Running: When racing doesn't always fit in with marathon training

The thought of going as fast as I possibly can over a certain distance excites me. It puts a bit of zip in my training and provides the motivation required to get out in the colder, darker months. 

However, using a race as a training run isn’t something that I find enjoyable. That’s not to say it isn’t useful; it definitely is if you can exercise the self-discipline to run within yourself in the knowledge a bigger goal lies ahead. 

I remember a few years ago running the Freethorpe 10M at marathon pace. Whilst it was great feeling strong at the end of the race, I felt a little deflated that I could have gone faster. 

It’s why I’ve made the decision not to run the REEDHAM TEN on Sunday. If I was to run it then I know the sensible thing to do would be to at least run most of it at my desired marathon pace ahead of the Brighton Marathon at the start of April. 

It’s not for me; I would want to run it flat out, which then heightens the possibility of injury and I would be furious with myself if I picked up a niggle as a result that could compromise marathon training. 

I’m preparing a little differently to previous marathon training blocks. I’ve split my training into four-week sections when three of those build the mileage and intensity before having a down week to recover. 

With the kids being on half-term later this month I’ve factored that in as a down week so over the next couple of weeks I’ve got two longer runs to fit in before recovering. 

After half-term I’ll then have another four-week block (three-week build, one week recover) before tapering for Brighton. That’s the plan although, like any good plan, it needs to be adaptable. Let’s face it, it wouldn’t be a marathon training block if you didn’t get a stinking cold at some point... 

I will use the next couple of longer runs to try out the kit I’m going to be wearing on the day and the fuel that I’ll use to make sure it all works okay for me. 

I can’t emphasise enough how important it is for anyone approaching their marathon (or any event) to not leave anything to chance. Whether it’s your trainers, shorts, top, gels, hydration – it all needs to work for you and there’s only one way to find out. 

I’ve even been thinking about what type of breakfast I will be able to have whilst in a hotel in Brighton and replicating that at home – full English, obviously (kidding). 

One of the things that’s really helped me is introducing more electrolytes into my training runs. I sweat a lot on my runs (TMI) and that obviously needs replacing; it’s definitely worth bearing this in mind alongside any gels you use. 

One of the difficulties of course is that anyone training for a spring marathon is running in weather that is likely to be pretty different on race day. It’s why it’s worth trying to dial in and listen to your body’s needs in a long run rather than being too regimented in your hydration and fuelling. 

How your body reacts to hopefully more temperate weather in April/May could be quite different to the sub-zero temperatures we’ve been running in this month. 

Being adaptable is a huge quality any runner can have. I spoke to the legendary Norfolk ultra-runner Mandy Foyster a few years ago and her advice sticks with me to this day. 

She believes that a lot of running is about problem-solving; listening to your body and giving it what it needs with what you’ve got available at the time.  

It really struck a chord on how important it is not to panic if all is not going as expected. This is a lot harder than it sounds when your senses are so heightened in the middle of a race. 

Practice makes perfect and you need to be prepared for whatever race day throws at you. 

Thank you

Thank you so much to everyone that contacted myself and Alison following last week’s column. 

It seems Max’s passing resonated with so many fellow animal lovers and we've been genuinely touched by the messages received over the past week. 

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