Rewind the clock to April and you’ll see me hitting enter to the Valencia Marathon. On clicking enter I am 3 down to the marathon. Having yet to be be satisfied that the time is a fair reflection of my ability.
Along for the journey Ash has given me the green light. Sean, Josh, Hatch are athletes that I’ll be coaching to the start line, Aisling, Rickson and Roxy are also joining the fun bus. All have something to prove and all are prepared to do the work.
The stage is set, cue the training montage…
What I mean when I say ‘A Good Race’
Somewhere along the way, around about summer time, I’m listening to an interview with Kipchoge and it’s the hype up towards the Berlin marathon. When asked what he wants to achieve, he replies simply “I want to run a good race”. This sparked something in my brain, that’s all I hear from runners and I sit with it. Then I say, I want to run a good race. To execute a good race is decided on the runners terms, based on what they define as a good race. So although Kipchoge is talking about a world record, the term “a good race” means the same to me.
So I set my definition of a good race which boils down to two things, no.1 negative split, no.2 enjoy it.
Tom backs me and says how are you going to make these things happen? I say I need more long runs and strength, he agrees and says crack on, Marcus has taken the mantra of relaxing to the next level this year and that has also rubbed off on me, his outlook is of patience and consistency. All of which helps me remain present and in control.
This now dictates my training and approach to training, take it serious when it needs to be, support my training as much as I am happy to and enjoy it. My training becomes a bit more selfish, a little more formulaic but never to the point where I forget what I enjoy most about the training, which is sharing the journey.
Three months out I get a pb at the notoriously hard Great North Run (ask Jeff Strachan), we’re on the right track.
What happened on race day
After a less than ideal journey to Valencia but oh so typical Foster Tarmey travels, I arrive healthy, fit and genuinely excited to see what will happen to me and the other athletes who have come along. Valencia is a beautiful city and the mood is light. Expo is a breeze and adds to the excitement.
The morning of the race is A typical for my routine, wake up, eat, coffee, smile and head to the start line. The others all seem to be in the same boat. Excited to enter the fray. Before the start, I do my little prayer to myself, crouch down with my hand on the floor, I am in love with an amazing women, I am excited to start the next chapter of my life, I am grateful to be here and to run a good race and no matter what happens, I will run a good race.
The gun goes as thousands of spindly legs take the streets of Valencia, a flat, cool, straight course has been promised. What happens in the next 2hours 33 minutes 23seconds is flow. Calmness, execution, mastery of my senses and self. There is pain but I don’t let it affect me, there is cramp but I won’t let it stop me. Finish. I ran a good race.
Being around good people
To complete the second point of my definition of a good race requires good people, The incredible crew who came out really made it for me, there performances, mindset and most of all attitude throughout this journey was amazing. We were in it for the right reasons. Sean proved that his hard work has paid off, Josh proved he knew his body and what it could accomplish, Aisling and Roxy proved that they could, Hatch proved that there is no room for negativity and Rickson proved that cammo joggers are acceptable when racing abroad.
The support along the way with Marcus, Tom, Steph. Running, Jonesy and Jess is all you need to stay motivated and focused. Our continuous push to be better as a group and individuals is an environment like no other to be in and to grow within.
Going forward
Running a good race is a methodology I’d encourage athletes to adopt, it ensures calmness, focus and takes away the rush to succeed, it allows the races to simply act as a marker for your journey. So next time you feel like you need to carry that training forward to catch up, or book a race because you have to ‘achieve a pb’ look back at what your definition of a good race is and that should give you the direction and mindset you should adopt to keep enjoying the process.
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