Cynthia Erivo Shares Insights on Marathon Training

Cynthia Erivo has proven she knows how to maintain her pace, recently smashing her personal best time at the London Marathon with a remarkable finish of 3:21:40—almost 14 minutes faster than her previous record. She achieved this impressive time while also managing a hectic schedule that includes performing a one-woman rendition of “Dracula,” where she plays all 23 characters. Talk about stamina!

Erivo blends her passion for running with her daily routine, opting to train early in the morning without the distraction of music. For her, running serves as a mental retreat, a way to center herself amid the busyness of her life. “Training is work for the body, but it’s also a real time for myself,” she explains. “It’s like meditation—I take that time to really be alone with my thoughts.”

Erivo credits her marathon training for enhancing her ability to undertake ambitious projects like her adaptation of “Dracula.” Surprisingly, rather than feeling burnt out, her running experience has fueled her determination. “Running has kept me conditioned and focused,” she mentions, revealing that she even practices her script on the move: “Sometimes I run my lines while I’m running, so it stays in my body.”

In preparation for the London Marathon, she teamed up with Brooks athlete and coach Erika Kemp, focusing on building strength and stamina to improve speed without straining. However, her journey to the finish line hasn’t been without challenges. She recounted a particularly difficult 20-mile training run where everything seemed to go wrong. “I texted Erika midway, ‘I really don’t think I’m going to get this done,’” she recalled, laughing about the experience. The important takeaway was her ability to push through. “Not every run has been amazing, but I finished, which always feels like an accomplishment,” she shares. “It proves that no matter how tough it is, you can get to the finish line.”

On race day, several essentials help Erivo optimize her performance. She swears by her Hyperion Max running shoes ($275) from Brooks Running due to their lightweight design, which prevents hindering her natural running style. Adorned with custom charms featuring her two dogs, Gigi and Caleb, her other race-day necessities include bone-conduction headphones for comfort, SiS gels in the fruit salad flavor for energy, a hat to enhance focus, and a fitness watch or ring to keep track of metrics.

For those inspired to take up running, Erivo offers straightforward advice: “Put on your shoes. The next day, step outside. Then, each day, run a little further—maybe to the end of the street, or beyond. You don’t need to jump into a 5K or 10K right away; just start,” she encourages.

Chandler Plante (she/her) is a social producer and staff writer for the Health & Fitness team at Popsugar. She has over five years of industry experience, previously working as an editorial assistant for People magazine, a social media manager for Millie magazine, and a contributor for Bustle Digital Group. She has a degree in magazine journalism from Syracuse University and is based in Los Angeles.