This blog post would be divided in-

• • • • preparation for the full marathon 
    • • training plan 
      • nutrition(What all I added/removed from my diet)
      • Race day experience
      • learnings
    •  

 1) preparation for the full marathon –

After the euphoria of my first half marathon was over,I took the decision for the full marathon after a couple more half marathons, gradually getting my body used to  the intense training  of marathons.

This time around I referred many sources to create my running plan, nutrition,race day essentials, shoes,etc. 

2) Training plan –

My basic thinking was to have one long run in the middle of the week , followed by two short runs ,and finally the longest run on sunday.As you can see that the  plan I have put is of only 8 weeks but ,before this I had around 40 km week’s ,because of which it was easy for me to pick up the pace when required. 

This time around I had improved the design of the schedule ,the kilometers needed to be done every week, strength training, etc. Including  strength training paid big time ,as improvement in  lower body strength helped in the longer miles.It included simple body weight squats ,lunges ,situps, with pullups, and pushups for the upper body.

I also invested  in the other allied accessories This time, I made improvements to the schedule design, including the number of kilometers that need to be covered on a weekly basis and the strength training routine. Additionally, I invested in some other necessary accessories such as a good quality protein powder, multivitamins,etc.

I also started swimming in the evening for 30 minutes  to an hour as a means of recovery on alternate days. 

3) Nutrition-

As mentioned in my first half marathon blog, nutrition needed improvement. So I added extra sources of –

1.protein- almonds , curd,milk.

2)Fats-ghee(clarified butter)

Eating the same home-cooked food everyday which I agree may seem dull, but whatever be the composition and source of food ,I  included these on a day to day basis .This is what helped me recover faster .

4)Race day experience-

The start time of the event was midnight ,which was not exactly the best time according to anyone circadian rhythm,but I had to get my body up & ready .I always have a small cup of tea before any event so as to have some caffeine in my ,body which keeps me away from drowsiness(This led to a big problem ,which will discuss later). I didnt use a watch back at that point of time  because of which I followed a pacer I had a target of completing it in 4 hours.

I did not have a watch to track my pace so I joined a pacer group (would recommend any newbie to do so , saves a lot of brainpower ).The first 10 km were comfortable and my pace was around 5:30 per km It was  important to hydrate and maintain a good posture while maintaining pace. I could maintain this pace till about 23 km’s, thereafter my pace kept dropping each subsequent km. Aching shins, and cramping feet hindered movement and now was the real test of the body and mind.A few stretches, and relispray  helped temporarily but the pain insisted. This was further accompanied by a sudden urge to poop, I thought it was a false alarm so I kept going.This  turned to reality a few km’s later and I had to make a emergency stop for a washroom nearby. LESSON LEARNT: never have TEA early morning before a marathon (I later learned that tea and coffee are laxatives and ease bowel movement).  By this time,I had fallen considerably behind our pacing group ( to be precise- 20 min’s) ,anyhow I kept moving . I realised later ,that this was the most important thing that any marathoner should do,KEEP MOVING,no matter what your pace is,it doesn’t matter at that moment ,stopping and then starting again when your body is battered is the hardest battle that one has to  fight ,and most of the times one loses.

Towards the end of the last loop or 37km’s a strange sense of ease and flow appeared, each step didn’t feel  as heavy as before , each inhale and exhale felt normal , While I was trying to achieve these before ,I couldn’t,now it seemed effortless . Final 2 km’s was a breeze , and I  crossed  the finish line  with a time of 4hrs:20 min.

I was washed out , my heart rate was through the roof ,my legs about to give way,but I finally had feeling of what a finish felt like ,the one everyone who has finished a , marathon knows. You don’t get that every time you finish your run, I guess this is the reward that all marathoners keep talking about …

Learnings-

1)  Experiment with food beforehand and not on the D-DAY 

2)Dont let the initial euphoria just after the start take over , Go as per your pace .

3) Things happen along the way , not necessarily according to your will, But one should always keep in mind the end goal i.e completing the marathon.