First-time 2027 London Marathon runners can apply for Greg Whyte coaching, nutrition support and a £500 finish bonus.
The former Olympian and sports scientist is offering two novice marathon runners personalised training, nutritional guidance and a £500 completion bonus as they prepare for the 2027 London Marathon.
Securing a place in the London Marathon is one thing. Getting yourself to the start line properly prepared, particularly when you’ve never run 26.2 miles before, is quite another. For two first-time runners taking on the 2027 London Marathon, there is now an opportunity to have one of Britain’s most recognisable endurance coaches overseeing their preparations.
Professor Greg Whyte OBE, the former Olympian and sports scientist who has helped celebrities including Sara Cox, John Bishop and Greg James tackle extraordinary physical challenges, is joining forces with nutrition brand SuperNutrio to coach two amateur runners towards their first marathon finish.
The successful applicants will receive personalised training and nutritional guidance throughout their preparations, along with a £500 cash bonus if they complete the race and fulfil the programme requirements.
There is one important condition before anyone starts planning their victory lap: applicants must already have secured their own place in the 2027 TCS London Marathon through the ballot or a charity entry.
The difference a proper training plan can make
For somebody preparing for their first marathon, knowing how to structure their training can be as significant a challenge as the running itself.
There are long runs to accommodate, recovery to consider and nutritional decisions that become increasingly important as training progresses. Trying to work out how all those pieces fit together can be daunting without experienced guidance.
That is where Whyte comes in.
The two selected runners will receive individual marathon training plans developed by Whyte, alongside one-to-one nutritional advice designed to support their training and recovery.
His previous work with high-profile personalities undertaking demanding endurance challenges has made him a familiar name in British sports science. This initiative brings that experience to two ordinary runners preparing for their first attempt at the marathon distance.
Rather than following a generic training schedule, they will have a programme tailored to their individual preparations and ongoing guidance as race day approaches.
Why Greg Whyte puts preparation before performance
Training for a marathon involves more than accumulating miles. What happens between sessions matters, particularly as the demands of a training programme increase.
Whyte emphasises the relationship between physical preparation, adequate recovery and nutrition.
“It’s all about Planning and Preparation. Supporting hard training requires targeted recovery including optimal nutrition. The right nutritional strategy is about quality, quantity, type and timing. Making sure the nutrition strategy aligns with the training plan is crucial for success.”
For first-time marathon runners, his comments highlight an important consideration: training and nutrition need to work together.
The quantity and timing of food should reflect the demands of the training programme, rather than being treated as an entirely separate concern. Recovery also needs to be accounted for when planning successive sessions.
The successful applicants will receive nutritional guidance directly from Whyte, as well as a supply of SuperNutrio products throughout their marathon preparations and a branded goodie set.
What the two selected runners will receive
TWO PLACES AVAILABLE
The coaching package
For eligible first-time runners who already hold a 2027 London Marathon entry.
- Personalised marathon training
- A training programme developed by Professor Greg Whyte.
- One-to-one nutritional guidance
- Individual advice to support training and recovery.
- SuperNutrio products
- Products supplied throughout the marathon journey, plus a goodie set.
- Completion bonus
£500
Awarded after finishing the marathon and meeting all programme requirements.
Although the cash reward provides an additional incentive, the principal opportunity is access to individual coaching throughout the build-up to one of the world’s best-known marathons.
For runners who have never attempted the distance, that level of support could be particularly appealing.
Who can apply for the 2027 London Marathon coaching programme?
Applications are restricted to novice marathon runners who have independently secured a place in the 2027 TCS London Marathon.
To qualify, applicants must meet all four eligibility conditions:
- Be aged 18 or over.
- Be a UK resident.
- Be training for their first-ever full marathon.
- Already hold a ballot or charity entry for the 2027 race.
Successful applicants must also commit to completing the full training programme and agree to share their experience through interviews and content published on SuperNutrio’s website and social media channels.
This is therefore an opportunity for runners comfortable documenting their preparations as well as following a structured coaching programme.
SuperNutrio is not affiliated with, endorsed by or an official partner of London Marathon Events or the TCS London Marathon. The initiative does not provide race entries.
How to apply
Applications are open through the SuperNutrio London Marathon website.
Eligible runners can apply for one of the two coaching opportunities, with the successful candidates receiving guidance from Whyte as they prepare for the 2027 race.
For anyone who has already secured a place and is contemplating their first marathon training schedule with equal measures of enthusiasm and uncertainty, the prospect of an Olympian overseeing their preparations is an unusual opportunity.
The £500 at the finish line is a welcome extra. Arriving there having made the most of expert guidance is the bigger prize.
