I’m looking forward to supporting some of you on your marathon journeys this spring. Whether you are a first timer at the distance or an "old" hand I know there is lots we can learn from each other as well as the yoga specific information I will share in my marathon masterclass series.
At the end of 2023, I ran my tenth marathon. This was a milestone I’ve had in my sights for several years now. Reaching double figures was my proposed retirement from the distance. Marathon number ten had been booked initially for the Stour Valley Trail Marathon back in 2019 but investigations for breathing difficulties put paid to that. We then obviously hit the Covid years towards the end of which I started my yoga teacher training. This was all consuming and my running mileage took quite a dip.
I don’t entirely know how we ended up picking San Sebastian. Having done Valencia I think it was based on Spanish winter sun and another flat, fast course. If you’ve read my previous blog you will know training didn’t entirely go to plan. Yet, it all came together on the day. I ran my third fastest marathon and my fastest since 2017 when I went sub-4 for the first (and only so far) time at Abingdon.
There are always lessons to be learnt from any experience. A sneak peek at some of my favourites which I will be sharing in my upcoming masterclasses include:
Visualise your perfect race – I did this several times in the lead up to San Sebastian usually whilst lying in bed. It might sound a bit “woo woo” but it’s a technique used by elite athletes and certainly worked for me. I also used it to good effect in a warm-up race where I won my age category and a county medal to boot!
Use your nerves – I had felt both petrified and excited at the thought of the race. As my friend Janice told me “nerves are just a form of energy”. They show you care, so use them! The breath can form a key component of this technique.
Temper the taper – Lying on the sofa eating yellow carbs till you’re completely stuffed and that totally freaky experience when your body always seems to know it’s race week. You go out for a 5k run and it feels absolutely tortuous. You’re convinced you have Covid/an incurable disease/injury* (delete where appropriate). Who doesn’t love the taper? This is something that has evolved for me over the years and looked completely unlike the “traditional” model for this particular race. Yoga asana (postures) and the use of mantra can all help during your taper.
If you would like to learn more about how yoga can support your marathon training and beyond I have a couple of spaces left on my marathon masterclass series. More information can be found here. Whilst it is a series, there is the option to attend these as single events. This information is equally applicable if you are running a half marathon. Happy training!
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