I’ve run 60 marathons. Here’s what I’ve learned (and the race-day kit that keeps me going)

This week: marathon essentials; women’s underwear for every occasion; and the best mascara, tested

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It’s marathon season and, among the technical-fabric-clad army of runners toeing the start lines at the big city races, there’ll be thousands of mildly terrified first-timers. They’ll be ready to tackle the 26 miles and 385 yards – and take a daunting step into the unknown. Or more like 50,000 steps.

I remember my first marathon in Paris, in 2009. It’s nervy; you’ve suffered your way through the odd 20-mile training run, but what lies beyond that remains a mystery. Will I hit the wall? Will my body cope? What if I pee myself? So many questions, so few guarantees. The only certainty: even if you’re planning to do some jeffing, at some point it’s going to hurt.

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