Lessons learned

So, I didn´t do the marathon in the end. As per my previous blog, I did the half-marathon in Alicante and absolutely knackered my self. Then I went out training and in a fit of stupidity, decided to go barefoot for about 40 minutes. One hairline crack of my metatarsal later and there was no running for six weeks.

When will I learn? I am not a superman, or at least not yet, and I have to take it easy and build things up slowly. I was angry during the half marathon because I really struggled from about 7k onwards, but that was only because I went out way too fast, not because my training hadn´t been good. I calculated that I would have broken 1:30 if I´d maintained the same pace as I made during the first 5k. That´s just ridiculous and it´s all my fault (I have to say, it felt bloody good though during the first 7k, when I was leaving people trailing in a wake of Standing-dust).

So, what now? My impatience has cost me my goal for this year, although it has maybe shown me that my goal wasn´t all it was cracked up to be. It leaves me with a burning question:

What is so special about the marathon?

It feels like everyone who is anyone has done a marathon these days. People from all walks of life manage to get through 26.2 miles without what appears to be too much difficulty. Some of them also dress up in stupid costumes. However, I do realise that there is a big difference between trotting through 26.2 miles and running the same distance to the best of your ability. But, that´s not the point. The point is that the marathon was something to measure myself by, to run that distance at a sustained pace which tested both my mental and physical capabilities to keep going. It was something that was hard. And at the moment I, clearly, am not.

So I´m now left without a goal, and just some vague plans. Do I go for Santa Pola again and try to get yet another PB? Do I try the HM in Aspe on Dec 23rd as it´s bound to be a pretty route? Do I aim for the Madrid rock n´roll marathon in April or the Rome marathon in March? Or do I go for the Valencia mountain marathon in April?

Or do I go for the Valencia mountain marathon in April?
Or do I go for the Valencia mountain marathon in April?
Or do I go for the Valencia mountain marathon in April?
Or do I go for the Valencia mountain marathon in April?

Don´t rush Mart...you can´t run that fast yet.