What It Takes: Running a Marathon

This week Lou discusses her experiences running two marathons and shares tips on how to mentally and physically prepare for the challenge. She emphasizes the importance of having a plan and outline their own training schedule. By choosing times over distances, Lou found it helpful to focus on running for a specific length of time rather than a set distance.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Having a well-structured plan is crucial for marathon training, whether it's self-made or with the help of a coach. It provides guidance and keeps you focused on your goals.

2. Finding your personal drive and motivation is essential for successfully completing a marathon. Understanding why you want to do it will help you push through the challenges and stay committed.

3. Investing in proper running gear, especially a good pair of trainers, is important to protect your body and enhance your performance during training and on race day.

4. Fueling your body with the right balance of carbohydrates and protein is key for marathon training. Practice mid-run fueling and ensure you're properly nourished before and after long runs.

5. Trusting your body and believing in your capabilities is crucial on race day. Your body is stronger than you think, so focus on running your best and enjoy the experience rather than obsessing over time.

BEST MOMENTS

1. "You've put all the hard work in. Your body will be fine with it. Your body's done the hard work. It'll be your brain. You have to convince."

2. "Your body is much more capable of doing extraordinary things than you give it credit for. So trust it. Don't trust your brain because it will be telling you to stop. Ignore the brain. Trust the body."

3. "Make sure you've got the right kit. Especially trainers. Just invest in a good pair of trainers. Please. You're going to be doing a hell of a lot of miles. So get them in."

4. "Fuel. Make sure you're eating enough carbohydrates, enough protein, and practicing with those mid-run gels or sweets or whatever you choose to fuel with mid-run."

5. "Your body composition makes a huge difference to how you run. So make sure you stick with your strength training as well. Super duper important. It will only help your running."

ABOUT THE HOST

Lou's personal journey with body confidence and food struggles began at the age of 15, where overeating and guilt around food consumed her. But everything changed during the lockdown in March 2020. Determined to regain control, Lou immersed herself in research, found joy in working out in her garden, and started tracking her nutrition and steps. Surprisingly, she lost a stone in less than three months and discovered a newfound love for fitness.

Fueling her passion, Lou pursued personal training qualifications and launched her Instagram page in September 2020. After months of building a solid foundation, branding, and gaining relevant expertise, she started helping others achieve what once felt impossible—losing fat, feeling empowered, and loving the journey without restrictions. With numerous success stories, digital products, and a thriving membership program called Train with Lou, Lou now coaches, teaches, and learns about food, exercise, and mindset.

CONTACT US

https://linktr.ee/theexerciseengineer

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