100 meters from the marathon finish

It was a moment of utter weakness, where my body and mind refused to collaborate. It was also the complete opposite of the triumphant finish I had trained for, which ended up being witnessed by millions of people who offered their support as well as countless theories on what really happened.

 

 

This was my 19th marathon. By today I’ve run 22 marathons, with 4 of them in under 3 hours. I had never experienced it before and I have never experienced it since. I’ve dealt with hitting the wall once. And I have had to slow my pace considerably due to poor pacing strategies on a number of occasions. In fact, most marathons have become more of a test of endurance than a walk in the park for me. However, I’ve never lost the ability to run.

 

 

No, I didn’t bonk and I didn’t get muscle cramps. I took ca 60 grams of carbs per hour and drank fluids with sodium exactly as planned. I picked a cautious pacing strategy because I knew the course and the weather was a bit too warm and humid for me. I felt strong and prepared. My heart rate was lower than usual. My 2nd half was only 2 min slower than the first, which is little, considering that I spent at least 30 seconds in the finish stretch. I actually felt relatively good on the 41st km. 

 

 

At the time, I thought my legs had failed me because the final km was uphill. But having had time to reflect on it, I’ve come to an understanding that it was really my mind that failed me, not my legs. I had raced for the 3rd position for almost 3 hours. I didn’t know how far the next woman was from me. When the possibility of reaching the 3rd place began to look achievable, I wanted to get to the finish so badly that I ended up preventing myself from making it a reality.  

 

 

Every marathon is different and there’s always an element of unknown. There are things that you can control - your mindset, what you are wearing, when you’ll arrive at the starting line, what you eat before and during the race, how you’ve trained and rested for the event and what kind of pacing strategy you’ll pick. And then there are factors largely beyond your control, such as the weather, other runners, the way the race is organised, or how your body reacts. 

 

 

What matters is how you react to the unknown, how you think and how you overcome these moments of uncertainty. I believe the biggest challenge in running marathons isn't the training itself, though that requires a significant investment of time and effort when done right. The real challenge lies in managing your mind on race day to execute everything you've prepared for to the best of your ability. Your mind can help you succeed and it can become your biggest obstacle.

 

 

Prepare your mind as much as you train your body. Learn from the experience of others who care to share. Know your “why”, set clear goals, listen to your body, focus on the experience rather than the outcome, and stay humble. The marathon really does start from the 33rd km. 

 

 

Maris Heinaru

 

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Maris is a marathon runner with 15+ years of experience from 22 marathons, holding an age group Estonian marathon record. She is a certified running coach and the founder of running analytics platform KULG. You can also find her in Instagram with @projectrunbaby.