It was 2004 and I was in full training.
Unfortunately that was not marathon training.
I was fully immersed in rowing at this time, training twice a day, driven by my very lofty aspirations.
A friend mentioned he was doing the Paris Marathon and did I fancy it?
I’d never ran further than 6/7 miles but the race fell at the end of the winter rowing season, so I could actually do it.
I knew I was fit but not running fit and I didn’t have the time to devote to running.
But as a 24 year old – I wrongly thought “how hard can it be?”
This was NOT the last time I uttered those words – I don’t learn easily!
By way of a practice I did one 10 mile run and one 16 miler – Both went well and it looked like breaking 4 hours would be routine.
I knew that was a bit of a landmark so thought that would do me.
On the day I decided I was better than that and I should go for 3:30 – The fact I hadn’t done any running training didn’t phase me – I was over confident!
I cleared halfway in 1:40 – On target.
I hit around 18 miles where we ran through a tunnel under the Rver Seine.
The French runners began to sing and it made me feel really emotional – my legs were hurting and I felt like I wanted to cry – like genuinely blubber.
I knew stopping would be the beginning of the end but as I came out of the other end of the tunnel I stopped.
I was furious – I thought I was tough, that I was better than the others – The fact I had done no running training still didn’t bother me.
I started to run again with real pain and no energy – I believe they call this “The Wall” – I hit in and I fell over, HARD.
I finished in 4:07 and spent the next few days hobbling around Paris looking at the various sights, sights without stairs you understand because there was no way I was getting up those.
So whats my point?
Obviously I didn’t prepare training wise – The naivity and over confidence of my youth.
But what did I have for breakfast that day?
- 1 extra large chocolate swiss roll (Tesco value for my British readers)
- 12 jaffa cakes (sugary biscuits)
- 1 bottle of lucozade
- 1 banana
All at 5am.
I knew nothing of nutrition then – all I thought I needed was sugar and calories – my breakfast gave me that in abundance.
Me hitting the wall was partly because of my non specific training – I never felt out of breath, my muscles just couldn’t handle the volume.
The other reason was NOT just my poor breakfast but my poor DIET which at the time was very carb heavy.
Carbs are good but unless you top up, you will run out over a long endurance event and I ran out.
Hence if my overall diet was better I would have been more adapted at burning fat, which over these long events really helps.
Some would say, just grab a few sweets or a gel but are either nutritious?
No.
Will they get you out of trouble?
Yes.
So well worth having for an emergency but better still is nailing that diet every damn day.
That way you will achieve your true potential – good training taken for granted.
Thats why I started The Total Triathlete – http://www.nutri-tri.com/the-total-triathlete/
My online support forum which lets you post your meals as often as you like for me to review.
You will also receive the support of other people going through exactly the same process as you, trying to improve their nutrition and body composition.
All new subscribers will get the latest email magazine as well on subscription.
It’s £10 per month (roughly 14 USD) and you can unsubscribe any time.
If you need some help and support this is definitely for you.
It WILL make the difference between wanting to get better and actually getting better.
Sigh up here:
http://www.nutri-tri.com/the-total-triathlete/
Jamie “don’t learn the hard way” Leighton