First time Marathon experience
A great write-up of the London Marathon experience from a member:
I thought I’d write a few bullet points/short thoughts for those out there thinking of doing their first marathon, given it was a new experience for me and I’d be really keen to encourage others in the club to give it a go.
*TRAINING* – whatever Ted and Adrian say in terms of training, just do it. It does work! And when it seems impossible that from doing under 10 miles you are somehow going to be able to do 20 miles later down the line, you will be pleasantly surprised. The long and steady runs are key, increasing by 2 miles each week. I only did 8 weeks of training rather than the full 12 weeks (last four weeks I had no time to run due to work) and I sort of feel that if I did the full 12 weeks (or more) with a proper taper, my time would have been closer to the 4 hours / 4 hours 15 mins (rather than 4 hours and 37 mins). So if I can do this (with little training and never having ran a race apart from a half in 2020 and a half in 2022!) anyone certainly can.
*ANXIETY/FEAR* – I had lots! To the extent that even the week or two before the race, it froze me into paralysis and I didn’t even want to run. I sat on my sofa scared the moment I walked that I was consuming too much energy. How wrong I was. That taper is good to keep legs moving and make sure your level of fitness stays where you got it to. Even during the marathon I couldn’t settle whereas in the Big Half and on all my long training runs I was very comfortable and very settled (so my pace was consistent throughout for those). I think I was just anxious about the unknown. Never done anything like this before and just didn’t want to mess up. I knew I would finish (always visualised in my head I’d get over that finish line), but just didn’t know how it all would feel on the day and what exactly happens. Frankly, it all just worked out to be another long run (like I would do on a Sunday, but with just a few more people joining in). I think I was reassured once I started running that I am okay and that water stations were all well-stocked and as long as I stuck to my routine then it will all come together. So do not fear. Just treat it like another long run. A lot of the roads we run on come the marathon were roads we all know well as we have either run or cycled on them. That the benefit of it all being on our doorstep.
*DIET* – Make sure you get that right. I certainly didn’t, not in the sense of not eating enough carbs etc but just doing it for 3 weeks rather than 3 days before! Lots for me to still learn. I think the anxiety/fear mentioned above just made me eat and eat and eat more to the extend that I was pretty bloated. Next time I know what to do. I didn’t run out of ‘fuel’ on the course and did take my gels regularly and made sure that I took everything on board I was given at each water station / lucozade stand. However, it was pretty hot on the run and despite taking all my gels regularly and drinking plenty, I know I lost a lot of salts so I had a bit of a headache towards the end and couldn’t even shed a tear when I crossed the line! It took a day or two for the salts to come back (simply had to add more salt to my food to do it) so I need to do some research into whether there are any sort of instant salt supplements I can take whilst running, as I know I am prone to losing lots of salts on a run when I drunk nearly each of the bottles I was provided (I think the water just flushed out my salts). So listen to Ted’s and Suze’s nutrition tips.
*PEOPLE* -My favourite part of the race was when Ted and the Kent AC gang simply shouted out my name at about 20 miles. Certainly needed that! Miles 15-20 are the hardest because of the loop around Canary Wharf… just seems to take an age, your watch goes funny, and it is that middle bit you want to just be over and done with. Last 6 miles were ‘easy’ in comparison; I was just heading home/to the pub! I didn’t enjoy the finish that much – I didn’t get that runner’s high or buzz -maybe it was a bit of an anti-climax for me as it was just a relief I did it especially as I was starting a new job the next day and I wanted to turn up with no crutches! I think by the weekend I’ll be able to have time to reflect and feel that glow. I enjoyed seeing the runners who took part for whatever reason: some elite, others in wheelchairs, others in memory of someone who had died, those trying to break man official record on crutches etc. and when I think of them now, this is what makes me tearful in a happy way. Happy they did it. Because it certainly was London at its best showing the heart and soul of these runners. So do it for you; do it to take in the atmosphere. Enjoy it. It is a pretty special event and I now understand and appreciate why. You will get that high (just make sure you are not starting a new job the next day!!). And everyone will see you as a hero!
*CAMARADERIE* – ah, this is what I love and this is what makes me happy. This is Kent AC. All that spirit and mutual support to help each other along this journey from all the training beforehand as well as on the day and after (on what’s app and in real life) is what made this event VERY special for me. And what makes this club SUPER. It’s even what got me to sign up to the ballot to do the marathon again in 6 months time. I’ll do it for a charity if I don’t get a ballot entry. So join us (the ‘dark side’, as Tom said to me) as anything is possible when there is support and friendship around you. When you are feeling down, there is always someone to lift you back up. And you do that in return to your fellow Kent AC mates when they are not feeling their 100% best. As you know you have been there and how much it helps.
*BELIEVING* – half the battle is just having mental confidence in yourself you will do it (despite the anxiety/fear mentioned above). That is enough to get you to the finish line. So be strong. Physically and mentally. If I can do this, then you can too. And better. Much better.
That’s it. Hope more of you come and join the world of full marathons.