London Marathon

Just ran my first marathon. The Flora London Marathon. On April 13, 2008. Had a totally fantastic time. Also had some reflections on marathon running while running the marathon. Hallucinatory reflections of this sort may be a symptom of extreme glycogen deprivation.

Yin and yang

A Jungian framework I happened upon years ago maps all social motivation onto a single axis. The psyche has an innate desire to feel connected, to belong, to feel at one with, to be a part of a larger whole. Yin. The psyche also has an innate desire to stand out, to be unique, to win, to conquer. Yang. The greatest fun happens when the psyche reaches both the yin and yang ends of the axis.

That happens at a big marathon. The sheer fact of running 26.2 miles delivers the yang. There is something special about the physical achievement...even in these days of mass participation marathons. Yet, that's only a part of the story. The training runs on foggy grey mornings stretching out over 20+ miles feel meaningful (and get done) only in the context of a framing event.

And what a great event it is. The company I work for had done a great job, putting up posters across town wishing our runners good luck. My daughter was delighted to see my picture on an advert while riding on the tram. Travel in London is free for runners. You start the run at the Greenwich observatory. The streets in front packed with other runners, with whom you feel a reflexive kinship. The route is packed with hundreds of thousands of cheering spectators. This is clearly the only time in my life >100000 people have cheered me on. My family and friends were along to cheer. It was fantastic.

Agoraphilia

I love the word. Will never have a better opportunity to use it.

After training outdoors through crisp winter sunshine, persistent rain, the occasional snow or hail, and - worst of all from a running perspective - gusty winds, I am more aware of the weather and it's moods than I've ever been. Less obviously but more powerfully, I love the sense of physical space, of eating up the distance, that I get running outdoors. I've had the same feeling when I'm out hiking.

Harmless snobbery

Observing the pristine, clean shoes of other people at the gym. People whose shoes have clearly not run 10 miles on muddy tracks last weekend while training for a marathon.

Run, Fat Boy, Run

The ideal in-flight film for a guy running his first marathon. Watch the trailer here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTrfuX1Pb-k

Attack of the Thermo-Nuclear Mosquitoes

Marathon training is really not happening here in Madras. I started off training outdoors. The heat and humidity sound manageable: 22C and 88% humidity. Just did not work out. I was dripping sweat, struggling to concentrate and was ready to drop after just 2 miles.

Have given up on road running for now. Did 5 comfortable and satisfying miles on the treadmill in an air-conditioned gym this morning.

The first unexpected hazard is the mosquitoes. They hang in the air in swarms thick enough to be opaque. They are able to bite even under my t-shirt.

The more interesting unexpected hazard is the culture. Road running is so counter-cultural in Madras, I almost expect the scrawny urchins loitering around on the pavements to break out into hoots or whistles as I pass. I was running in the Boat Club area partly because the roads are clean enough for a run to be possible, but also because it is an unambiguously posh area. Urchins just seem less likely to hoot at rich people in posh surroundings. The only other people running on the Boat Club roads were white. It's weird being a foreigner in my home town.

Marathon training

The score:

Week 5
Thu Nov 29: 30 min intervals + 10 min rowing m/c. 5 km
Wed Nov 28: 36 min @ 10 kmph. 6 km
Mon Nov 26: Skiing on Capital One fun day (it's tiring)

Week 4
Sun Nov 25: 50 min @ 10+ kmph. 8.3 km
Friday Nov 23: 42 min canalside. 7 km?
Thu Nov 22: 4 games squash
Wed Nov 21: 36 min intervals. 6km
Tue Nov 20: 40 min canalside. 6.6km?
Mon Nov 19. 40 min @ 10+ kmph. 6.6km

Total for week: 34.5 kmph + 4 games (bad) squash

Observations:

- Running outdoors is a huge enthusiasm builder. I need to slot in more time in the natural light

- I'm not really pushing myself hard. Will do that this weekend, when I run early in the day when I have a lot of energy

- I'm sorely tempted to blow £100+ on a GPS enables stopwatch that keeps track of my distance and time when I'm running outdoors

- I played lousy squash on Thursday. I was tired after some pretty focused training. I'd had a heavy and oily lunch at Red Hot Buffet Shack with Lalit K. I was in no mental shape to compete. Next time, I'll organize my day in a way that I have the energy to compete

- Protein bars at my desk in the office are working quite well at providing a good 4 pm snack. Not sure where that leaves me on net nutrition and calorie balance, though...

Marathon Training

What's the score?

Week 2

Tue, Nov 6: 5 games of squash
Thu, Nov 8: 30 min. 5 km. Intervals at 7.5 and 12.5 kmph
Fri, Nov 9: 45 min. 7.5 km @ 10 kmph
Sat, Nov 10: 30 min. 5.0 km. At 10 kmph

Total: 17.5 km + 5 games squash

Week 3

Tue, Nov 13: 4 games of squash
Wed, Nov 14: 30 min. 5.2 km. Just slightly over 10kmph
Thu, Nov 15: 36 min. 6 km. Intervals at 7.5 and 12.5 kmph
Sun Nov 18: 36 min. 6 km. Cruise @ 10kmph + 10 min on rowing m/c

Total: 19.2 km + 4 games squash

Observations:

1. My attitude to training has changed since in signed up for the Marathon.

Working out used to be me-time that I looked forward to. Now that I have to do the miles, working out has become a chore to be completed rather than a treat I'm giving myself. I'm feeling apologetic about tearing myself away from work and the children to go clock in the miles. That saps energy. If I slope into a training session feeling apologetic, half-embarrassed and unconsciously thinking I really ought to be elsewhere, I'm not going to find gas in the tank when I want to push myself for another couple of miles or pump up the pace on the last lap.

I'm going to set this right. I'm going to slot in training carefully into my calendar, so I know I'm not stealing time from another part of my life. I'll spend a couple of minutes warming up and visualizing the run before I set off. And approach each run with focus, enthusiasm and pride.

2. I need an afternoon snack. I'm out of fuel around 4:30 pm. That's prime time for unhealthy and energy sapping snacks. That also takes energy away from my run in the evening.

3. I need to watch my diet more closely because I'm in training. I've let myself indulge a bit. I'm in training has become a bit of an excuse to over-eat and snack on potato chips. This is absurd

4. Squash is actually a nice change from running. I'm going to continue playing through the marathon training period. I'll basically be playing only league matches. That's OK.

Starting Training

Training for the London marathon started last week. The score:

Nov 1. 40 min @ 10 kmph = 6.66 km
Nov 3: 45 min @ 10 kmph = 7.5 km
Nov 4: 45 min @ 10 kmph = 7.5 km

Total for the week = 21.6 km

Nov 6: 5 games of squash.

Some other random observations.

- Mindless TV while on the treadmill. Star Wars beats MTV

- It's hard to concentrate running alone along the river bank. Most people are there to relax. People walking dogs, couples desperately making out, kids playing frizbee, a couple of fishermen, a couple of homeless boozers...its really hard to stay focused on my breathing and just clock in the distance. A training partner will really help.