There’s something I honestly never thought I’d write.
But I can do it. I have no doubt. It’s almost like my striatum is harbouring a tumour that, instead of shutting down activity, is actively stimulating the part of my brain responsible for ‘LFG’, and it feels like a return to full time training can’t get here soon enough to start racking up some 5k,10k and HM Pb’s
For complete clarity, I had to google the part of the brain responsible for motivation…
Currently we’re a fortnight post-Manchester, and this week is all about easy running. 30 miles in total is the goal for the week. 5 miles per day for 6 days + 1 rest day. I don’t have the same significantly elevated heart rate that took so long to drop after Porto Marathon last November and I feel relatively healthy.
I’ve been asked by some, “Are you back to focusing on lifting now?” The assumption being that I would hang up my running shoes, gain some weight and put this nonsense behind me, considering I have achieved my goal. The truth is, I will always lift; but do I love it like I did in my thirties? No, but It’s a non-negotiable if I want to run well.
And I want to run well.
I believe that there is much more in the tank. My days of squatting north of 250kg are behind me, but my running still has a future.
It’s not just putting one foot in front of another that butters my bread, it’s the lifestyle that accompanies it. The freedom to eat whatever I like and not worry about hitting macro-nutrient targets on a daily basis is a privilege I chose to forgo for nearly 15 years. The extreme dieting that had such an impact on my mood (and by extension the mood of those around me) in order to have a sixpack for absolutely no reason is a distant memory. I would have argued that I did it to look good for my significant other, but totally failed to accept that my disordered eating habits caused more than the occasional argument between us.
Why did I do it?
Vanity and control, is probably what it boiled down to. You might expect me to state - now that I am confident and content with who I am - that I don’t care what people think about the way I look anymore. But it’s not that. It is simply that I have come to realise that absolutely nobody gives a shit about how I look. Which is incredibly freeing. In the strength world, if someone tells you you’re looking ‘smaller’ it can ruin your entire day/week/month and, in a worst case scenario, cause you to perform a total 180, upping your drugs, the amount you spend on food and revising your training schedule, whilst the person who made the throw-away comment will have totally forgotten they even saw you, let alone said anything 20 minutes later.
If you’re not a professional, anything you do (fitness-wise) should be for you.
So, what is the plan? When does the marathon training block begin and what are we planning to do in the interim?
Holly and I have signed up to Amsterdam Marathon on October 20th. We’re driving over to the French Pyrenees for a 4 week altitude training camp beforehand, which gives us time to focus solely on training. I’m not deluded enough to think that I’m some sort of elite, but for a long time I have wanted to go to training camp, to experience how the best of the best live and train.
Holly is going for a super fast time in October, which leaves me to pace myself come race day. The course has half the elevation of Manchester (which is great) and hopefully the weather will be nice. Cool and NOT windy, please.
For the next couple of months we’ll both be working on 5/10k speed, which means less volume and faster running. We’ve entered a hilly 10k next month and are planing to do a few park runs too.
Writing this on Sunday, I can happily say that my last few runs have been decent enough that my race predictor says I’m in 2:56 shape currently (I know, I know, don’t give me any shit for living with my head closer to the clouds than the ground) and, fingers crossed, I can put together some productive training over the summer. It’s time to find out…