Marathon Motivation: How To Stay Engaged Despite Cancelled Races
The covid19 pandemic has led to tremendous changes in our daily lifestyle. One of the most negatively affected events is the decreased level of physical activity of people. With repeated restrictions and lockdowns, gyms , pools , stadiums and parks are closed. There is an even higher peak in the sedentary lifestyle of people now , which has resulted in pain due to postural syndromes , high blood pressure, weight gain, obesity, weaker immune system and even clinical depression. There are physical hazards like muscle mass reduction and reduced strength. If the person was previously working out then sooner or later muscles undergo something called ‘detraining’ where the muscles start undergoing loss of physiological adaptation which was gained due to previous routine.
What we need to understand is we need to maintain fitness more than ever right now because physical activity is what is going to maintain our well being during this pandemic as it boosts the immune system to function against all the infections. Due to the covid19 pandemic we had to isolate ourselves but this too has a silver Lining. Millions of us were overworked, there were anxiety ridden students and now everyone is finally getting a chance to slow down, breathe and reflect. I say if we can’t go outside let’s go within ourselves. All we should do is try to grow and expand our consciousness; you never know what massive changes this may bring as there are decades when nothing happens and then there are weeks when decades happen!
The pandemic has made runners more creative for achieving their goals with virtual races, marathons and other challenges filling the times on equipment like treadmills indoors. After this, one day there is going to be a real marathon and you want to be surely ready for it. The couch to finish line is a journey of desire, discipline, consistency of minimum 6 months. Running a marathon isn’t an event , it is a way of life. Hence many people have ‘running a marathon’ in their bucket list but a very few are able to achieve it. All you need to do right now is stay engaged and continue with your training and then within a few weeks you will see changes. It is very rare to hear that a person started training for a marathon and his/her life didn’t change. All changes are hard at first, messy in the middle and gorgeous at the end!
In this environment of uncertainty with gyms and fitness studios, training indoors is the best option you’ve got. A treadmill is something which will take you closer to your goals. You can checkout some amazing quality treadmills with huge discounts on the link below :
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What we need to understand is we need to maintain fitness more than ever right now because physical activity is what is going to maintain our well being during this pandemic as it boosts the immune system to function against all the infections. Due to the covid19 pandemic we had to isolate ourselves but this too has a silver Lining. Millions of us were overworked, there were anxiety ridden students and now everyone is finally getting a chance to slow down, breathe and reflect. I say if we can’t go outside let’s go within ourselves. All we should do is try to grow and expand our consciousness; you never know what massive changes this may bring as there are decades when nothing happens and then there are weeks when decades happen!
To lose weight you need to be in a caloric deficit which can be achieved by burning more calories than what you consume, cardio training offers one way to create and maintain this deficit by a variety of activities. Cardio training supports strength development and growth of muscle fibres. cardiovascular system strengthening results in increased oxygen as well as nutrients to muscles and the metabolic waste also gets drained. Hence there is less fatigue.
When the new year resolution or the new goal is to increase endurance, your most important part of the training is the long runs but you should start taking them only when you start feeling physically and mentally ready for that distance. This sort of training builds strength for the actual marathon. To avoid injuries, make sure you are wearing proper shoes and are not doing too much exertion too soon. Common running injuries can be prevented with a proper warm up and cool down. Make sure you perform the stretching exercises and take adequate rest and allow your muscles to recover. With the WFH routine try to plan your day beforehand. Try to run at the same time daily. It sets your body in rhythm and boosts your metabolism.
Along with physical training, to ace in marathons you need to eat right. It is important to fuel yourself with the required amount of protein along with the immunity booster. Long runners always carry those power bars for instant carbs. Do not forget to keep yourself hydrated as you need to replenish all the sodium and other minerals lost during the run due to sweating.
With each passing week ‘Progressive overload’ is the best approach you have for the improvement in your performance. Even if the progress is as low as 5 % it still matters a lot because you ultimately strengthen the voice inside you which never allows you to give up. Marathon running builds mental and physical perseverance. A person who starts a marathon is not the same when he/she finishes it. Marathons humble you. In running it doesn’t matter whether you come first or not. When you finish, there is a lot of satisfaction in that because when you run the Marathon, you run against the distance and not against other runners or time.
Marathons teach the importance of hard work and discipline. They provide a valuable lesson that nothing worth having comes easy. There is an improvement in the level of motivation. Person becomes optimistic. There is an increase in confidence that leads to betterment of other areas of life including work and relationships. Although you will have rough patches during the training, in the end it is going to be worth it when you cross that finish line. At that very moment you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about yourself. The secret to sustainability is to fall seven times and to get up eight times as the race of life is a marathon not a splint !
Author: Mrunal Nikam
