Week 1 Marathon Training Thoughts
20 Weeks to go (week 1 of programme)
Week 1, Session 1!
Hello and welcome back to week one of my marathon training blog. This week was my first official week of training for it! So far so good – I managed to do both my sessions and my running is starting to feel a bit better. However, it still took some mental strength to physically go on my runs, especially because life is pretty mad at the minute, so I’m tired, and also, the weather has not been fun… But I managed it. Here are some of my running thoughts and tips this week:
1) Technique Technique Technique!
We all run differently. One of the things I like to do during a running event is notice just how different everybody’s running style is, and sometimes I even try to copy their style to see what it feels like! We are all build differently and so this is fine. However, there are a few technique pointers that we should all try to focus on.
During one of my runs this week, as I started to get tired towards the end, I noticed in my shadow on the floor that I didn’t look like I was picking my feet up much. Which I know means I’m not using much propulsion! So to distract myself from my thoughts of wanting to get to the end of my run, I started to focus on my running efficiency. I started to push through my foot more and focused on lifting it up at the back a little more too. This made my stride length a bit longer and I then noticed my pace increased! So not only was I distracting my mind from the run, but I also inadvertently made myself faster, even though I was tired.
Borrowed this image from an interesting blog by Geeks On Feet about stride length
So maybe during your runs you could find something to focus on technique wise. Here are a few tips:
- Try to lean forward rather than running vertically. You want to lean in the direction you want to go, to use a little bit of gravity and momentum to help you “go”. Sometimes if people run too upright they can get a sore back or tight hipflexors because they are doing all the work.
- Try not to over-reach forward when stepping down with your foot. Your foot should land underneath your body, not out in front. Focus instead on landing and then pushing your foot through to the back, propelling yourself forward.
- Try not to run with tight fists. This wastes energy! Have relaxed hands and arms (unless you’re sprinting where your arms will be working hard!).
If you’d like to know more – drop me a message!
2) “I felt faster, but I wasn’t!”
One of my runs this week was the same loop I did the week before, and this week I felt faster. I wasn’t taking much notice of my watch pace (see last week for my thoughts on this!) and so when I finished the run I thought my time might be about 1 minute quicker than last week. It wasn’t. It was 20 seconds faster*. Now, at first I was a bit disappointed. But then I reminded myself that if it FELT faster, then that is important. Because that means I was finding it easier. It wasn’t so much of a struggle. Which shows progress with my running fitness. So although the time wasn’t what I thought it would be, I have still improved!
So if you go on a run and you expected a faster time but didn’t get it, try and write down somewhere one positive you can take from the run instead. And if you’re really struggling, here’s one you can use: YOU STILL GOT THE RUN DONE! Which is better than not doing it at all!
*in all honesty, I thought, until now, that my time was only 10 seconds faster. But I just double checked and it was 20, so that’s still better than last time!
Wearing my half ironman T shirt to give me motivation
3) Wearing the wrong clothes is the WORST.
One of my runs this week was all planned out in my day. But then I had a couple of meeting cancellations and it meant my day moved around. There was an opportunity to run in the daylight instead of in the dark when I got home (which I prefer). But doing this meant I wouldn’t have chance to go home and get my running clothes on. Now, I work in a gym, so I had gym clothes on, but they weren’t what I would normally run in. But I thought I’d take the daylight opportunity and go anyway! (I had my running shoes in the car – I wouldn’t run otherwise - footwear is important!). However, VERY quickly into the run I remembered why wearing the right clothes is so important! I had the wrong bra on (not much support), and my leggings kept falling down and pulling my running belt with them. Also I was wearing a cotton t shirt.. and when I got hot I really wanted to take it off… but because of the bra situation I didn’t haha! So it meant I spent most of the run irritated because my clothes were annoying me and I definitely wasn’t in a calm “flow state”*.
However, I did feel smug when I had finished that I had got it done earlier than originally planned which meant I could go home and relax later on after work. But maybe I should have spare running clothes with me at all times… just in case ;)
So the moral of this is… wearing the right clothes can make a difference to your running mindset! So yes, you should give yourself permission to buy those shorts or buy that bra for running… because it helps! You’re welcome. ;)
*Flow state refers to being in a psychological state consisting of complete and energised focus, total involvement and enjoyment in an activity which helps achieve optimal performance. Also known as being "in the zone”.
Thanks for reading!
Hope you have had a good week of running! I’m leaving you here with a picture of a thing I did this week… I graduated from the University of Staffordshire with an MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology, awarded with distinction and I am really proud of it so thought I’d include a little picture here to finish!