Posted: by Jo Tuesday, 29 March 2016 @ 09:59
In a matter of days, I will have taken part in my first marathon: London, on Sunday April 24th.
I am hoping that entering the London Marathon will change me.
Like many first-time entrants, I’ve followed a 16-week training programme, with my long runs getting longer each week, and my hill sprints and other fitness-building activities getting more challenging. It’s been tough doing the training, and I haven’t even got to the event itself yet!
As well as simply finishing in one piece, I’m aiming for a sub-4.5 hour time. Madness, for someone who isn’t a regular runner, but I have a competitive nature, so finishing in a set time is important to me. One of the things that has kept me motivated during the training is raising money for Breast Cancer Now. Doing something tough is always more worthwhile, if you feel that it is helping others. Raising £3000 to help support the work of this excellent charity has certainly spurred me on. But it’s still been very tough. So, how do I hope it will change me?
Recently, I saw this quote from Fred Devito, the founder of a challenging fitness programme in the US. He said, “If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you”. And the more I thought about this, the more it rings true for me. So, this has become my mantra for the marathon training. I want the process of training for the marathon to change me. To make me build exercise into my regular routine. To make me cut out wine during the week. To make me eat better, and prioritise sleep more. To make feeling fit the norm for me. And to make sure this isn’t just a 16-week blip, but a permanent life change for me…
So, is it challenging me? For sure. And will it change me? I’ll let you know…
If you like this, you'd love “Stay strong”