In Which I Don’t Run A Marathon
Sometimes things don’t work out the way you think they will, but they end up working out for the best. There was a scientist once, who tried to do an experiment and his results resulted in other results than the results he expected to be… re… sulted…
In another example, I once asked for a meatball sandwich in Subway but they had no herb and cheese bread so I went for WHEAT bread and it turns out I like wheat bread so I now always ask for wheat bread (but only when there’s no herb and cheese bread) so I’m sure you see what I’m saying here.
I didn’t run manchester marathon.
On Thursday I followed my carb loading plan, and I followed it again on Friday. After work on Friday though, my head was hurting. And so were my legs. No biggie.
On Saturday morning I was full of cold, sore throat and sneezing and everything. As the day went on at work, the cold eased off a bit but my legs ached more than the previous day. Also, my head still hurt.
I remember the other two marathons I did and how tough they were, even when I was feeling a 100%, and currently felt about 65%.
Which is why I decided to not go ahead with the marathon.
Turns out that working six days in a row of ten hour shifts, with 9 hours of those spent on my feet, isn’t the best marathon prep.
For the next marathon I enter I’ll make sure I booked the days before the marathon off work too so I can rest!
Well done to all those who DID race though, especially everyone who ran Sheffield 1/2 after being told at the start line that it had been cancelled due to the water not being delivered. They ran anyway, and the people lining the route used their own money to buy water to hand out to the runners. Bless ’em!
Marc Hemingway 
I want to let you know that I nominated you for the Liebster Award. You can check it out on my most recent blog post. I hope you have as much fun with it as I did!! If you don’t have time no worries!!
That’s a tough decision to make, but it sounds like you made the right choice not to run. I had to opt out of a half in January after an injury flared up. Hard to suck up the pride but worth it in the end for a speedier recovery.
You made the right call, it always hard to pull out of a race before the start, but marathons need 100% and if you aren’t close to it it would be crazy to start, hope you sort out a replacement for it to take advantage of your training.
I can empathize with long hours standing at work, after which one’s legs feel like logs. Add to that a virus, and you’re in no condition to run. You clearly made the right decision. I hope you got some good benefit from the training. Look to the next race.
It’s never fun to make that decision, but kudos for doing what was best for your body. I love that spectators out along the course bought water to give runners. Awesome!
Good call. I don’t think I could have made that decision to not run and been so good about it.
Thanks. Wasn’t easy!
So sorry you didn’t get to run, I know that pain of having to make a horrible choice! You made the right one tho. Manchester will still be there, as will your fitness, give yourself another couple of weeks and see if you can find another marathon to race in. Good luck for the future & I look forward to reading your future posts!
Thanks. Been looking into another one to run. Probably around June
You made the best decision. I just finsished my first marathon and I shouldn’t have ran. It was a slaughter.
Before the race I asked a famous marathoner whether I should run or not and the response was: Marathon is not something you can get away with if you’re not 100%. And even if you’re 100% things can still go pear shaped.
Well done! Next time is going to be a blast!
It’s only 6 months til the next, I’ll be doubly ready!
If ever there’s an event that you can’t just plough on through when you’re feeling crappy, its a marathon. Definitely made the right call!
Darn tooting!
good job knowing when NOT to push! hope you feel better soon.
Thank you!
Don’t worry, you will do it the next year, for sure. I would say health is the most important thing or one of the most important things and well, without good health you can not do anything. And that’s why you made a good decision. Actually, the best you could. (Better than wheat bread in Subway :))
That’s what I keep telling myself! Thanks!
Kudos on making the difficult decision. There will be other races. Look forward!
Thanks!
well done for not pushing yourself, I haven’t done a marathon (yet!) but they’re not to be taken lightly. Good luck with training and for your next 🙂
Thank you. Have you got one in mind?
Yes, I’m doing Amsterdam in October, hoping for a nice flat course. Hope you’re feeling better!
Glad you made the right call, but sorry it didn’t work out! Stay healthy!
Thanks! Back running. 🙂
You’ll be so ready to take on that next marathon at 100%! And I can’t believe that the 1/2 didn’t have water, the people ran anyway, and the crowd hydrated me. Actually, I totally can, so what a cool story!!!
I’d’ve been so annoyed!
That took some major cajones not to run, more than running would have. I never could have made that wise, wise decision! Way to go smarty pants!
Ha ha! Thanks! Worst thing is I knew a few people doing the run so am still seeing marathon pics!
Hope you’re feeling better.
After a stunt some co-workers played that ended up having me work a double (which, at the time for me, meant overnight) the evening before a big half marathon for me… and a resulting “late for the start of the race” and having to run the first few miles playing catch up and looking for a porta potty…. Yeah. I always take two days before big races off of work.
I’ll be doing exactly the same from now on!
Good call, even if it was a difficult one to make. I made the same one after having a painful foot all week- you’re right about marathons being tough when you’re 100%, and anything less is asking for trouble. Well done on your decision, & I hope you feel better soon to capitalise that fitness with another race.
Thanks. Looking into another marathon to make up for it, which I’ll then proceed to smash! 😀
Shame you did not get to run but absolutely the right decision.
I know. 😦
That’s really disappointing to train for an event – especially a big one like a marathon – and then get sidelined by illness in the days before.
Hope you are feeling better soon and ready to run again.
Thank you, all better now and back running
It takes the bigger person to NOT do something when all signals are pointing you in another direction Hats off to you for leaving your ego parked and doing the right thing. there will always be another marathon. There will always be another marathon – you only get ONE body. Good call.
Thanks. Wasn’t an easy choice!
Smart decision not to run. A difficult work week leading up to a marathon is really rough, and it sounds like your cold was more of a flu.
Yeah, it hung around for a few days so possibly flu. All better now!
Bummer u didn’t get to run, but seriously smart to listen to your body. Next time!!!
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Next time gadget, next time!
Sounds like a good call! Hope you’re feeling better. 🙂
Thanks!
Smart move! This is a great reminder for anyone that runs (or does other crazy hard stuff).
Thanks, wasn’t an easy decision
You have a healthy perspective about the unexpected results, I wish I could adjust that quickly but I’m getting better…I hope
Thank you!
I admire your ability to care for yourself and to make wise yet difficult decisions! Thanks for the reminder that just because you can doesn’t mean you should!
Exactly!
Hope you’re feeling better soon! My hubby came down with something similar sounding that knocked him out of commission for a while. Smart move to not run, but I’m sure it was so hard not to!
Feeling fine now thanks! Still gutted though 😦