Week 5 Marathon Training Thoughts
Week 5 of my marathon programme, and if you read last week you’ll know I’ve had issues with my achilles. Well… they’ve not gone yet! However, I did manage to get out for a run this week, albeit a shorter one than planned.
Sometimes you can have the best intentions but they’re not actually what’s best for you right now…
On Sunday I had an entry into the Tatton Yule Yomp festive 10km. I thought this was another good opportunity to get some volume into my training in a fun way. Throughout the week I was resting my achilles with the goal of trying to get through the 10km somehow on the Sunday. As it got nearer, and my achilles was still not great, it became a bit of a question as to whether it was sensible. On top of this, I had had a very busy week of work, I was feeling a bit run down, and doing the event would have meant getting up earlier than normal on a Sunday, driving a while to tatton, having to try and find parking and waiting around outside for the event to start with likely a long walk back to the car afterwards. So on Friday my friend and I made a decision to change our plan and go for a run more local instead together. Much as I really wanted to do the 10km originally because doing an event is always fun, when it came to that weekend, it was not what I needed. I needed rest and ease around my run rather than early starts and logistical issues. And after I had made that decision, I woke up Saturday feeling a bit rubbish with a sore throat and cold so that solidified my decision as being the right one.
Despite the cold, we did go for a run more local, and my achilles managed to get through 6km of interval running with walking rest periods… and that was enough! It was sore and swollen afterwards. So I am trying to incorporate more chance to do rehab and strength work during my week to help it. Fingers crossed!
“Once an athlete always an athlete”…. Is this attitude healthy when you have retired from elite sport?
I am an ex-swimmer, and my mindset when I was swimming and training for competitions such as Olympic Trials and the Masters World Championships was very much all or nothing, leave no stone unturned, let there be NO DOUBT I have done my absolutely everything to try and achieve my goals. This attitude was ingrained in me from a young age, in a sport that expected 110% effort and commitment from around 9 years old. I still tend to think this way when going after goals. I just completed a Masters degree and my attitude was very much the same when it came to my assignments and thesis. Although society views this type of work ethic as a good thing to have, and often times the dedication and commitment athletes demonstrate are welcomed in their after-sport careers, there are times where it has the potential to cause harm rather than good!
For example, I cannot put everything into my marathon training and place it as my highest priority, because I have a number of other priorities in life that are more important, such as trying to develop my career, and care for family. So as much as my brain wants to train for the marathon “properly” and be as dedicated as I was for my previous sporting goals, I need to understand and remind myself of the bigger picture here, so that I don’t feel like a failure or like I’m being weak minded when I need to adjust my training around life or prioritise something else over my running. It is something I find difficult to do at times, especially if I prioritise self-care and resting when I need it - I sometimes feel guilty about this as I feel like I should always be being productive and trying to improve (which is ridiculous). That is why it’s important to be realistic and important to not be hard on myself or set too high expectations. Also, if I did prioritise the marathon at the top of my list, this would be to the detriment of other things in my life, such as my career, my health (both physical and mental) and neglecting family and friends. Although it’s important for me to have fitness goals in my life, as this is something that I get enjoyment from, I have to remember that this is not my career, I do not NEED to do it, I CHOOSE to do it because I like it. That is all. Sometimes the “athlete mindset” can cause people to have irrational beliefs and too high expectations of themselves, which can lead to burnout. In addition, in contrast to the athlete lifestyle, most people are spinning many plates, and sport is something we try to fit in around everything, whereas an athlete’s full-time job is their sport. So let’s be kind to ourselves and remember we are doing the best we can do with the circumstances we have got.
By the way, the “athlete mindset” is not limited to just athletes. It can also be seen in people who have perfectionistic tendencies too, among others.
Hair advice for winter running!
Obviously I thought I’d save the most serious and important advice for last! Have you ever been for a run in the rain and when you’ve got home your hair is totally matted and gross? If so, here are a couple of hairstyles you could try to help! The plait and the bun! See below pic where Em and I are demonstrating one of each! Both keep the hair from swishing around in the rain and make it much easier to sort out post-run! Advice for the plait is to not have it too tight, otherwise it becomes heavy and hits your back and gets annoying!
So this week, I hope you’re kind to yourself, you are sensible running around any niggles you might have, and most importantly… I hope you have great running hair. ;)