September 23, 2016
Weekends mean racing and I love racing. Nothing gets the old competitive juices flowing like a race bib on your chest. Some people shy away from competing but to me it is everything. I’m not racing for position normally just trying to beat a PB (PR). That’s why I love running, the only real person you’re competing against is yourself. I always use to go by the old adage you had 7 years of PB’s from when you start to run ‘properly’. Be that in your twenties, thirties or beyond. (There’s probably a age limit when this window will shorten i.e. if you started in your 70’s).. Anyway I was about on track for this as my running career started in earnest when I trained for the Comrades ultra marathon in 2008 ( http://WWW.COMRADES.COM , now that’s another story) and I thought I’d peaked in 2013/14. By changing my diet and training I seem to have hit a second wind and recorded a few PB’s this year so we’ll see if i can prove the 7 year PB window wrong.
Racing is putting all the hard work to the test. Running is the most honest sport there is, there’s no option for high tech zip wheels, lighter frames, silly helmets to gain an advantage. Just you, the distance and a watch. Racing is when you test yourself against yourself initially and your peers and age group if you so desire. The most important competitor though will always be yourself.
Don’t be nervous about racing. I must admit my family know that a weekend of a marathon I am one to be avoided. I normally perform well on the day but the day before, hell the week before, you are filled with doubt. When I get to the line and the gun goes all that is forgotten as I get to do what I love best, run and run as hard and fast as i can. I am not one for ‘running’ marathons, I race them.
I’ve attached three classic Steve Prefontaine quotes below to get you inspired for the weekend ahead.
What more can I say, go out there this weekend and be the best you can be. Then Monday start to work on being even better.
Weight loss is often overlooked by runners but an important part of the recipe in the meal of running. I believe every runner has an optimum weight, one that allows them to run their most consistent pace over their chosen distance. The distance usually dictates the weight initially i.e. Usain Bolt isn’t going to run his best marathon looking like he does at the moment. Whereas Mo Farah probably needs to eat a few cheeseburgers if he’s going to challenge Usain for a 100m dash.
As a marathon runner I’m normally looking what my Wife describes as ‘skinny, bordering on ill’. She has never been a big fan of my marathon ‘look’ after I have probably dropped 6-8kg from when we first met. (though that was 20 years ago) In those days I was a 3-5 times a week gym junkie and I can see her point of view, marathon runners ain’t built for modeling normally. Currently I’m sitting on 69kg which for a 6 foot tall man isn’t probably the ‘norm’ but for a marathon runner is just about perfect. I’m happy to be where I am and realise this is making a big difference to my training and pace. Because of the extra workload I’ve been putting in lately, and also dropping a lot of sugar from my diet, I’m probably 3kg less than normal. This has not gone down well with my Wife.
Ultimately all runners have a perfect weight and , like with all things running, finding that goal weight is difficult. This can be down to cravings (I mean who doesn’t really love donuts? !) or just the inability to put in the exercise needed to shift the kg’s. Then once you actually hit what you consider to be your goal weight there is normally some effort involved in keeping to it. I realise that me keeping to 69kg will be difficult long term but can sustain it for a period of time while I train for the World Masters marathon on November. After that I will have a few months running back to a normal 100k a week . It is important though to keep a good foundation so when you step up for your next goal (there is always a new goal) you need to be able to hit your ideal weight again.
Over time does this ideal weight change? I would assume yes. As we get older it will be more and more difficult to hit the weight you considered ideal the previous year. As I move into my fifties next year will I be able to maintain 69kg for race season ? Who knows, but one things for sure , I’ll be making a big effort to get close, no point in slowing down is there ?
So to sum up if you can drop weight your running will improve, it’s like adding a turbo-charger but there will be some pain and effort involved. Long term though you get use to the constant hunger pains. Only joking, you learn to substitute good food for bad and also you get to run more. C’mon, it’s all good…..