Running a Marathon

Posted on: 16 January 2012

I’m currently in training for the 2012 Brighton Marathon in April (#1 on my 101 list). The purpose of the post is to point out a few of my experiences and thoughts when undertaking this training and how it draws many parallels to most other activities in life. As your PE teacher probably said to you back in secondary school, it’s mind over matter.

For the average marathon participant - i.e. someone not planning on completing it in a competitive time - in the case of the marathon, let’s say under 3h45m - it really comes down to commitment to train and a large dose of self belief. At this point I run the risk of starting to sound like a self-help article, but do read on.

In my experience, reaching a level of fitness for keeping a steady pace for a long period of time, is achievable in a few months. It’s a case of getting on a treadmill and increasing your distance in small steps, week-by-week. If you keep this consistent, you should be able to run 10k fairly comfortably. The important thing here is not missing weeks.

Then it comes to down a few other physical fundamentals one must adhere to:

1. Keeping fit and well / avoiding injuries. A decent pair of well-fitted running shoes, a degree of common sense with regards to staying within your abilities, and not overdoing it are important.
2. Nutrition. Again, this is largely down to common sense more than anything. Your body needs fuel, and the right foods provide the right fuel for continual exercise. However fit you are, without anything to burn, your body will fail you.
3. Hydration is another important aspect that is easily manageable with the right easily-attainable advice online.

To me, the crux is the mental challenge. Every second you continue to run, you’re battling between the decision of taking the next step, or simply stopping. It’s that will power that allows you to run 26 miles, much less your physical ability and condition. If you put this into practise over and over (during training), this mental challenge will become much more manageable. And it’s with this ethos that I believe almost anyone is capable of undertaking such a challenge.

I am at the stage in my training where I am able to run 12 miles, this is around 1h45 - 2h of running. Unless your legs physically cannot support your body any more (see bullets above) the only thing stopping you from running a few extra miles (increasing milage every week) is your mind.

Essentially, it’s easy to give up on something. A lot of things are fun to try, some of those will keep you interested for longer, but really it comes down to your staying power and commitment to the cause which leads to your eventual success in the task. A marathon is a commitment. Put in the hours of training, adhere to the basic physical fundamentals, and you’re already on the road to success.

Right, how many self-help cliches did I manage to knock out?