2025 Chester Marathon Podcast Review with Dom Littler | Race Highlights & Insights

Running a marathon is a goal many runners dream about—but only a few ever follow through. For Dom, the journey to the Chester Marathon started not with elite training plans, but with lockdown runs, friendly banter, and a challenge to prove his mates wrong.

This is Dom’s story of training for his first marathon, racing Chester, and breaking the sub-4 hour marathon barrier.

Have a listen to the podcast here

• How Dom Got Into Running

Like many runners, Dom’s return to running began during lockdown. He started running regularly with friends he’d previously played cricket with, raising money for men’s mental health charities. At the time, an 8km run felt like a big achievement. Work commitments eventually took over, and running dropped off for a couple of years. But over the last two years, Dom rediscovered running—this time through its social and community side.

His early race progression looked like this:

• Mersey Tunnel 10K

• Liverpool Half Marathon

• Chester Marathon (first full marathon)

  
  

• Why Chester Marathon?

The idea of running a marathon initially came from a joke. After completing a 10K, Dom casually told his friends he reckoned he could run a marathon in under four hours. Their disbelief was the motivation he needed.

After researching options, Chester Marathon stood out because of:

• Its proximity to where Dom lives

• Positive reviews from other runners

• A scenic route through England and Wales

  
  

Chester is often described as “a beautiful but challenging course”—something Dom would later fully agree with.

• Marathon Training: What Worked (and What Didn’t)

Long Runs and Time on Feet

Dom’s longest training run was 34km, with most long runs sitting between 28–32km. Due to poor weather, many of these sessions were done on a treadmill—far from ideal, but effective for building endurance.

Speed Sessions and Interval Training

One of the biggest improvements came from weekly track sessions with Mickleover Running Club. These included:

• 400m intervals at around 4:00/km pace

• Short recovery periods

• Tough “Russian doll” sessions combining different distances and speeds

  
  

Dom noticed a clear benefit from speed work, especially compared to earlier races where he hadn’t done intervals.

The Big Miss: Hill Training

Liverpool is flat. Chester Marathon is not. Dom admits that hill training was the biggest gap in his preparation. Despite knowing Chester was hilly, most of his training didn’t reflect that—something he plans to fix for future marathons.

• Race Week Nutrition and Preparation

Race week was kept simple:

• Increased carbohydrate intake (lots of pasta)

• Plenty of water

• Daily electrolyte tablets

• Overnight oats and bananas prepared for race morning

  
  

Dom trained with gels throughout his build-up and carried four gels on race day, ensuring nothing new was introduced during the race itself.

• Chester Marathon Race Day Experience

Start Area and Organisation

The race starts at Chester Racecourse, which made logistics straightforward. The start was clearly signposted, well organised, and featured pace groups ranging from elite times through to 5+ hour runners. Dom lined up with the sub-4 hour pacers, his target from day one.

The Course and Crowd Support

The route includes:

• Chester city centre

• Rolling countryside

• A memorable crossing into Wales (and back again)

  
  

Crowd support was excellent in Chester itself, with smaller but enthusiastic groups in rural areas. Aid stations were frequent, offering water and gels approximately every 4–6km.

Weather conditions were ideal—especially fortunate given storms forecast that weekend.

Pace, Performance, and the Pain

For most of the race, Dom felt strong. In fact, he unknowingly set a half marathon PB during the marathon, despite Liverpool Half feeling much harder earlier in the year.

At 30km, he was on track for around 3:42. Then came the cramps. At around 33–34km, leg cramps hit hard. Regular water stops helped him manage the issue, but the final 10km were a battle of determination rather than speed. Despite this, he never lost sight of his sub-4 goal.

The Final Mile and the Finish

The last mile was emotional. Unexpectedly spotting friends cheering from the sidelines gave Dom a huge lift. Adrenaline kicked in, cramps eased, and he finished his fastest kilometre of the race, dipping under 5:00/km. Crossing the line back at Chester Racecourse was overwhelming—exhaustion mixed with pride and relief. He was officially a marathon runner.

Post-Race Facilities and Medal

Chester Marathon impressed at the finish:

• Ice bath barrels

• Massages

• Live music

• Well-stocked goody bags (including a running belt)

• A high-quality Chester Marathon medal featuring the city skyline

  
  

• Key Lessons From Dom’s First Marathon

  
  

Dom’s biggest takeaways:

• Hill training is essential, especially for hilly courses like Chester

• Speed work improves marathon pacing more than expected

• Active recovery (walking after long runs) helps reduce stiffness

• Strength training—especially glutes—can prevent lower back pain

• What’s Next? London and Beyond

Dom is now preparing for the London Marathon, targeting 3:45, with an ambitious stretch goal of 3:30. He’s also entered the Berlin Marathon ballot.

His next training block will include:

• More hill-focused running

• Consistent gym-based strength training

• Higher-quality midweek sessions

• Smarter long-run pacing

• Is Chester Marathon Worth It?

For runners looking for a well-organised, scenic, challenging UK marathon, Chester delivers. Dom would recommend it to anyone—especially first-time marathon runners who want a memorable but demanding course.

From lockdown miles to a sub-4 hour finish, Dom’s Chester Marathon journey proves that with consistency, community, and smart training, marathon goals are closer than they seem.

Have a listen to the podcast here