A new training season

The training season for a long distance race is like a good book - it teaches you something new every time you go back to it.

I've run a couple of full and half marathons and my goal so far had been to be able to finish. This year however, I'm trying to actually race i.e run instead of jog. So most of my focus this training season is on improving my pace.

The most remarkable thing about this season is how it has changed the way I look at each run. When I first started running, there was the thrill and challenge of running farther than you've ever done before, so each training run would be motivated by a sort of passion. Then after the first few races, the passion died down a bit and a training run became a relatively casual affair for me - be it 3 miles or 9 miles or anything in between.  I knew I could finish it no matter what, so the main struggle was finding the time and making myself run regularly. A sore muscle here, a little pain over there didn't matter much. The point of the run would be just doing it.

Now however, I need to run at a certain pace - slower initially, then at target pace, then hold it above a certain threshold throughout so that the final average pace is what I want it to be. So each run is special now. Which in turn means I have to care about keeping my muscles in their best working condition, can't just dive in hoping I make the pace. I have to actually pay attention to stretching and warming up and splits and posture and core workouts and strength training. This is novel for me. The same training season I did last year is now teaching me something new.

The next one

Exploring the mind-body connection has been a fascinating experience so far, not just in my personal sample size of one but in other people too. Humans respond so easily to ideas and words if they manage to penetrate their thoughts.

So far, my interest has been to use thoughts/ideas to create habits and change the context in which I perform actions so as to make it easier for me to stick to changes. Joining a team, getting a good hydration pack which will also hold my stuff while on a long run, having multiple alarms etc were ways to ensure that I did not have to rely too much on my willpower alone.

This has worked very well so far...except in the last training season. I had to scale back to a half marathon from a full one because I didn't put in the time and effort needed to train properly for the latter. It was easy to justify this with the fact of increased work, some boredom with running and overall life issues, but justifications don't get you to the finish line.

With the move to an invigorating new city though, things seem to be looking up.

The full-time work is still around and in fact more time consuming, but the context in which I live has changed. I haven't joined a running team here yet, but the city is full of runners and amazingly active people. Whether it is the workplace or my residential area, there is always someone breezing past. Something about watching fit and athletic people do something well makes you want to shed off your inertia. So while after the half marathon I dabbled in weight training and biking and a few odd exercises (kayaking! seven minute workout! yoga!); running is calling me back. And I've given in to the call. Re-experiencing the primal joy of running is different than the good soreness you feel after lifting weights. Plus the best way to explore a city is on foot.

I've managed to put on the miles sporadically in the past month or so and am feeling confident enough to dive into systematic training for the next big 'un. I also switched to thin soled 'barefoot' shoes last month, so it worked out well that I broke into them slowly rather than starting the training with them. I feel my speed has improved, but will need to accumulate data on this before I can be sure.

However, this time I don't have the support/context of a team. So this is where willpower will have to kick in. I will cheat a bit though - I've already set up an accountability system with a buddy in the former city who also needs someone to push him a bit for his workouts. So far, the going has been great.

I have some pleasant memories of logging the training progress for my first marathon. I'd like to repeat that here. This is especially useful for the solitary long runs, which are refreshing yet paradoxically exhausting both mentally and physically.

So here's to a full marathon in Fall (or earlier).

Things to remember for the next marathon

1) Take cross training and core workouts as seriously as keeping up the weekly mileage.

2) Do speed-training

3) Remember to study the starting area layout for 'gear check'.

4) Invite some friends to the race. Apart from sharing your happiness, they can also click photos and hold your gear for you.

5) Book a massage appointment BEFORE the marathon for a 1 or 2 days AFTER the marathon.

6) Figure out how you are going to get back home after the run, BEFOREHAND.

7) Buy as many gel packs as your belt can carry. No miserly behavior there.

8) Make sure you take a dump, clear your nose, have nipple protection, vaseline for intertriginous areas, and sweat band before the run.

9) Get your shoelaces tight. Check once just before starting.

10) The slow miles should be only the first 3-5 ones. After that pick up speed or you'll lose momentum. Let yourself run and be exhausted. You have the gels and water.

11) The most refreshing food to be had during the race is oranges or grapefruit.

12) Stop with the internal dialogue after 20 miles. There's no point in quitting after 20 miles anyway (unless it's an emergency). From 13-20 keep telling yourself that it's just an hour or so more and the more you keep going, the sooner it will be over.

13) Have really good party plans. Run hard and party hard.

Hitting the wall

Around the time you 'hit the wall' during the latter half of a marathon, the way you think changes.

The discomfort, exhaustion, pain, the compelling urge to go on and give up at the same time, the noticeable lack of people around you make you realize how alone you really are.

At that point, your friends, family, teammates, other runners, your dog, nobody can really understand where you are mentally. Even if some of them do, there's really nothing they can do about it. That's a sort of unique thing about long distance running. Your performance depends mostly on you. How others perform or support  you becomes irrelevant. It's you,all alone.

Once you 'get' how alone you really are, there are several things your mind starts processing. One is, what I believe most people end up doing, is to think positively. Hope, optimism, determination, courage(?), grit, just pushing through it, willpower. All those positive desirable traits show up. This becomes easier if your personality at baseline is of that sort.

Occasionally however, the darker side of your personality can show up. The constant discomfort turns you into a snarling beast internally. Someone who is immune to the good charm and bonhomie that was around him just some time ago. Who is focused on only one thing. Pushing and punishing himself till this is done.