Running Beyond Distance and Speed: Lessons from a Very Unplanned Full Marathon
Running Beyond Distance and Speed: Lessons from a Very Unplanned Full Marathon
My relationship with running spans over four decades, and it continues to surprise me. This past Sunday, I found myself unexpectedly running a full marathon. It wasn't on the schedule, let's just say life (and perhaps a touch of my own impulsiveness 😉) had other plans. I had a target in mind – 3:33, a seemingly comfortable pace averaging just over 5 min/km. The allure of those repeating "3"s? Let's just say certain numbers have a magnetic pull for me; the "why" isn't always the point, sometimes you just go with what resonates.
My observation, perhaps a touch blunt but often true, is that many Indian amateur runners excel at the 10k and navigate the half marathon reasonably well, but the full marathon often feels like a different beast altogether. We see a lot of focus on high-intensity speed intervals (100m, 200m, 400m repeats), yet the translation to the endurance needed for 42.2 km can be surprisingly limited. To me, truly understanding the marathon is a different kind of journey.
The first 27 km felt strong, averaging a comfortable 4:50/km. The cardinal rule of starting slow? Apparently, my body had its own agenda that day, settling into a quicker rhythm that felt natural… until it didn't. Around the 28th km, the wheels started to wobble, then threatened to come off entirely. Fatigue hit like a wall. Every muscle screamed, but thankfully, no specific injury. A pre-run salt tablet and water – a rare move for me, but a lifesaver in hindsight – likely played a crucial role. So did the emergency energy gel I'd surprisingly carried. A two-minute bench break under the shade near India Gate was a necessary reset.
Earlier, at the 5km mark, I'd passed the Dandi March memorial, a poignant reminder that this very day, 95 years ago, marked the end of Mahatma Gandhi's historic march. It was a small moment of reflection amidst the run.
Back on my feet, I consciously slowed to a 5:27 pace by the 31st km, another brief respite with cold water poured over myself at Amrita Shergill Marg providing a much-needed cooling effect. The next km at 5:47 felt manageable, but then came the dreaded 33rd km – a classic rookie mistake catching up with me. Starting too fast had incurred a heavy interest payment in the form of pure energy depletion. It was a tough kilometer, but surprisingly, I lacked the energy to even be truly bothered by it. Focus narrowed to each step, each breath.
A mental nudge reminded me of nearby shops, a beacon of potential refreshment. But serendipity struck sooner in the form of a Mother Dairy. A sandwich ice cream and lassi – pure bliss and a vital cooldown. The final 5 km were a testament to sheer willpower, especially after my phone decided to join the fatigue party and power down.
Ironically, this digital silence became an unexpected training ground for my "Meditation in Motion" project, something I'm discussing with Hyderabad Runners tomorrow ("Running beyond miles and pace"). Stripped of distractions, I connected with the rhythm of my run in a way I haven't in years.
Running, my steadfast companion for 41-42 years, remains non-judgmental. Fast or slow, long or short, easy or tough – it's simply there. And it consistently reinforces a crucial lesson: failure is a detour, not a dead end. Giving up is the true obstacle.
So, thank you, Mother Dairy, for the unexpected aid. And thank you, unplanned marathon, for the stark reminder of pacing discipline and the invaluable lessons learned. Sometimes, the best advice we can give our clients comes from our own beautifully messy experiences.
#Running #MarathonTraining #EnduranceRunning #PacingStrategy #RunningCommunity #India #MeditationInMotion #LearningsFromARun #RookieMistakes #Resilience #HyderabadRunners #DandiMarch
