Be an Athenian Soldier

By Vic Aguilar

As per Google, the definition of mar*a*thon is as follows - a long distance running race, strictly one of 26 miles 385 yards. If you want the historical definition, it goes like this: In a nod to Greek history, the first marathon commemorated the run of the soldier Pheidippides from a battlefield near the town of Marathon, Greece to Athens in 490 B.C. According to legend, Pheidippides ran the approximate 25 miles to announce the defeat of the Persians to some anxious Athenians.

In the modern days of running, the marathon is considered the big one. It is to many runners, the ultimate goal. In running, it is the true test of the body and mind. It will push you to your limits. It’s going to try its best to defeat you by placing the acronym DNF next to your name. DNF stands for Did Not Finish. No runner ever wants to see this acronym next to their name.

But it happens - even to the best/elite runners. It is part of the sport. The effort put forth in running a full marathon is commendable, but any runner will tell you even with a legitimate reason for not finishing the race, such as an injury, there will always be that lingering feeling of embarrassment. But this feeling must not be dwelled upon. What you need to do is think about what went wrong. Recall the race in your head. Where did you start thinking and feeling that you were in trouble? Was it at mile 10? Mile 18 or Mile 22? Then you go back to the drawing board. Lay things out and figure out where you could have done better so the next time you attempt a 26.2. The results will be different. You want results that you want to talk about. Perhaps over a beer.

As a running coach, I can tell you a key component of finishing a full marathon without feeling completely obliterated afterwards is training. Not just training, but the level and type of marathon training you put forth. Piling on the long runs during the weekends is not enough. You need to incorporate cross training to keep your muscles healthy and strong. Strength training is very important. The weights must be lifted. Cardio cross training such as Spinning gives your legs a break from all the pavement pounding and will keep your lungs powerful. Yoga is my personal favorite. It helps keep my muscles from being tight but more importantly, it keeps my mind at ease.

Nutrition is also an important component of marathon training that should be integrated. We all know what you put in your body has lasting effects - good and bad. I made a choice to become a nonmeat eater in 2014 based on my own personal reasons. I can tell you since that time, I have become a stronger runner. The plant-based world has many sources of protein. You just have to do the research. Regardless of what choice you make when it comes to your nutrition/ diet, you simply need to make the right choices.

Spinning, TRX, Resistance Band Training

“Discipline is the Fuel that Feeds the Fire” https://www.runningwithvic.com/

By doing all this, from building the right type of marathon training plan and making the right food choices, you will have a much better rate of making it through that battlefield, from that start line to the finish line - 26.2 miles away. Be an Athenian soldier and take care of your body. It is our greatest instrument.