Recently I have been bombarded with questions about how to run marathons. Some folks want to complete their first whilst others want to run faster. The latter got me thinking. How much do people who want to run faster really want to run faster? What is their ‘personal marathon training budget’ and just how much are they prepared to invest to achieve their ambitious goals?
The best thing you can do to hit an ambitious goal is to really want it. There’s no point fluffing about with ambitious targets. They need to be embraced and set upon with real purpose, passion and intent. Waiver and your ambitious target will slip away. Engage in pointless chaff and your target disappears. Take positive, informed action and make difficult but necessary choices and really commit to your ambitious goal and you’ve a greater chance of turning it into a reality.
If you want to run faster than before you need to train harder and smarter than before. You’ve got to train your body for what you are asking it to do. That means focused long runs, with sections at target race pace, threshold and faster running workouts, having a clear race place and nailing your hydration and nutrition strategy. Serious goals demand serious preparation not half-hearted attempts with limited gusto, poor perseverance and lack of deep commitment.
If your goal is to run faster this year (at a marathon or any other distance for that matter of fact) it’s all well and good to talk about it and wave your target about in the wind but when are you going to actually stop the hot air and actually start with the action?
Questions to you?
- What do you want to achieve?
- How much do you really want to achieve it?
- What do you need to do to make this aspiration a reality?
- What are the major barriers / obstacles you face?
- What is the immediate action you are going to take to start on your road to success?
- What else can you do to make your dream run goal achievable?
Now go and do it!
