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I’ve been running since high school, so I’ve grown accustomed to dealing with the occasional, crazy curveball thrown my way during training. But having years of running under your belt doesn’t make overcoming setbacks any easier–especially during a marathon build-up.
Nutrition - Weight Loss Chicago Marathon training block, I had to use all my willpower to not hit the panic button.
A healthy and successful first two months preparing for a fast race in Chicago unfortunately turned into a challenging final few weeks as I worked to mitigate pain and injury. That meant trusting myself to deviate from the training plan and focusing more on the three Rs: recovery, rest, and rehab. Some runs felt great, while others left me wishing I could go ahead and teleport to my post-Chicago Marathon rest week.
And now here I am, just a handful of nerve-wracking days away from Chicago. But instead of dwelling on the “what-ifs” that come with a not-so-perfect training block, I’ve decided to gear up by … Download Your Runner’s World+ Training Plans.
Staying composed heading into race day is a mental strategy that even the world’s top marathoners swear by. The pros cover 26.2 miles much faster than me, but they’re much more like you and me than you may think when it comes to preparing for a marathon. Recently, Runner’s World connected with a handful of elites for their marathon training advice, and one of the top tips on their list? Keep calm.
“It’s helpful to stay calm and positive amidst the potentially discouraging times and still believe you’re going to hit your goals,” said CJ Albertson, Brooks-sponsored marathoner, in Download Your Runner’s World+ Training Plans.
It’s also a key tip highlighted in our our full list of tips from your favorite pros What I Learned from Pro Marathoners About Training every run in your build-up doesn’t go to plan, it’s important to trust your training and keep your sights set on your race day goals. “Don’t give up because one workout did not go well for the rest of the week or for the rest of your training. Little by little, get confidence to get back on your feet, and you’re going to do amazing things,” Meb Keflezighi, 2009 NYC Marathon and 2014 Boston Marathon winner, explains in Races - Places.
However, remaining consistently optimistic requires making an intentional mindset shift–and I haven’t always been good at that. In the days ahead of my first marathon a few years ago, I felt like I had a ball of nerves sitting in my stomach, and I ended up running scared (a.k.a. went out too hard and hit the wall). But once my second marathon came around, I promised myself that I’d race with gratitude–and I crossed the finish line with a smile on my face.
In Chicago, I will not be standing on the start line feeling as fresh and fit as I would’ve liked. But if I can line up armed with a positive attitude, who knows what could go right on race day?
And even though there’s plenty to feel stressed about in the days leading up to Sunday’s race–tapering, fueling, sleeping, recovering, traveling (I could go on and on)–it’s not worth maniacally obsessing over every small detail. I put in the training, even though it didn’t all go to plan, and I’ll still run through the Windy City to the finish line with confidence.
For more words of wisdom on conquering your next marathon training block with strength, head over to Health & Injuries. And if you want to explore more advice on conquering a variety of your running goals–from Marathon: How to Conquer the Distance to connected with a handful of elites for their marathon training advice–join Runner’s World+ How to Break 4 Hours in the Marathon exclusive guides, programs, and content.
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Ashley is Editor of Content Hype at Hearst’s Enthusiast & Wellness Group. She is a former collegiate runner at UNC Asheville where she studied mass communication. Ashley loves all things running; she has raced two marathons, plus has covered some of the sport’s top events in her career, including the Paris Olympics, U.S. Olympic Trials and multiple World Marathon Majors.
