A lot goes into training for a marathon.
I have already been training consistently for a few years, so I definitely didn’t rush into it.
Nonetheless, here was all the training and lessons from the event!
Reflecting on the training
- I have found that I don’t like only training for running and putting everything else to the side. At first it was nice but a 20 week training block dedicated to running was a lot for me. I like the variety. I am happy I did it though.
- Leaving skin in the game for the next one was important, I have found that I would rather move slightly slower if it means I can do the thing longer. I was so frustrated by the injury in 2022-2023 and it really took me out for too long. I am better than where I was, but it’s important to realize that compounding over time is the way in everything you do. Consistent action is the most important part of mastery.
- Wake up early and get to work. I have found that waking up early has been the foundation for what I have achieved in 2024 and moving into 2025. Most people won’t understand it but waking up at 4:00 to go out in 10 degree weather to run almost became fun because I knew less than 1 percent of people are out there doing that. It sets you apart and if you’re like me, you want to be better than you were yesterday, but you also want to be better than others too.
- I dislike mediocrity. I know I will be mediocre in a lot of things in life. But the mentality to outwork others has been present and I’m not upset about that.’
- People don’t realize that if they train like this, they have to take recovery seriously. Most people wouldn’t want my life because of the intensity I work under, but as of right now, it is all I want to do as I build the life I want.
- Running is meditative. Call me crazy, but a 2 hour or 3 hour run without music, podcasts, human interaction…is the single greatest repetitive action to put your mind in a meditative state. It is why monks practice meditation while walking and while sitting. The movement frees your mind to solve your problems.
- With that said, I am ready for a couple weeks of recovery, snowboarding, cycling and stretching. Then it’s onto the next block as we move towards the current northstar goal of IMPLP in 2027.
- Give final results but have detailed results on a separate page.
Create a page with the training plan all written out on a table in the training section and then have next set of goals here
Race Day
- I was definitely a little nervous because I had never run that far before
- I was excited though to see what I could do
- I was very steady and settled into my pace around mile 4-5 and I just kept running. Around mile 18 I felt a little fatigue so i increased my gel intake to help get through the rest of the race
- Mile 21 I got the cramp that took me down a good bit
- I had to change my gait so my hamstring would lock up. If I bent my leg it would charlie horse immediately and it was tough to keep going through. It was a great test of will
- Very hard to keep going but I just slowed down and hoped that it would improve.
- I took all the pills I had left and took some gatorade shots that they had and I just hoped that it would work out.
- It kinda just stayed the same so at least it didn’t get worse.
Takeaways – nutrition is the hardest part for me. I was on pace for 320 finish and i was happy with that, tough when you just under consume. I did make a positive adjustment when it came to sugar. I had energy and felt strong the whole way through. Today was just electrolyte issues. That will be fixed for the next one! Hopefully my third big race will have no nutrition issues and I can figure it out!
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