My life evolved around training and tapering in the months and weeks leading up to the Berlin marathon. I was determined to be as prepared as possible for optimum performance with the correct pacing, speed consistency, mental strategies, fueling and the all-important tapering process. The day itself was an amazing experience from the 5.30am breakfast fuelling to the post marathon adrenaline buzz! The atmosphere, support, weather and everything I could have wished for was on our side!
I was highly anxious in the final days, hours and minutes leading up to the marathon distance. Even the most experienced and accomplished veteran marathoners experience this as your daily life and decisions evolve around training over the prior months. You are always thinking, eating and sleeping this day. But it is important to remember that despite this detailed preparation you must also be prepared to accept inevitabilities and unforeseen barriers such as injury, ill-health (or family) and personal circumstances resulting in no marathon day. Second to this is the post-marathon risks and consequences such as getting injured which can lead to long-term and more serious injury. This is where I still am today since Berlin, except worse, and this is the primary influence for starting this blog!
From speaking with many fellow fitness and running enthusiasts, we can very much understand and relate to the sheer frustration of being seriously injured long-term. Losing fitness and body condition are only the physical consequences of long-term injury, which can be accepted. The main challenge is dealing with the mind. After a long day or stressful experience, releasing the stress through exercise and movement (preferably outdoors) is what makes me happiest. For me exercising is the ultimate adrenaline experience. It releases endorphins and gets the blood pumping that for me gives a feeling of pure relief. For many people winding-down means relaxing with TV, a book, or spending time with close family and friends etc. For others, it is exercise. When this is taken away – completely – and for a long period of time, it becomes very difficult to accept and find alternatives! Most injuries last a few days or weeks. These are easy to deal with. With adequate rest and sometimes physio, we’re back out there doing what we love best again :-) Only in rare incidents do some injuries unfortunately become a more long-term problem and setback.
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