The marathon is not the marathon.
The head coach for my group-training program made me remember this expression last weekend.
We were about to embark on our final run of the training season prior to an upcoming marathon. And she advised us not to try to cram any last-minute speed work into that run or into weekday outings before the race. Her point was that there was nothing that we could do a week before such a race to significantly improve our chip-times. And she warned us that we could instead hurt ourselves at the last minute by cramming speed work into the end of the training schedule.
I found this to be great advice, and it reminded me of the title of this blog post.
Spelled out, this means that the event is not the true test of a runner or walker but instead that the true test is the “marathon” of preparation that must be pursued prior to the race.
Here are three areas of preparation, the first letters of which spell C-A-N — as in “You CAN do it!”
Cross-training
The marathon is the weeks of cross-training prior to the race. You must answer questions such as these:
- “Am I stretching sufficiently and correctly?”
- “Are my core workouts giving me the strong torso that I need?”
- “Is my weight training building the leg and arm strength that I need?”
- “Are my off-day sports activities complementing my running or walking?”
Apparel
The marathon is the weeks of adjusting what to wear during endurance walks or runs. You must answer questions such as these:
- “Are my shoes the right ones for my gait?”
- “Are my shoes the right size for my feet?”
- “Am I lacing my shoes appropriately?”
- “Are my socks keeping my feet blister-free?”
- “Are my shorts or tights chafing me?”
- “Is my top right for me in terms of fabric and fit?”
- “Is my cap or headband keeping sweat out of my eyes?”
Nutrition
The marathon is the weeks of adjusting what to eat and drink before, during, and after endurance runs or walks. You must answer questions such as these:
- “Can I handle any eating or drinking before my endurance run or walk?”
- “If so, what specifically, and how much, should I eat or drink before my endurance walk or run?”
- “How soon into my endurance run or walk should I start drinking?”
- “How soon into my endurance walk or run should I start eating?”
- “What should I eat and drink during my endurance run or walk?”
- “How much and often should I eat or drink during my endurance walk or run?”
- “Am I sufficiently hydrating while on my endurance runs or walks?”
- “What should I eat and drink after my endurance walk or run?”
What is your marathon before race day? Please leave a comment here. Thanks!
