Free Press:

Professor Brewer said: “You will have taken almost 40,000 strides to complete the 26.2 miles so you will have sore legs for two to three days after the race, as well as a few blisters and will possibly have said a sad farewell to a few toenails.

“Don’t worry though as you will soon recover and be ready to face your next challenge.”