Manchester Marathon Week 11 - The ‘A’ goal
Manchester Marathon training week 11 - when I changed up my plan, ran 71km and asked that question:
“Are you ready to go for your marathon ‘A’ goal?
As the weeks tick away, something that for so long was in the distance is now coming in fast onto my horizon. The final weeks are flying past.
In life when we go for big goals, big doubt creeps in.
The marathon is renowned for turning you into a drama queen or king. You start to wrap yourself in cotton wool and protect your legs like they are glass.
This week I've felt the doubt big time. Worrying about stuff I'm hearing in relation to the London marathon - no idea why as I'm running Manchester!
The mental preparation is as, or more, important than the physical preparation. Now, as we head into the final quarter of the marathon training, is when you start to focus on your mental game.
Over the next 4 weeks the doubt will keep creeping in and it’s my job to welcome it in then use it to focus! Self doubt can be your friend, if you know how to use it.
Everything you doubt is informing you of an area of race day that you need to focus on. It could be your fueling (the gels that give you a surge when you need it but also can impact your tummy), pace tactics or your playlist. It provides an opportunity to fine tune a few things. Prepare your race day ‘game plan’ and your mindset toolkit.
The marathon is a big mental game. There are lots of ‘tactics’ to consider. Different strategies played out: when to drink water and fuel (usually a liquid gel), what techniques to use when your body starts to hurt or your mind drifts off plan. Your pre-race routine needs to be considered. All these wee things can led to anxious feelings. And of course, there is your race day goal or goals.
I listened to a podcast this week where the elite athletic spoke about the various goals he has going into a race. I considered this during one of my training runs this week and felt comfort it was still a thing. That I hadn’t made it up. It feels like a lifetime ago since I last ran a marathon. You feel a bit rusty.
Running a 3hr 30min marathon is my dream goal, it is the big goal. My marathon ‘A’ goal. Alongside this big goal I have various goals all with a different letter. The ‘B’ goal is to set a new Personal Best which is any time under 3 hour 40 minutes. Then the ‘C’ goal is ‘just’ finish.
With multiple race goals you are being realistic, optimistic, and prepared for all eventualities.
If you don’t turn up on the start line with your ‘A’ goal at front of mind, you will never get it. Don’t let the existence of the other goals muddy the plan – they are there to guide you if required. But your one thing is always your ‘A’ goal.
During the race you run to a pace towards that big shiny ‘A’ goal. Your ‘A’ goal is what you’ve trained and dreamed off. It will test you and ask you the question “How much do you want this?”
As the race progresses things may start to unravel making you question the ‘A’ goal plan.
By being prepared for this possibility, you don’t have a race day meltdown. You pause, not literally, in your head to decide if you can still achieve your ‘A’ goal or if you need to adjust towards your next goal. Optimism switches to realism.
How many people go through life with one goal then when they have a wobble they describe it as a failure and give up?
What would happen if you adjusted the definition of success or considered the possible wobbles, so you were prepared with a ‘wobble strategy’ to steer you back on track?
This is why you start to prepare mentally now. Visualise how you want the race to run, consider the various wobbles and prepare yourself.
But first, it's my ‘big’ half marathon next Sunday (12th September) and I'm becoming a drama queen about that now. See sawing from marathon to half marathon training and race day thoughts.
I had to juggle my running plan this week. The planned 33km long run on Sunday was getting moved. A wee voice in my head declared "You could just skip the Sunday long run all together!".
I can confirm I didn’t listen to that little voice in my head and I ran my long run on Thursday!! 33km done.
Once again, I out-tricked my quit voice. How was the 33km log run on a Thursday? It feels like a distant memory now but I’m sure I liked parts of it, then the last 6km were more a crawl back home. Questioning how i’m going to manage 42km at a much faster pace.
My takeaways from this week:
Stay in your lane (not the London marathon lane). I heard in a podcast this week London marathon doesn’t have pace runners. Lucky for me, Manchester Marathon do. Whoop. Ignore any ‘noise’ from other runners or races. This is your race and your plan.
Big goals, require big action. No excuses. The 'Sunday' long run happens regardless.
Mentally prepare for race day. A pacer guides you through the course, if you stick with them for 42km. They get you across that line. Who can you pace in life to guide you across your goal line?
Manage one goal at a time. We can juggle multiple big goals, but expect to be a drama queen and call yourself out!
Enjoy the process of becoming a new you! You’ve never achieved what you’re about to attempt so just go for it and see what happens on the day. What’s the worse that could happen?