Everyone out there who is currently training for a marathon will know what I mean when I say you feel like you are going that ‘extra mile’. Alarms set for 5am to squeeze in that run before work, layering up to brace the cold on a dark winter’s evening, carrying on when every muscle in your legs are aching… you get the idea! |
extramile is a social campaign at the London Marathon led by headline sponsors Virgin Money and developed in partnership with communication design studio four23. It was first launched in 2014 and enables runners to share their marathon journey via Twitter or Instagram using the #extramile hashtag. The extramile website (http://www.extramile.co.uk) then pulls all content together which us shared using this hashtag, and displays it on a collective timeline - bringing the journeys of 37,000 runners together! The website also allows you to create your own capsule to record your own #extramile Twitter and Instagram updates and gives you a personalised URL which you can share with others.
Sharing my journey through Twitter and Instagram using the #extramile hashtag allows me to connect with a much wider audience, and a simple 'retweet or 'like' from someone can give me that extra little boost. Following other peoples' journey also keeps me motivated and at a time when I may feel like I am struggling there is someone out there with a bit of motivation or advice to offer. I find being able to look back on images or posts I have shared furthermore helps me reflect on my training. I hope I am able able to inspire and support fellow marathoners with my training updates... and of course my sweaty selfies!