Congratulations and thank you - you did it!

After months of hard-slog training against the elements, 5-6 times a week, Oxfam’s Marathon Stars finally reached the finish line and were able to bask in their athletic glory.

Competing against the elements, Oxfam’s runners joined over 35,000 others, running through the crowded streets of London to collectively raise over £150,000 to help over come poverty and suffering.

We know just how much hard work goes into training and fundraising for this event and we hope that Oxfam’s stars feel a great sense of achievement – they deserve to!

It may be the last thing you’re thinking of – but you can now apply for 2009 ballot and Gold Bond places.

• 2009 Gold Bond application form
• 2009 online ballot entry

Dates for our runners:

• Certificates will be in the post shortly
• Relive highlights of the day here
• Remember to get all your fundraising in before 30th June to get your deposit back.

What difference can you make?

Run the Flora London Marathon with Oxfam and you’ll change the lives of some of the world’s poorest people.

Your money could help us to provide essential relief after a disaster. It could help to fund our long-term development work. And it could go towards campaigning – our constant efforts to push for changes that will make the world fairer and safer.

Here’s what our runners advise:

Fundraise first! I found it really inspiring during all the hard training that my friends had already committed to support my efforts. This let me focus on going a very long way!

Gareth Simpson, Oxfam Marathon runner 2005

The most successful thing I did was use E-fundraising.  I didn’t have to chase people for sponsorship and the money went straight through to Oxfam.

Ben Shreeves , Oxfam Marathon runner 2007

If you don’t ask you don’t get.  After getting £500 from a car boot sale – the company I work for matched it pound for pound.

Suzanna Bew, Oxfam Marathon runner 2007.

Resources

• Briefing presentation – John Taylor’s guide to the marathon.

How to get your big shiny medal

As part of the Oxfam Marathon team we will email you training and nutritional advice in the run up to the big day. We will send you regular emails to guide you around Realbuzz.com. This has everything you need to get ready for the marathon. Sign up as a blogger in the Oxfam space – where you can talk to other runners and get the latest info from the Marathon support team (we will send you the special link).

On your tour of Real Buzz you can pick up:

Training Plans

Enjoy yourself while you get fitter with the training plan. It focuses on building your fitness over 18 weeks to get you ready for the big day. Each week's plan gives you all the training information you need as well as motivational tips and nutritional advice. There’s info for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels of fitness, so you can be realistic with your plans. Running a marathon needs at least four months of commitment. It’s massively rewarding, but you can’t take it lightly.

Podcasts

There are a number of podcasts offering training advice that you can stream or download to listen to on the go.

Route Planners

Wherever you live in the UK, you can get a customised route – brilliant for keeping things interesting. Mix fast, slow, short and long runs, and find new routes to follow.

Expert Advice

Access nutritional, training and clothing wisdom – the best advice from those in the know.

Blogs

Tell all about how well you are doing with your training – or chat with other people doing the same thing you are. Keeping a (b)log of your runs can be really satisfying as you watch yourself improving. A marathon blog with stories and photos are good so your sponsors can see the effort you’re putting in.

Plus loads more.

Resources

• Nutritional Guide (PDF)

With you every step of the way

Ballot runners get everything except the ones marked with an asterisk – but just raise £800 or more and
you’ll get those too.

Before the big day

• An information session where you’ll be given expert advice about training, nutrition and fundraising.
• A direct number for our ever-friendly fundraising support team.
• We will give you a call from time to time. Just ask Kath or Ken if you need any help or advice.
• Monthly training and fundraising tips by email. They’re worth reading so add events@oxfam.org.uk to your address book today.
• A fundraising poster that makes it ludicrously easy to raise £150.
• Details about an e-fundraising website, to make your life easier and help the money come flooding in.
• The Oxfam running vest, in all its glory (make sure you wear it in before the Marathon).
• Access to all the wit and wisdom on Oxfam’s marathon forums at realbuzz.com.

During the run

• A cheering point for your friends and family, to make sure you don’t miss everyone who has come to watch you.
• The cheers of dedicated Oxfam supporters, their pockets bulging with jellybeans.

And in the afterglow of success

• Entry to the post-race reception for Oxfam runners. Just yards from the finish line, it’s the perfect place to eat, drink and be massaged, and to meet up with friends and family *.
• A nice, clean souvenir T-shirt, for you to show off in *.
• A certificate to commemorate your achievement.

PLUS...

Raise £2,500 and we’ll take you on a tour of the Oxfam emergency warehouse, the nerve centre of our response during an emergency.

* Ballot runners need to raise at least £800 before you get the benefits marked with an asterisk.