GP Mind and Body Fitness

Road to Dublin Marathon | Week 6 | 12 Weeks To Go

If I could only give a marathon runner one session each week, I'd choose the long run.

Not because it's the hardest, but because it teaches you so much:
Endurance.
Pacing.
Fuelling.
Hydration.
Confidence.
Time on your feet.

Every run has a purpose, but if you're training for 42.2km, don't underestimate the value of your long run.

If you could only keep one run in your marathon plan each week, which would you choose?

Lessons From Failure | Episode 1

For years, I looked at this race as one of my biggest failures.
I didn't finish it once. I didn't finish it twice.
But those failures taught me more than many of the races I did finish.

Instead of asking, "Why did I fail?" I started asking, "What can I learn from this?"

Those lessons changed how I trained, how I prepared, and ultimately helped me come back stronger.

Failure isn't the opposite of success. If you're willing to learn from it, it's often the path to it.

What's one failure that's taught you an important lesson?

Road to Dublin Marathon | Week 5 | 13 Weeks To Go | Part 4/4

Not every easy run will look the same on your watch—and that's completely normal.

Your pace will change depending on the weather, your recovery, your stress levels, the route you're running and even how well you've slept.

Stop chasing yesterday's pace and start focusing on today's effort.

The goal of an easy run is to build fitness, not prove it.
What affects your easy pace the most?

Road to Dublin Marathon | Week 5 | 13 Weeks To Go | Part 3/4

Do you really need a heart rate monitor to run your easy runs properly?

Heart rate can be a brilliant tool, but it shouldn't be the only thing guiding your training. Heat, stress, poor sleep, dehydration and fatigue can all push your heart rate higher than normal.

That's why I always look at the bigger picture heart rate, pace, breathing and, most importantly, how the run feels.

If you have a heart rate monitor, use it to guide your training. If you don't, the talk test is still one of the best ways to judge your effort.

Do you train by heart rate, pace, or just by feel?

Road to Dublin Marathon | Week 5 | 13 Weeks To Go | Part 2/4

One of the easiest ways to know if you're running at the right easy pace has nothing to do with your watch.
It's called the talk test.

If you can hold a conversation in full sentences, you're probably running at the right effort. If you're struggling to get more than a few words out, slow down.

Remember, easy runs aren't there to test your fitness. They're there to build it.

Have you ever used the talk test, or do you rely on your watch to judge your pace?

Road to Dublin Marathon | Week 5 | 13 Weeks To Go

One of the biggest mistakes I see marathon runners make is turning every run into a hard run.

Your easy runs and long runs aren't there to prove your fitness. They're there to build endurance, practise your fuelling, and prepare you to perform on race day.

I'd much rather see you finish a long run feeling like you could keep going than crawling home completely exhausted.

What's your marathon goal time? Comment below and I'll tell you roughly how easy your long runs should be.

Road to Dublin Marathon | Week 4 | 14 Weeks To Go

Walking during a long run doesn't mean you've failed.
Sometimes, a 20–30 second walk to take a gel, have a drink, or simply reset can help you finish the run much stronger.

I'd rather see you take a short break and maintain the quality of the session than grind your way through the last few kilometres and end up hating every minute of it.

As your fitness improves, those walk breaks often become less and less necessary.

Have you ever taken a short walk break during a long run, or do you try to run every step?

Road to Dublin Marathon | Week 4 | 14 Weeks To Go

The marathon can feel incredibly easy... until it doesn't.
One of the biggest mistakes I see is runners getting caught up in the excitement and going out too fast. Those first few kilometres should feel controlled, not rushed.

Be patient. Let the race come to you.
A marathon is rarely won in the first 10km, but it can certainly be lost there.

Have you ever started a race too fast and paid for it later?

Road to Dublin Marathon | Week 4 | 14 Weeks To Go

One of the biggest fears marathon runners have is "hitting the wall."
The good news? It's not something you just have to accept.

The right training, sensible pacing, and practising your nutrition during your long runs can all reduce your chances of it happening on race day.

That's why every long run over the next 14 weeks has a purpose. You're not just building fitness, you're preparing your body for the demands of 42.2km.

Have you ever hit the wall? What did it feel like?