Running a marathon to fundraise for charity is a huge achievement, and it will be a day you’ll remember for the rest of your life.
But the lead up to the big day can feel overwhelming for some, especially if it’s your first marathon.
In this feature, Chris shares some of his top training tips!
So you’ve got your place, got your fundraising target, and you’re all set. It’s a long road ahead, but you’ve got this!
Keep in touch with your charity
Your charity is your support as you take on this challenge, and the fundraising team will do all they can to help you get to that start line with a smile.
If you’re in a slump or feeling down, they’re a friendly voice at the end of the phone. They can help connect you with others in your team to share stories, tips and motivation as you work towards the same goal.
Be flexible
Do you have your whole marathon training plan written out nicely, perhaps in a spreadsheet? Good. Now accept that things won’t go exactly to that plan. Missing lots of planned runs due to life getting in the way can lead to feeling demotivated…if you let it!
View your plan as a roadmap, not a prescription. If you can’t run this evening, then move it to tomorrow morning. It’s fine. Your training should fit into your life, not the other way around… and accept that you will miss training runs.
You are going to miss runs. You might get hurt, you might get ill, you might miss your train and get home hours too late to go running…don’t worry!
Life happens; it doesn’t mean you won’t be able to run on the big day. Get back on track when you can and don’t sweat it.
Track your progress
There are a host of apps and websites that allow you to track your progress. I use Strava, but there are lots available. If you find yourself slumping in the middle of a training cycle, take a look at your first run and then look at where you are now. The miles you’ve run, and the improvements in your speed and distance will be staring you in the face, and should give you some perspective on what you’re already achieved…but don’t get caught comparing!
Don’t feel like you should be running further or faster than you are compared to other runners you see or meet. Focus on your own running and your own preparation. If it takes you longer than the next person to run ten miles, then so what? You both still ran ten miles.
Vary your routes
Familiarity breeds contempt they say, and nowhere is that more applicable than marathon training. The mind craves novelty, so make sure you vary your running routes – fields, forests, parks and footpaths…whenever you can blaze a new trail, you should – it’s more interesting and it will seem to go much more quickly.
Run with others
This is a big one. Running with other people keeps you accountable, as you don’t want to let others down. Having someone to talk to and share the experience with as well is a massive help, as you can carry each other through the tough times.
Master that playlist
A good power playlist is just the ticket to get you through the tough long runs. Heck, planning the playlist is half the fun and the right song at the right time can give you a much-needed boost. Choose upbeat, up-tempo songs – or songs that remind you of happy times to provide a welcome distraction at the very least!
One mile at a time
It can be daunting to fixate on how far you’ve got to go on your run, especially as you start to hit the bigger distances. Instead of being intimidated by the full distance ahead, focus on each mile at a time, taking in the sights and sounds and letting them tick off gradually. This way, you’ll be more in the moment and will be finished before you know it.
Keep the ‘why’ in mind
Finally, when it gets tough – and some days it really will – it helps to keep in mind the ‘why’. You signed up to this challenge and this goal for a reason; to help a cause that really needs it. It’s not about ‘letting the side down,’ it’s about knowing that what you’re doing is bigger than you; that you’re doing something that’s really going to make a difference.
Get involved
If you’ve been inspired by Chris and would like to raise money for Headway, visit our Get involved section to find out more!
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