I read somewhere that running a marathon is a lonely experience. I agree yet I cannot wait until I do my next. I made several mistakes in the week leading up to the day of the marathon and on the day itself..
The 18 week training programme I followed required me to taper my training right up to the day of the marathon but once I had done the 20 mile run I decided I had done enough and I spent the last week resting and eating. Big mistake; my muscles, from my knees right up through my hips, started to feel achy like I had already run the thing.
If you have been running for the last five months it is what your body has come to expect. If you suddenly stop, it seems your body doesn't to like it as it starts to adjust to your new lifestyle.
On the day of the actual marathon, I took Jaffa Cakes, jelly sweets and Lucozade all three things I don't usually touch. I had read that you should not introduce new things to your lifestyle for two weeks beforehand and now I know whey. My gut bloated out: your body is used to one system and introducing new foods or routines at the last minute really upsets it. Like a new born baby, when it's upset you are the one who pays for your stupidity.
At the start line I'll stand at the back where I belong. Tom and I stood near the start line behind the men bearing balloons with times written on them and took off at a pace far faster than I was used to and I paid for it with a stitch. Unless you are a serious runner you don't belong there and it's inconsiderate to the serious runners.
What I take away from the experience is that although my legs started to seize up around mile 16 it never occurred to me to give up. Where my body faltered my mind never did. And that gives e confidence to take on other challenges.
The day after the marathon, still on a very satisfied high, I registered for the Dublin City marathon in October. And maybe the London and New York.
The 18 week training programme I followed required me to taper my training right up to the day of the marathon but once I had done the 20 mile run I decided I had done enough and I spent the last week resting and eating. Big mistake; my muscles, from my knees right up through my hips, started to feel achy like I had already run the thing.
If you have been running for the last five months it is what your body has come to expect. If you suddenly stop, it seems your body doesn't to like it as it starts to adjust to your new lifestyle.
On the day of the actual marathon, I took Jaffa Cakes, jelly sweets and Lucozade all three things I don't usually touch. I had read that you should not introduce new things to your lifestyle for two weeks beforehand and now I know whey. My gut bloated out: your body is used to one system and introducing new foods or routines at the last minute really upsets it. Like a new born baby, when it's upset you are the one who pays for your stupidity.
At the start line I'll stand at the back where I belong. Tom and I stood near the start line behind the men bearing balloons with times written on them and took off at a pace far faster than I was used to and I paid for it with a stitch. Unless you are a serious runner you don't belong there and it's inconsiderate to the serious runners.
What I take away from the experience is that although my legs started to seize up around mile 16 it never occurred to me to give up. Where my body faltered my mind never did. And that gives e confidence to take on other challenges.
The day after the marathon, still on a very satisfied high, I registered for the Dublin City marathon in October. And maybe the London and New York.
No comments:
Post a Comment