So far training for her first marathon has changed Lorna, for the better. She’s stronger, tougher, has a new lease of life, has met new friends and loves exercise. It’s good this running business innit?
Name: Lorna Mann
Age: 29
Marathon history:First marathon – London 2013
Goal: to finish in one piece!
What I learnt this week: Whinging is pointless. Whinging doesn’t give any results, doesn’t achieve anything and makes people disappointed in you. No more whinging for me. If I think I can’t do something I’m not going to whinge, I’m going to succeed. If something aches I’m not going to whinge I’m going to be proud that I ache. Yup… no more whinging.
20 miles. DONE
About three weeks ago my wonderful trainer told me I had to set some new goals as it has got to the point that my first marathon is so close that I now have to think about what I want to achieve after it. I freaked out. I thought I’d be able to enjoy finishing my first 26.2 and then I’d reassess – the thought of having to think forward scared me to my in-desperate-need-of-toughening-up core. After I calmed down it made sense… I’ve had such a rollercoaster with training for the London Marathon that I know I will need something to focus on to stop me from hitting that inevitable post-race-downer quite as hard as I expect I will. The next goal needs to be in sight to keep me going. What it is still baffles me… I may need some advice!
Lorna bought MORE trainers! Girl has a problem
The task of setting these new goals has made me assess my training thus far in great detail. It has been seven months of non-stop lessons that are continuous. I’m still learning new things about me every day, new things about running every day, new things about training. I’m also trying to learn that I can step into a Nike shop and NOT BUY SOMETHING… but that’s a whole other challenge.
I never thought I’d ever call myself ‘a runner’… but I do now. I never thought I’d describe myself as ‘strong’ but I’m getting there. I never thought I’d look forward to spending two hours a week lifting weights in a gym but I do.
Embarking on my first marathon has changed me completely – I never thought I’d ever call myself ‘a runner’… but I do now. I never thought I’d describe myself as ‘strong’ but I’m getting there. I never thought I’d look forward to spending two hours a week lifting weights in a gym but I do… and long for more. The feeling I get from lacing up one of my many pairs of trainers makes me feel great, and as much as I’ve had some pretty low lows during training I wouldn’t have had it any other way – who needs an easy ride any way??
Could New York be next? Image: www.sportstoursinternational.co.uk
Running and training has introduced me to new people, shown me new ways of thinking and given me a new lease of life. I definitely want my new lifestyle to be a permanent part of me and not something that disappears after the finish line on 21 April, but how I continue and for what reason is definitely on my mind. I have a feeling I’ll want to run faster, I think I’ll want to run around the world (New York, you are on my race bucket list) but how and when I get to those points needs to be addressed. How I’m going to continually improve physically is definitely a goal I want to keep in mind too. James has been a phenomenal strength coach and his programme is something I need to stick with – we just may need to adapt a few things I’m sure.
This probably sounds like I’m putting a lot of pressure on myself before I’ve even reached my initial goal, but being as results driven as I am I do need to focus as otherwise I may go a little more insane than I already am. One thing I have discovered though is that my main overall goal is to realise that I can be who ever I want to be, change whatever I want, be as strong as I desire to be as long as I let myself and not get too bogged down in setting short-term, sometimes ridiculously tough, goals that do not always necessarily benefit the long term. I’ve come this far already, so why should it be any different moving forward?
Weekly training stats: Miles/kms covered: 23miles.
Tuesday 26 March
60 mins dynamic yoga at Good Vibes Covent Garden
60 mins upper body training with personal trainer James.
Wednesday 27 March
60 mins dynamic yoga at Good Vibes Covent Garden
Thursday 28 March
60 mins dynamic yoga at Good Vibes Covent Garden
Blessed leg day with personal trainer James. (60 mins)
Friday 29 March
20 mile run. Boom.
Saturday 30 March
REST!!!
Sunday 31 March
Another rest day.
Monday 1 April
5km run. 60 mins yoga.
Running tracks of the week: Move On Up, Curtis Mayfield. Gold Dust, DJ Fresh. Bom Bom, Sam and the Womp.
Read Lorna’s earlier blogs here.
