What type of runner are you? – 04/05/2024 – Marina Izidro

“How fast do you need to run to qualify by time for the London marathon?” I saw the headline on a racing website and went to read it.

Organizers have updated the cut-off times by age group and gender for those who will try out for one of the most sought after races on the planet. By 2025, men between 18 and 39 years old need to have run a marathon in 2h55m, five minutes less than before, which means being extremely well trained. Women in this age group, in 3h40m; before it was 3h45m. That’s not even guaranteed. There are 6,000 seats. The fastest ones take it.

The race director explained that the “super sneakers” are making a difference. Kenyans dominate marathons. Thanks to technology, we mortals are also faster.

So if I don’t buy the latest generation board shoe, the supplement du jour, will I be left behind? Has such a democratic sport become elitist? Or can you be happy running without so many rules?

I started running about 15 years ago. I’ve done a few half marathons and in two weeks I’m going to run the London marathon, the second of my life. How much has changed compared to the first, 12 years ago. The advancement of sports technology is incredible. At the same time, it looks like a plastic surgeon’s office: if you go into it, you might end up finding something to touch up, change, even if you don’t even need it.

The industry seduces us with products that promise better performance. Finishing the race well and, as a bonus, faster, is tempting. Therefore, sometimes I wonder what kind of runner I am, if I push myself too hard, how to not let the disciplined side stifle the pleasure that running brings.

It is a fact that a marathon requires different preparation. It takes months of dedication, immense effort for the body. What you eat, drink and how you train makes or breaks the race.

Before the cycle started, I had medical exams. I have an incredible coach, who helps me climb the steps of this intense preparation; I went to the nutritionist. Without them I wouldn’t have gotten this far, feeling strong and injury-free.

I see the rest as an investment, balancing health gains and motivation with conscious spending. At the very beginning, when I didn’t know which shoes to choose, a marathon runner friend said that “the best brand is the one you feel good wearing”. True. And I don’t like a buzzword: saying a sneaker is “responsive.”

Compression socks and pants cost more, but I see them as being worth every penny because they leave me with less pain. A friend who is going to run a marathon told me that she only wears a top and pants “from a fair in Rio, and that everything is fine”. A friend said that the other day he only ate a banana after running for 2 hours, while I timed the carbohydrate gel and water. Today, while eating breakfast before training – oatmeal with the “ideal” amount of protein and carbohydrates – I thought: who is right, them or me?

I don’t think there is an answer. We are different. I love routine, learning about nutrition, hydration, I clearly feel the difference. But if I want to eat a pizza, I give myself the right. I use technology to my advantage, which does not take away the merit of my effort. It is on him that the result depends.

For those who are starting out or don’t want too many rules, put on a good pair of sneakers and be happy! Over time, everyone discovers what works for them. It is essential to keep your own motivation in mind. I’ll need to remember why I love this sport at the end of the race, when my body starts to hurt.

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