Running on empty – how to stay energised during training

Running the London Marathon 2020 to raise money for the National Autistic Society: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/CGater 

All donations very welcome!!

This weekend I visited the National Running Show at the NEC in Birmingham for the first time. It is amazing how much kit you can buy for an activity that basically involves strapping on some trainers and stepping out of your front door. The range of shoes, gels, tablets, lights, clothes, water packs, apps, hydration aids etc etc is dizzying. There were even several show booths proudly displaying specialised running underwear (although don’t get me started on the price of that!) Sadly, it appears motorised trainers are not yet a thing, although I guess the controversial Vaporflys come close …

Moving past the commodification, what was great about the event was to hear from speakers who had been inspired to run for charities, had overcome injuries or difficult times in their lives through a hobby that seems to be thriving across the country. You only have edge your way through the crowd at a Parkrun on a Saturday morning to realise how popular these free 5K events are, and every town-based 10K or 20K race seems to sell out in a matter of weeks.

Personally, I was on the look out for some ideas on nutrition as an aspiring #TeamAutism runner for this year’s London Marathon, now just 3 months away. The Marathon Facebook groups I follow are actually full of these questions at the moment. What to eat before the race, during it, how often, how much and how to stay hydrated? Some swear by porridge, some bananas, or just a good slap up pasta binge the day before (this part, I’m fully on board with). Energy gels can definitely upset some people’s digestion – I’ve tried one or two types and to me they taste unpleasantly like vegetable oil. The key advice is to practice your race day breakfast and running snacks beforehand and find what works for you – no one wants a case of ‘runners tummy’ on the day as Runners World politely describes it.

So as I get ready for Week 5 of training, and pack the hydration salts, Haribos and energy snacks into my pockets, I shall be hoping to run for the horizon… not the loos!

Running the London Marathon 2020 – the journey begins…

As JRR Tolkien wrote in Lord of the Rings, “It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.” The longest journey might start with a single step, but in a marathon that first step is followed by about 63,000 others. Submitting my application into the ballot to run the 40th London Marathon 2020 was that first step – at that point, I thought it would probably be the end of the journey. But it turns out I was wrong…

On the same day that I found out I hadn’t been successful in the ballot, the National Autistic Society called to offer me one of their charity places. In a flood of enthusiasm, I immediately said “Yes, I’m in!” Then I went away and thought about it a bit more and quavered, “Yes… ok but… help!” And now, a couple of weeks later, as a 48-year-old first time marathoner facing a very long road indeed, I feel like that first step is genuinely sweeping me away… but I’ve decided to give it a shot!

Running has been part of my life for maybe 20 years, off and on, but my journey with autism started only a few years ago when a close family member was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Since then, autism has become a daily part of my life as I have struggled to understand what it means for the people close to me, and the impact that it will have in the future.

Autism is a lifelong, developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with and relates to other people, and how they experience the world around them. Without understanding from others, autistic people and families are at risk of being isolated and developing mental health problems – I’ve found that coping with the wide-ranging impacts of autism can be a very lonely experience at times. One of the lifelines I relied on was the support of other autism families and another was the National Autistic Society for its information and advice.

So that is my rationale for joining #TeamAutism for the London Marathon in April next year (26 weeks away and counting). Along the way, I plan to share my progress in the hope that some of you might sponsor me and contribute money to an excellent cause!

You can find my Virgin Money Giving page here: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/CGater

Any suggestions for tracks or podcasts to run to, or stories you would like to share about autism, or even running a marathon, please add them in the comments! Keep on running….