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 "I
always wonder when recounting these things whether or not to go warts
and all but that’s pretty much how I have done in the past and it’s the
only way to honestly describe doing it! Its good for the soul too I
reckon. So, Liverpool marathon October 9th. If I could describe it in
one word I would have to say t**s but there is much more to it than that
and after a good nights sleep I can look back at it slightly
differently.
Running a marathon for a chubby amateur like
me has a million components. You’ve got to want to, you’ve got to get
your inspiration from somewhere, clothing, training, eating, drinking,
sleeping, holidays, transport, mental attitude all play a part. Now the
want and inspiration isn’t a problem for me, nor is the training and
prep because I have such fantastic support from Mrs Brightside and
everyone else.
The problem for me is mental. It’s the
mental fight with myself, it’s the craving to better myself, to make me
a better person. I overheard a conversation today ‘its not your legs
that stop its your brain telling them to stop’. That’s entirely true.
Its 80% if not 90% mental. So you all know how I had got on 5 months ago
in Edinburgh, 4:42 for my first marathon in force gale conditions and I
entirely won the mental fight! Liverpool my second and I had a stinker.
A 5:10 marathon is nothing to be ashamed off
but failure to give 100% is. It’s a war of attrition in many ways and I
am the only enemy. The fact that I succeeded in beating myself only
makes me more determined to make sure that next time I don’t! I’ll be
happy with 5:10 again if I know in my heart I gave 100%. From that
you’ll know that I will do another, I will do it better and I will not
lose the mental fight next time!"
Steve Darlaston
You can still donate to Steve's run by
visiting
http://www.justgiving.com/mattgadsbyYNWA
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