Week 13 & 14 Marathon Training Thoughts
I really hoped I’d have made some progress over the last two weeks. But life had other plans. Firstly, my Dad has been in hospital for the last 10 days, and secondly, whilst visiting him, I managed to contract Norovirus which wiped me out last weekend. This has meant that my time to train has 1) been very limited, and 2) I missed my “long run” Sunday last week and then spent a few days feeling very weak and recovering from the illness. And on top of that, the emotional strain of a loved one being poorly is exhausting. Sometimes it feels like 1 step forward, 2 steps back doesn’t it. However, the week before I got ill, I managed to run the furthest so far – and was close to completing 5km as run walk. So that was a positive.
Never take what you are doing for granted
When I did the aforementioned run, it was 4.3km, and I was absolutely buzzing when I finished. It felt like a good chunk of a run, in comparison to what I have been doing so far this year, and I remember thinking “I will never take running 5km for granted ever again!”. It’s amazing how your perspective changes when you are no longer able to do something you could do before. It made me realise that although it sounds like one of those Instagram phrases that gets thrown around, it IS a privilege to exercise. We don’t HAVE to do it, we GET to do it. It’s a privilege to be able to move our bodies in the way we want to, whether that’s running, CrossFit, yoga, dance, swimming, whatever it is that you like to do for exercise, the fact that you are able to do so is amazing. When we enter a marathon, we are so focused on the end result of “having to run 26.2 miles”. But actually, you didn’t have to enter the event, you did it because you wanted to. Yes, training is tough and gruelling and a major physical challenge, and some days, understandably, you really don’t want to go out for your run. But don’t take for granted that your body is ABLE to go out and run those long runs on a Sunday – even “just” doing 10km – that’s a long way! A lot of people can’t run for the bus, but your body can run, for an hour or more and that’s pretty impressive. So just a little reminder that what you are doing is amazing, and to not minimise the pride and satisfaction you get from doing your running sessions regardless of how they went, because even though it’s not yet 26.2 miles, it IS an achievement every time you go out to run. And if you’re ever doubting why you’re doing it, imagine if you couldn’t do it? If you were not able to? How would that make you feel?
Pleased with myself for getting out for a little walk/jog after Norovirus. The fresh air was needed!
Common things a running coach hears from their athletes
I thought I would do a little summary of the most common feelings, thoughts and phrases I hear from the runners I coach, because often we can feel that everyone else’s running training is going smoothly and “why am I finding this so hard when everyone else is fine?”. I mean, hopefully my blog demonstrates that this definitely isn’t the case haha, but it can help to know that you’re all feeling the same way!
1) “I really didn’t want to go out” – Every single one of my runners has said this to me at least once. Regardless of ability. Everyone. It’s very normal to be faced with a long session and not want to do it. Especially if it’s dark/cold/raining/all of the above. Especially if it’s been a long day/week/both. Nobody feels motivated to train all the time. Not even Olympic athletes. And if they say they do, they’re lying.
2) “I’m not sure I can run that far” – Doubts about the event that has been entered is NORMAL. Even people who have done the event before feel this way. I would actually rather people have doubts than be over-confident and think they’ll do it easily – this can make people go too fast at the start and then their head goes when it becomes difficult. Doubting your ability to complete the required distance is normal, but you need to keep pushing them to the back of your mind because you haven’t got to the day yet and we won’t know unless you try! Doubts creep in when a training session is difficult and you’re thinking “it’s not even as far as what I’ll have to run on race day”. But remember, on race day, you’ll be rested, tapered, and you’ll have completed your training. Right now, you are none of the above. On race day there are supporters, aid stations, marshalls, closed roads. Everything is different on race day! So just keep ticking your training sessions off and trusting the process.
3) “I missed a session or two and now I’m panicking I’ve ruined it” – if anyone gets through a whole marathon programme without missing a session(s), having to change sessions due to time constraints or feeling off, getting ill, or having to adjust training a bit around a niggle to prevent injury, then that is very rare. It is NORMAL, and exactly why it’s important to have a human coach and not an AI app as the human can help you navigate this where an app can’t. You haven’t ruined anything. All that training you did before doesn’t go to waste. It’s still in your system. Yes you might need a couple of days to get back into things but you’ll get back on track. When it comes to race day you won’t even remember this moment of panic. You’ll still be prepped and ready.
4) “Why am I doing this?” – again, totally normal to ask yourself this. Running a marathon is a major challenge and not something to take lightly! In these moments, remind yourself of your “why”. The reason you signed up in the first place. It might help to have this written down somewhere to remind you in these doubtful moments.
Sweaty after a bike session
Fuel your runs properly
It is so important to fuel properly for your running sessions. Not only so you have the required energy to complete the run, but also for recovery reasons and muscle/joint health. This means eating before you run, being adequately hydrated before you start, and also maintaining during a run. My rule of thumb is if your run is going to be an hour or more, you need to fuel during the run. Ideally every 30 minutes, but I also recommend eating something if you are starting to find it hard, even if that’s before or between your scheduled fuelling intervals. If you feel like mentally, it’s becoming trickier – eat something or drink some electrolytes (or both). Another good tip is to drink before you get thirsty. Stay on top of it before it catches you out.
Try and get into the habit of eating before your run (not directly before, we don’t want a stitch), but leave yourself enough time to eat something, let it digest and then go. In an ideal world you will eat what you will eat on race day – so your stomach is used to it and you have no nasty surprises on race day where you find out that what you ate does not agree with your stomach when running. The same goes for the nutrition you take on your runs. Eat what you plan to eat on race day. That way, you can rule out things that don’t work for you.
Something else which have helped me during endurance events are salt tablets. I have used Saltstick ones and I like them. They’re palatable and come in different flavours and have definitely helped keep cramp at bay! They contain electrolytes and work super fast.
Hope my thoughts have helped in some way this week. Marathon season is fast approaching so I really hope your training is going well! I’m going to leave you with a picture of my cat and I. He comes to greet me when I get back from a run and this is us having a cuddle after one of the ones last week.
Me and my boy - Tux