LET me start this story with where it should end-the answer to why I want to run a marathon. And the answer is, “I don’t know.”
Even after I completed my 25km run last weekend at Taman Botani Perdana, which took more than three hours, I still didn’t know why I put myself through this rigorous 16-week training programme while I balance full-time work and taking care of household matters.
Training for a full marathon is not easy. It takes a lot of time, perseverance and personal commitment. Many things that non-runners typically do suddenly no longer apply to me.
For one, I have long abandoned the idea of a long Saturday night dinner because I wake up at 5.30am on Sundays to run, before the sun gets the better of me.
My alarm goes off earlier on weekends than on weekdays and, like a school student, I diligently prepare all my running articles the night before so that after my pre-dawn prayer I can quickly lace up my shoes and go.
The only time I sleep in on weekends is when it rains heavily and I cannot go out to run. Otherwise, I’d be out there with my New Balance 1260v6 or Hoka One One Vanquish 2, pounding the road to increase my mileage.
I come to work early so I can squeeze an hour’s worth of tempo run on the treadmill at the office gym — my favourite place in the building and something I am eternally grateful for. All offices should have a gym if employers are really serious about the well-being of their staff.
QUALITY TIME
I’m extremely lucky to be married to a runner, and although he runs a shorter distance, he’d wake up on weekends as early as I do and wait until I have done the distance I had set out to do before we head home.
We’d share our speed and see if we have improved our cadence. We exchange notes on how our runs were. A morning run is our version of a date day, which often concludes at our favourite Indian breakfast joint in Brickfields.
As my training progresses, my food habits change too. I drink a lot more water to hydrate myself after my long runs and have cultivated a neutral stand on potato chips, my otherwise go-to comfort food. My diet has become cleaner because I run better when I fuel my body right.
I have decided early this year to run my Full Marathon on home soil because while I have done other distances in Standard Chartered KL Marathon in previous years, I have never really gotten around to do a FM here, which I will in 14 weeks, God willing.
So far, I have averaged 45-50km weekly and I need to bring that number up to 70km so that come race day, my body will already be acclimatised to the distance. To achieve that, I do one long run on a weekend and a few shorter ones on weekdays.
I have printed out the Runner’s World marathon training plan, and while I find it punishing, I know the better prepared my body is, the better the experience will be.
Building my mileage was tough for the first few weeks — I have not exercised this hard since I completed my Full Marathon in Singapore in late 2012. Thankfully (and despite my age), raking up my mileage has been smooth sailing.
I still don’t know why I want to run this race. It’s not timing, because I’m a slow runner. It’s not glory, because aside from me, no one will understand my achievement. It’s also not about proving anything to anyone.
Perhaps I do this because I like the process of getting there — pushing my body and mind to the limit, sticking through something when it looks impossible and having the discipline and determination to train with no excuse to give to myself.
EXPERT ADVICE
Here are some tips from Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2017 Official Running Coach Mark Williams (photo, above) for those training for a marathon.
AVOID INJURY
First of all, even before you start training, if you are unsure if your body is up for the challenges ahead, have a medical check-up. It will show your fitness and stress levels so that you know if you are ready for the months of training ahead.
Avoiding injury when training is also about getting the correct apparel. Spend time getting the perfect running shoe. Seek advice from running professionals and shop assistants and always go with a reputable brand.
Be warned: comfort and fit are much more important than colour! On many occasions, injuries, especially in the lower body, are caused by not wearing the right running shoes.
Finally, runners need to listen to their body. Be prepared to stop if pain increases during a run. Rest if an injury prevails.
FOLLOW A PLAN
For new runners, follow a running plan together with a small group of friends. By training together, runners can motivate and encourage each other and account for their commitment.
However, the plan should always be a guideline and is not to be followed religiously. Listening to the body and resting when necessary is as important as putting in the kilometres!
SEEK ADVICE
If you are a beginner, seek advice from experienced runners. The Standard Chartered KL Marathon holds clinics run by people who know just how important it is to have a platform for those seeking answers to their questions about running.
Syida Lizta Amirul Ihsan is training for her Full Marathon at the Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur Marathon 2017 this May 21. Her monthly column will explore her training progress. Write to her at slizta@nst.com.my.