Apollo New Delhi Marathon - Lessons learnt, hence all was not in vain.

Now, that's the face I could come up with to show the distress of not making it to the Apollo New Delhi Marathon for a HM due to a stomach bug. What a bummer 😞!

There were no initial plans of making it to the event but work commitments flew me down to Delhi. With weekend alongside and knowing that New Delhi Marathon was just round the corner, the FOMO was kicking in slowly and steadily:). With support from a dear friend, I could hitch a entry to the event. Delhi has been the playground of the past and had managed my first PB in Half Marathon. The majority of the route being a flat course, you cannot stop from pushing yourself to our do your previous personal bests. Short run formats have been the story of past prior to engaging myself in to long distance and ultra distance running. The chase with shorter formats was cut short due to the burn outs being felt and generating pace wasn't helping much in achieving the bond with passion and sense of achievement. 

Mangalore Triathlon event had me gun down a personal best and experience a runners high. It tend to build some confidence as shorter distance event for me was a avenue for socialising with like minded folks and understand how much we can do towards the running community.

So what went so wrong that I did not see myself starting at the start line. Having landed in Delhi a week before for work, the food habits during travels were bound to change. This is when utmost care need to be taken despite the immunity you carry and especially when you have a event coming up that demands for a level of fitness for a happy ending. 

The weekdays went well without any hiccups that followed by the BIB collection at Jawahar Lal Stadium on friday. In a way releived to be running HM and not the FM, hence the pace in mind that I would want to last with in that particular period of time was doable and I quite manifested too.

Saturday being a regular day for rest and relaxation, a last minute work hour demanded few chores. Guess the lassi that I happen to have did not go well with my gut. The evening back home did not feel right and seemed like the downfall has begun. That very night, answering multiple nature calls squeezed the energy out of me. Still looking forward to some hope with whatever sleep I could get, I woke up at 4am and stationed myself for a moment. The weakness could be felt and hence the decision to call off the race was made. Back to bed for sleep and consumption of electrolyte continued in my chase to recovery.

So why this blog when there is hardly any running. Well, there were a few weather recce runs just to beat the cold and when the nature's call were playing their part quite well.

And

The days following in were filled with more liquid consumptions as the appetite had taken a back seat. And now the journey back to the healthy me had begun. Electrolytes - yes, Dal chawal - yes, water - a yes yes. A antibiotic and medicine for diarrhoea were ingested too. The fuild intakes followed for couple of days with very minimal solid food. The visits to the restroom were reduced however it had not ended. So to not let it affect my event that was coming up in another 10-12 days, a doctor's visit became a must. Post checkup and liver functionality test, all parameters seemed fine and I was put on a 5 day course of medication. A day of medicine just seemed to resolve all the issues , so continued to finish my course of medicine and did not want to take any further chances that you compromise my recovery.

Lessons learnt I suppose not once but a couple of times. Be it the UTMB Thailand or Malaysia Trail Festival, I hit the wall at both the events. Hence going forward visiting countries is going to need a revamp on medicals checks , precautions and if need be some antibiotic shots too. 

And the most important thing, food matters. You may be working hard in your fitness journey but the intake of different ingredients into your body will matter too. If results or consequences do not appear in near future, they are definitely pricking the future later. A blood test per year or every six months as you age is recommended to keep a tap on your health parameters. An early insight can help you take those long term measures to stay healthy and when such habits are inculcated up early, they become a part of the routine and less effort is required to put in to achieve those long lasting results than having to panic when it's already too late to start your journey from point zero.

So wrapping up this blog with few borrowed tips and from my experiences so far..

1. Stick to your plan and don’t try anything new

One of the most important things to remember is to relax and stick to what you know. Trying anything new before a long run is not a good idea because you don’t know how your body will react.

From what you choose to wear to your preferred running pace, come to race day mentally prepared to stick to what you know.

2. Test out everything

If you want to use gels, hydration packs, shoes or inserts on race day, be sure to test these out well before the race. This way you will know how your body responds, and you won’t have any surprises.

For example, if you try to wear a new pair of shoes, you don’t know how your feet will react and may need to adjust the support. Runners can be particular about a style of running belt, the flavor of energy supplements, and even the type of watch or tracking system. As you prepare for a run, try to find what works for you on your longer runs.

3. Start tapering your running

Experts suggest tapering your training about three weeks before the marathon. If you are following a running schedule, you will often be guided up until race day. Sometimes you may go out for a light jog, but one thing is for sure—you don’t want to burn yourself out before the race begins.

4. Eat the right food

You want to eat well two days before the race, as it takes about two days before the food is ready to be used as fuel. Your body will burn protein as fuel during the run so include some lean meat, poultry or fish to your pre-marathon meal. However, the day before your race you want to go light on protein. Avoid anything that will upset your stomach and remember, stick with what normally works for you.

Some good foods to eat the night before your race include:

Whole grain breads

Pasta

Sweet potatoes

Then on the day of the event, if you need to eat, try to time your breakfast three hours before

race time so everything can settle.

5. Stay hydrated

The day before your race is the day to hydrate. Drink plenty of fluids, but the morning of the race, hold back. You don’t need to drink a lot before the race, and if you hydrated the day before, you should be fine. Runners often say there is nothing worse than spending time in line at the portable toilets along the course.

As you run your race, there will be drink stations. The stations usually contain water or an electrolyte drink. Make sure you train with both of these types of hydration, possibly alternating, so you don’t overdo it on race day. You can also walk through the course ahead of time or find out when and where these stations will be.

6. Stock up on fuel

Before race day, it will be helpful to buy some fuel for recovery. Most runners suggest chocolate milk for their after-race drink, as it has a good blend of protein and carbs to help your body recover. Some races have healthy snacks for after you finish, while others have pizza and donuts. You’ll want to have a plan for what foods you want to eat after you cross the finish line.

7. Get some rest

The night before your race, you don’t need to overdo it on sleep. Follow your regular body clock, and make sure you set your alarm for the morning. Set out everything so you can easily locate it. If you are traveling with others, perhaps it’s best to meet them later on so you can stay focused and punctual. Also, be sure to plan extra time if you need to drive, are traveling to an unfamiliar location or if you’re unsure of road conditions.

8. Watch the weather

All of the time preparing for your run, and one bad day of weather can really make you worry. Look up the weather conditions ahead of time so you know what to expect. In your training, consider doing a few runs in cold temperatures, hot temperatures, rain or even wind so you know what it’s like to test your body against the elements. Keep in mind the weather can affect your clothing, so be sure to dress properly for race day. On a cold day, some runners prefer to wear gloves or a long-sleeved shirt they can just toss in the trash along the course, so they don’t have to worry as their body heats up.

9. Prepare mentally

Even though you’ve got a lot of miles to cover on foot, for a lot of people the biggest aspect of running is mental. So, your mindset is a big part of your success.

You’re almost there. Any physical preparation is worth nothing if you’re not mentally prepared. Take some time before your race to picture your success and before you know it, you’ll be crossing the finish line.

10. Get ready to run!

With these 10 tips and months of training, you should be ready to run! Get out there, do your best and enjoy the experience.

Quote for thought:-

“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Neither does bathing. That’s why we recommend it daily.”