The Race That Didn't Go As Planned

The Race That Didn't Go as Planned

There are advantages and disadvantages to training for different race distances. If you're racing shorter distances, you can participate more frequently. However, if you have time goals, you'll likely be choosing your main race carefully. This main race is the one you're training to peak for, while other races along the way serve as training runs, pace setters, or simply more enjoyable training sessions than running alone.

When training for distance races like marathons, there's no room for back-to-back racing. All your training and hopes are focused on that one race.

Marathon Training

Most marathon training plans span 14-16 weeks, though some can be as long as 18 weeks or more if you're running multiple marathons in a year. During this period, there isn't necessarily downtime in your training cycle; instead, there's more flexibility. A longer training cycle allows for adjustments in mileage if needed due to injury or illness, though ideally, you'd complete the training cycle without any issues.

Your Marathon

After all the training and following your workout schedule, race day arrives. This training cycle has gone incredibly well, but it's important to note that perfection is rare unless you're a professional athlete. Ultimately, it all comes down to just one day, where all your hard work is put to the test.

The Unexpected

But what if things don't go as planned? We all enter a marathon with a race plan. Sometimes, the plan is simply to survive and finish. However, more often than not, you have a plan regarding your pace, knowing where your strengths are, and where to push on the course. But then, nothing goes according to plan. The weather could disrupt your race, or you could wake up sick or even get injured during the race. The moment of frustration can make all those hours of training feel wasted. How do you recover from this? You need to accept how your race went and learn from it. If things go sideways during your race, you have to be able to adjust and adapt. Running is largely a mental game, and when you have to adjust your game plan mid-race, it becomes even more so. You must determine if you'll keep going and finish, or if you're injured, accept that you should stop before causing permanent damage. During your race, beyond changing your plan for the day, there won't be much acceptance; that will have to come later.

Reflecting on Your Race

Once you finish, how do you come to terms with everything not going as planned? The first thing you need to do is talk to your coach and figure out what happened. Was it something you could control, or were there factors beyond your control?

If there were issues you could control, then it's time to review your training plan, everything leading up to the race, and what happened on race day. See what you can do differently next time.

For factors you can't control, like the weather, it's about understanding how your body reacts to outside factors so you can better prepare for them. Adjustments might be as simple as taking in more fluids or wearing more layers.

Conclusion

When the race doesn't go as planned, you need to regroup, refocus, and plan for the future. It can be incredibly frustrating and make you want to give up, but acceptance is key. This experience will make you stronger and a better runner. Moving forward, it will be a part of who you are as a runner.