Getting the Call
I hung up the phone and there it was – I was officially part of the Group B Strep Support Charity Marathon team! Cue the confetti cannons and the parade of cheering fans… okay, maybe just a high-five from my oblivious son Jimmy. But still, I was in!
Flashback ten years, and my first marathon wasn’t exactly a stroll in the park. More like a crawl through quicksand. But this time would be different, wouldn’t it?
Planning would be key this time, new training methods, revamped diet, and strength training that won’t turn me into the Incredibly Sore Hulk. And let’s not forget the delicate balancing act of not disrupting the chaos at home, starring Jimmy, the five-year-old daredevil, and Rose, the twenty month old pint-sized whirlwind.
New Diet, New Man
A solid diet plan has been essential to fuel me through training without turning me into a hangry marathon-running Dad. This part of the plan has been really enjoyable and benefited the wider family with new delicious homemade dishes. Plus, it helped me shed some of those extra pounds. Win-win!
Training
Easy Runs
Nice and easy, jogging along at a pace that was easy on the knees and didn’t leave me gasping for air like a fish out of water. These runs were the bread and butter of marathon training. I had to find that sweet spot where I was working hard but not overloading. I began recording things like my running cadence, speed and distances to know when I was moving out of the easy run delta.
Yoga Sessions and Rolling the Muscles
Namaste! Why not!? I incorporated yoga and foam rolling into the mix to keep me limber and less likely to pull a hamstring doing something mundane like tying my shoes.
Tempo Runs and Interval Training Sessions
Fast bursts followed by slower recovery intervals meant I was building up my mileage and improving my lactate threshold at the same time.
The Long Run
Each week, I tackled a longer run, building up my endurance and mental boundaries, within my program I ran two half marathons – Hampton Court Half and the London Landmarks – in addition to 20k, 25k and 31k runs. This ensured I had the miles in the tank for the big day.
Strength and Conditioning Sessions
Using a weight program strengthened the legs, stabilized the wobbly bits, and ensured my connective tissues were tougher than a bodybuilder’s ego.
Rest and Recovery
Because even marathon superheroes need their downtime! Scheduled rest days were my saving grace, preventing injuries and keeping my sanity intact.
Podcasts
Stick to Football, High Performance Podcast, Diary of a CEO and Desert Island Discs got me through the tougher training days.
The Journey, not the Destination
And there you have it— a whistlestop snapshot of my journey to marathon greatness with GBSS. It’s not just about crossing the finish line; it’s about embracing the chaos, laughing and having some fun doing it.
The marathon is the training plan – Sunday is the celebration. Thank you to everyone who has supported me to this point.
See you all out there!
