Manchester Marathon Week 9 – Ride the momentum wave (Copy)

When you are training for a marathon you have lots of time to think on your runs. This week was 67.5km of me and nature time. I usually listen to music or a playlist on my runs.

Sometimes my mind wanders, thoughts float in and I ponder life a little as you chip away at your marathon plan.

Last week I spotted a post online that made me stop. Really stop and think. There are four months left in 2021 before we tip toe into the year 2022. Madness.

Can you remember back in March 2020 when the UK first entered lockdown? To think of the year 2022. It felt like ten years ago. Each lockdown felt long. We lived for the day, the week and the month we would be free.

In the UK we are now free.

But how many people are still stuck in 2020? Or in a rut. Waiting. Waiting for something. For happiness to arrive. For that feeling of having plans and something to look forward to. Something to get excited about.

Spoiler: No one is coming to bring you into the present or get you out the rut. No one is bringing the excitement to your front door. That job is for YOU.

My training is going really well and I am looking forward. I have a 10km race this Friday. A half marathon race in Sept then the marathon on the 10th October.

Can we slow down 2021 please?

“Then what happens?”, you might ask.

Nothing, well not nothing nothing. But I am taking a break from running towards a goal, following a plan. Maybe a couple of weeks, to just chill for a bit.

It keeps me motivated to know that for now I am all in – progressing through my plan, ticking off each run with lots of races incoming – ready to step into the arena of race day when you test your physical and mental ability. But also knowing that on the 11th October I am slowing down. I will still run but just as and when I want to. This is music to my ears.

This week I ran my second fastest 5km time and set a new Park Run Personal Best. It felt good, really good, I took the opportunity to pause and feel it. Appreciate the moment. As we so quickly move on.

When I think ahead to marathon day I feel a little uneasy, as I know I will be stepping into unknown territory. So, I try not to think too much about race day, as I don’t have the answers to the big question “Will I achieve my 2021 marathon goal”, all I know is I have seven weeks of dedicated training left. And over the next seven weeks I will start working on visualizing achieving my 2021 goal. I control what I can, and leave the rest to hardwork and grit.

I remind myself back to March 2020 when I knew there would be no running events for a long time.

To run a Park Run this weekend felt normal, but very recently it was an unknown.

A constant chatter in the running community - “Would Park Runs ever be back?”!

My half marathon next month has 50,000 entrants. Incredible how life gets back to normal so quickly, if you are willing to be bold and get back into playing the game of life.

The pandemic has changed us all. We are not used to being social animals with plans - full weekends. Even having a choice still feels a bit alien.

Deep down we are all creatures of what we love, but sometimes you just need to remind yourself what you love about life.

All I know is I love the possibility of what is around the corner and how you can influence it. That is how life should be – dust yourself off, ‘be sensible’ then chase the stuff that you love.

I love running and learning, about myself and life. I learn from running.

I have goals. Lots. Different types. I don't call them goals, as I don't like labels. I just like doing stuff that brings in them good vibes.

Running makes me feel good physically and mentally. It teaches me TONS. I learn and grow. I run all the distances because I'm greedy, or maybe because I can, or importantly as it brings something into my life.

• 5km - The tactical race. Short and Sharp. You feel stuff, and it pushes your limits quick,

• 10km - My least favourite but still a nice distance to stretch your legs,

• Half marathon - when the race starts at 16km....the energy shifts and you go for it or get left behind.

• The big one, the marathon. A bit like the 5km. It's a balance of tactics and hope. Hope the finish line will magically appear as your body starts to break. It is a little brutal, but in a nice way.

As races paused in 2020. I didn't. I kept up my running. I knew race day would be back and I wanted to be as ready as possible 'to go again'. I didn’t think it would be this long.

When I read that online post declaring ‘There are four months left in 2021’ I asked myself on my next run:

What are my 2022 running goals?

The running world is alive and lively. Races are selling out well in advance.

"How do I know if I'll get my current 2021 goals?", you may ask. I don't.

But either way, I'll look for events in 2022 to continue to chip away at my current time goals or chase some new ones.

When you are feeling good and when life is delivering some good stuff, this is when you feel it - the momentum. You want to keep that feeling – keep progressing, moving forward in life. You need to seize this feeling and boldly set some new ‘goals’ for a future you.

Although I am focused on the present, the marathon training journey, I am very aware in 7 weeks I will have answers to the current unknown questions in my life “Will I achieve my running goals for 2021”?

This weekend I looked at what events are scheduled for 2022 and I felt excitement. Excitement for what could become of 2022. A year that felt like ten years ago in March 2020, but which is now around the corner. After a break following my marathon in October, I will go again.

This is my life. I've designed it that way. It doesn't stop, because guess what - I love it. That feeling of running a distance, pace or time that was once so far out your reach keeps me coming back for more. Our bodies and minds are mega powerful, once you know how to tap into them.

What goals are you lining up for 2022? What brings you joy, makes you feel alive? Remind yourself then go chase it.

Remember, in the UK, we are now free. Don’t keep yourself locked in!

‘Reaching the goal is not success; success is moving toward the goal, and experiencing growth’