There's more to running than Marathons

Different people run for different reasons. I'm writing this blog simply because as the Virgin London Marathon (VLM) draws closer, so many people ask me if I'm running the marathon. When I answer 'no, I'm not a marathon runner', they are always surprised and question my reasoning.

I always do my best to explain my decision, but never really seem to do it justice, because it always ends up with them saying 'well I think you should do a marathon'. Which means they have not understood what I have told them or they just weren't listening.

Even other runners, just don't get it - so here, once and for all, are my reasons why I will never run a marathon. However I do reserve the right to change my mind at any time in the future, in other words no-one else will change it for me.

So why do people, runners and non-runner persistently attempt to persuade me to run a marathon? I think the answer is because they think I could. I'm pretty sure I could too, but that not the issue. Other people have seen me run 4,000 miles in my first 3 years as a runner, and 2,009 miles in one year alone (in 2009) see video of my last mile here.

In November and December last year I ran long distance virtually every day and covered over 250 miles a month. I often run 12 to 15 miles, and occasionally run 20 miles along the canal towpath from Leeds back to my home in Keighley. So I do understand WHY people keep asking me. 

The reasons why I will never run a marathon.
First of all permit me to make one thing very clear. I admire, even envy anyone who trains and runs marathons, especially non-runners, new runners, first timers and old timers. 

But my running is mainly impromptu, and lacks any serious organisation at all. I'm now competant enough to run on a whim with little or no planning, no special diet or carb loading, and will simply put my trainers on and set off.

A marathon requires a dedicated and regimented training plan. I have neither the patience nor inclination to stick to a plan. Any such plans would ruin my 'wild running' free spirit and compromise my enjoyment.

I also tend to have an obsessive personality, and if I did decide to train for 6 months in preparation for a marathon, I know my focus might possibly cause problems at home, with my work and our lifestyle, because I know I wouldn't want to do anything else.

But would all the effort really be worth it? Well that's the risk everyone takes because upon committing to this training program, it's all for ONE DAY and anything could go wrong i.e. illness or injury which hinders training, or even prevents taking part on the big day. 

Then there's things beyond our direct control, for example, this year (2010) no-one really knows how many people have missed the VLM because of the closed airspace due to the Icelandic Volcano.  

Assuming everthing goes to plan, and all the training goes well, and the hotels are charging 300% more for that weekend. Getting to the city and then the race itself is a logistical nightmare. Not too mention getting through the crowds to the starting pens sometimes for an hour before the race start. Now some runners love the buzz of all this commotion - I personally hate it.

The London Marathon in particular is no longer a serious running event, it's now the world largest (and controversial) fund raiser where you are at serious risk of being over taken by a sunflower or sumo wrestler. There's nothing wrong with that, except I'm already a dedicated fund raiser, and cannot justify the hundreds of pounds it would cost for this one annual event.

There is another more personal reason why I would never run a marathon, FEAR, which I only realised when my friend ran the Paris Marathon in 2009. I trained for the event with him, often running up to 20 miles. It was only days before the Paris Marathon when he had to pull out of training due to a torn calf muscle. I continued to run the full 18 miles on my own, whilst he limped to call for a lift. There was no more training from that day, until the actual day of the event, so his 'taper' came a little earlier than normal.

On the day of the event, all was going well until around 20 miles when his calf tore again, and he limped home 75 minutes outside his projected finish time. He was devasted, and quit running. It took me a very long time to get him back, and I fear that would happen to me. Because I love running so much, I don't even want to take that chance.

Possibly one of the most important reasons I would never run a marathon is because I don't believe I have anything to prove to anyone but myself. So in the persuit of new challenges, I seek to be different, like running 127 miles along the Leeds to Liverpool canal towpath, possibly in both directions. But I will do that quietly in my own time, one section at a time. After which, I will find another personal challenge, like training for an Olympic Triathlon.

So, I do hope you now understand what I mean when I say 'I'm not a marathon runner'. There's no single reason, but a combination of many.