Marathon blog: part 6

Training for a marathon? You’re not alone. Bethan Taylor shares her experiences with us in her marathon blog: part 6.

Recently my Mum has taken to sending me lots of messages, saying things like ‘Five weeks today Dad and I leave for Paris!’ or ‘A month today Flora [the family cocker spaniel, and occasional canine blogger] goes to puppy camp!’ and, most recently, a link to a I love Paris by Frank Sinatra to mark one month until marathon day.

In just a few weeks’ time I’ll have finished my first marathon. Those 26.2 miles will have passed under my feet. I’ll be tired and sore, but I’ll have done it. It’s an overwhelming thought.

For the last three months, I’ve been consumed by training. Life has been all about long weekend miles, punishing mid-week runs when I’m already knackered from work, cross-training sessions and treadmill intervals. It’s been tough, but it’s also been one of the best times of my life, I’ve loved every moment. I’ve run with my friends at my side, collected medals just for training, explored new parts of town and eaten brunch a lot (because a long run isn’t a long run without a brunch stop).

Now, in these last few weeks, my attention is starting to shift towards the day itself. No longer is Sunday 12 April 2015 a significant but distant date in my diary; it’s now so close I can nearly touch it. Every day that passes, every little milestone proudly tweeted by my Mum, is moment closer to the marathon.

The last weeks of marathon preparation look likely to be consumed by admin. Travel arrangements need to be made, breakfasts need to be planned (and tested), bags need to be packed. French law means procuring a medical certificate (tip: give yourself loads of time to sort this one). Picking out the perfect race-day outfit can be surprisingly time-consuming (Lululemon shorts, Nike T-shirt, if you were wondering). There are gels to be tested, supporters to be organised and audiobooks to be selected. The list goes on and, while it’s all important, none of it is as crucial as preparing mentally for the challenge ahead.

I recently had the opportunity to listen to Olympic legend Mo Farah talk about running in his capacity as the official ambassador for the Vitality North London Half Marathon, the ‘Stadium to Stadium Half’. Mo talked about how tough he found the marathon experience, particularly the second half of the race – how he’d never felt that type of pain before. He was candid about the struggle he faced. It was inspiring to hear an athlete talk so honestly about the challenges a marathon throws up.

When he was asked how he coped with these challenges, Mo told us it was the support along the London Marathon route that got him through the tough times. He spoke about the power of hearing people shout your name and cheer you on, about how it can lift you up. I’m lucky enough to have my own support crew travelling with me to Paris, and I’m really looking forward to seeing a few friendly faces when the going gets tough.

Mo’s other tip was to try to avoid counting down the miles. Don’t tell yourself you’ve got 26 miles to go; just switch off and before you know it you’ll be at the halfway point. I’ve always found the best runs are the ones where you just let go and have fun, so I’m hoping between a good book and some sightseeing, the first half of my marathon will fly by and I can save my mental strength for the final miles.

Obviously I couldn’t be in a room with a marathon runner without asking for some tips. Mo’s advice to me as a first-time marathoner was not to set my goals too high. To train the best I can and go out and see what I can do, without putting too much pressure on myself. All along, this race has been about nailing my training, getting fitter than I’ve ever been and having a blast – and it was pretty reassuring to hear an Olympic legend say I’m getting it right.

Mo Farah spoke as the official ambassador for the Vitality North London Half Marathon, the ’Stadium to Stadium Half’. The event is the latest instalment in the Vitality Run Series.