Running was how I discovered Pilates. I went along to a class, as a practising Personal Trainer (and running coach). I was in training for the London Marathon so I was pretty fit and very strong. 

However, I could not believe just how hard it was. As is my style, I went off and studied and researched the many benefits, found a course (actually my first L3 course was with Future Fit who I now work for as a teacher trainer and assessor)  and the rest, as they say.....

I miss running so much and I live vicariously through great friend, client and admin buddy Lou Johnson who, last year ran not one but two marathons. 

Here is her story. 

How Pilates helped me get two Marathon PBs less than six months apart.

It was October 2019 and I signed up to run the Midnight Sun Marathon, Tromso Norway in the June of 2020. Well we all know what happened in the March of that year. The new date was set, the18^th June 2022 was in the diary, like buses, it would also turn out that after years of trying I would get a place in the London Marathon which I would run on 2^nd October of the same year. The challenge was on for me to prepare myself mentally and physically for 32 weeks of hard training.

To give you some background, I am no stranger to running, prior to 2022, I had  a few half marathons in my legs and in 2018 I ran my first marathon. Alongside my running I have practiced Pilates, and here I try to explain why. 

Training and conditioning your body for endurance sports is a mindset. Without commitment you will never start but without consistency you will never finish. 

A marathon is 26.2 miles, by the way, marathons are all the same length. However let's be clear, running or walking any distance you set you mind on is an achievement. Respect the distance whether that’s a 5km run, a half marathon, marathon, ultra or anything in between. Everyone is different.

I will say that again, respect the distance, trust in your plan and work darn hard to do the best you can. Running or any challenge is you battling you. Your mind vs you legs vs your heart. Which are you going to let win? 

I am pretty stubborn, and when it comes to 'race day' itself there is very little that is going to stop me doing the best I can. When the legs want to stop my head takes over, when the head wants to stop I need my heart and my legs to step up. In order to get to the end I need to train and condition each of these over 16+ weeks (the length of a standard marathon training plan).

Running if I am being honest is almost the easy part right? Get a 16 Week Plan, mine came through my local running club, I suggest finding yours. Here they will mix it up, intervals, progressive runs, fartlek, long runs and recovery runs. Left foot, right foot repeat… when things are going well it’s easy but as the body starts to fatigue that’s when your ‘other’ training comes in. 

Running is more than putting one foot in front of the other. It’s a battle of your mind against your legs, lungs, core and upper body. Get it all working in harmony and it’s beautiful, get one or more out a alignment and trust me you will know about it. 

You need balance, mobility and strength – everything you get from Pilates.

Let’s start at floor level, when you run your legs work in isolation as you plant one foot down you lift the other, as that foot goes down the first foot lifts. Ultimately you will find yourself balancing on one leg at a time, albeit for a split second but the further you run, the more you fatigue the longer your feet spend on the ground… so that’s when balance core strength (and stubbornness) come in. 

A lot of things happen in your body to enable you to stand on one leg, right? 

When we run we are holding our core, we are moving our arms forward and backward with purpose, and training takes its toll. The muscles are doing repetitive actions, and lets be honest, ahem, how often do we schedule in training and strength work. I am not talking lifting weights, I am referring to body weight exercise that strengthen the core and the supper body and then stretch out those hip flexors and increase mobility in all the body. It’s doing those moves that you wouldn’t 

do any other time! Scheduling in active recovery in the form of Pilates will make a difference.

Covid enabled me to increase the amount of Pilates I was doing, I went from one class of 60 mins a week to two something three classes a week of 45 mins. I was doing it from home, more often and I felt the difference. 

To anyone looking to start running, perfect their 5km, marathon, ultra or anything in between, I would recommend some form of Pilates, it will strength the parts running/walking doesn't and it will help prevent injury. I am not sure i would be looking at two marathon PBs finishing the year with a time of 4 hrs 14mins 06 seconds without Pilates. 

A HUGE thank you to Lou for sharing her story and for flagging up quite a few things that may very well get overlooked.

She did brilliantly last year (and also helped raise awareness and funds for Asthma). A seriously impressive time too!! 

As a marathon runner and walker, I can honestly say that mile 18 is the halfway mark!! You will breeze past mile 13 but by mile 18, when you still have a 10k to do…. (Ask any endurance athlete - we get very focused on the maths!) 

However there are lots of things to do in order to be the best version of yourself. 

As Lou has said, don’t underestimate the psychological strength you need. When you run out of energy, it will be sheer grit and determination to get you over that finish line. You need to feel prepared and to believe that you can and then, you will! 

Thank you Lou for this - Mix up your training to build a strong body capable of endurance. As well as adding up the miles, factor in some strength training for both upper and lower body. It will be muscle strength that keeps you going and don’t underestimate how many times your arms are pumping or swinging by your sides - give them some attention too. 

GLUTES - these muscles are the engines and are a HUGE part of what can cause low back pain, overworked hamstrings, leg weakness…. I could go on....

Plus....

Cutting down on alcohol to keep the muscles hydrated ( SO boring) 

Plenty of protein for muscle repair (both during and otherwise)

Water, water, water

Appropriate clothing….There was a famous saying (from my previous life) of “No foot, no ‘oss”…. Well - the same applies here.

STRETCH, MOBILISE AND PRACTISE ACTIVE RECOVERY. It cannot all be about effort but a balance of recovery, rest and relaxation. 

If you want to know more, then hop over to my classes  - there is so much more to learn (and I will be sharing our Just Giving page soon!)

If the full marathon is not quite your cup of tea, then you might turn your mind to a half. Mariana who is a regular online with us, is heading to her first half marathon in a couple of weeks and had this to say....

" I have have a running plan which I am folowing, but I have to say your Pilates sessions have been very good in aiding recovery and keeping me moving. The inner thigh mussels, quads and buttock muscles have been working very hard and the stretch and strength exercises we have been doing in last few weeks are brilliant I am looking forward to our next class.

Thank you "

Thank YOU Mariana and very good luck to you!

Below is a pic of me and my eldest who I introduced to running at the start of her A Levels and we have done many 10k's and a few half marathons together.

Oh! and the Moonwalk fundraising blog will be coming soon!

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