Shine on you Crazy Diamond - The Pink Floyd

Personal bests and great performances don’t just happen, they are made to happen. They’re engineered by training, commitment and personal investment. However, being in the right mental state as race day approaches is the real deal maker/breaker, as I know only so well and that’s what I’m going to write about in this edition of my blog. 

Having run a few races myself, I’ve experienced the highs and lows of being mentally engaged with the many challenges that I’ve attempted and completed.

And as the first weekend of October is quickly approaching and many of my clients are racing in marathons at Chester and London – plus I have a 12-strong-team racing with me at the 250km Multi-Stage ULTRA-X in Jordan - I wonder what’s going through their minds with less than seven days to go to race day? 

As their coach, I have a good idea of how much physical effort they've put in and I believe all of them have done enough to finish their particular races. How well they will perform? Well, that’s another question. For some, just completing the distance will be a Personal Best. For others, a 3:30:00 marathon result will be a sad face whereas a 3:29:59 will be a big smiley emoji for those chasing that time.

Over all my years of racing, I’ve found the last week before the race is the best time to start thinking about what lay ahead and the goal I was trying to achieve. At the height of my running back in '99 it would have been impossible to have remained at such a heightened state of alert for 52 weeks of that year but there were certainly races where I distilled the basics of why I was there and what I was trying to achieve, rather than just adding another marathon to my email signature.

Sure, there were marathons I entered which I never thought would be some of my quicker times (Mablethorpe Marathon comes to mind) but the races that I’m most proud of are those where I’ve invested time in getting to the start line rested, with a clear understanding of the race and with life nicely balanced. And when I say rested, I don’t mean for the night before but for the week leading up to the race with lots of extra zzz’s packed in and a Saturday spent doing very little on a settee.

Now, if you are running the London Marathon, learn the route – learn the landmarks – learn the highlights. It passes the time and provides a framework for your race plan. And if you are away with me in Jordan, make sure that while you are away that everything back home is covered. Peace of mind really helps. Make sure the Mortgage is covered, Car and Home Insurance is in place, your Out of Office is on and your nearest and dearest know what not to expect from you when you are away as there is no 'phone a friend' option where we are going in the sand.

I find the races are difficult enough without any added ‘worry-factor’. On Jen’s recent racing in Italy, we both found pre-race facetiming upsetting for the whole family and agreed that a few simple texts of our continued love and affection for each other was the only information we both needed. Seeing it from a 'Back Home' point of view helped. Going with the 'if something terrible has happened theory', there's nothing you can do when you are away and there's always time when you are back to sort it out when you are back is my approach.

The key to success is to think about the investment you’ve made both physically and mentally and to think back at how you felt when you entered the race. Excited is the first one that comes to my mind. On race day, listening to tunes and excluding the vampires will also help you concentrate on getting the biggest bang for your buck and of course, feel free to enjoy the whole race experience because it’s a real privilege to take part in any race as later years you’ll look back and be glad you gave your anything and everything if you know what I mean.

Rest - Race hard - Reflect :-)

1,136 Marathons - 264 Ultras - 9 Guinness World Records - 15 MDS

F.E.A.R - Ian Brown

We’re often told that it’s okay to be ‘afraid’. Hmm much better than being totally shit-scared IMHO. But how do we let being afraid (aka defeat and failure) in at the precise moment whe things are getting tough - and if anything at a time when we need to try even harder? Sure, being afraid is very natural. Fear is part of our personal defence mechanism that makes us careful and highlights danger. It’s a feeling that can range from a slightly raised heartrate through to a full-on panic attack. I know from my own experiences what that’s like and I’m sure you do too.

Are we more afraid of the ‘Unknown’ or the ‘Known’ or is feeling of being ‘afraid’ actually a learned response of our past?

 

In our childhood, the majority of our learning comes from teachers, parents, other relatives, mentors, etc. add to it years of life experience and it’s not surprising we all have our phobias. For instance, I know I’m afraid to go near a viscious snarling dog but then again, I’m afraid of any dog as I was scared by one when I was just four years old. It’s a memory that I’ve have carried with me for 56 years. The feeling of being petrified, lives within me but buried in a place that doesn’t keep me awake at night but immediately sets my hackles up when any dog of any size approaches.

 

That ‘One-Shot Trauma’ of a moment, a lifetime ago shaped my future. And being an all or nothing kinda person there’s nothing I can do now or in fact want to do to correct it. It’s just too long ago. Has it ruined my life? Hell-no and it’s only a mild illustration of a childhood event that subconsciously effects how I react today.

 

How we deal with the feeling of being afraid, makes us stronger. It shapes how we feel in different situations. For instance, I probably have more to fear in running ULTRA-X Jordan in three weeks’ time, than those that are there for the first time. Having completed the race last year, I know what’s in store for me in the race and TBH, I’m more afraid of getting on the plane than I am the race right now. Sure, it’s going to be super-tough, super-sandy but hopefully also super-exciting.

 

And whatever it is, I’ll adapt to the situation as there’s no point in worrying or being afraid as there’s twenty valuable days of life to live before then.

1,136 marathons - 264 Ultras - 15 Marathon des Sables - 9 GWR - 1 ULTRA-X Jordan

Enter Sandman - Metallica

There’s just three weeks to go until I’m back running the 250km Multi-Day ULTRA-X in Jordan. Last year’s race feels like it was only yesterday and the memories of slogging out endless kms of pink sand are starting to make me wonder why on earth I want to go back to subject myself to yet another week of hardship in the desert.

Well, the simple answer is that I NEED to go back and live life. To me life is all about adventure. These are experiences that money simply can’t buy. Sure, money gets you into the race, a seat on the plane and gets you a flashy pair of trainers but all the hard work comes from within.

 

You see I believe we ALL need a goal outside of the humdrum of normal daily life, to motivate and focus on. In times of stress, pressure or illness it really helps. Looking back to when I was hospitalised in July 2016, knowing I’d entered the Marathon des Sables the following April, it provided the daily kick-up-the-arse I needed. I’m sure the thought of returning to the desert got me out of the wheelchair far quicker than it might have without.

 

But then I’m someone that says if I’m going to do something, I bloody well go and do it. I mean what’s the point of being or even worse, living half-arsed? 

 

Giving your everything doesn’t cost you anymore than a that’ll do approach.

 

Truly inspirational explorers or musicians even succeed because of their attention to detail and 100% committed approach to achieving their goal. Therefore, in the desert I will be contemplating how I can align my mindset to those of Fiennes, Gilmour or Gabriel perhaps and see where the next chapter will take me.

 

Time to Enter Sandman…

 

1,136 Marathons - 264 Ultras - 15 Marathon des Sables - 9 GWR - ULTRA-X Jordan