Opinion: 'I created a short couch-to-marathon-runner plan - it's not a thing for a reason'

Alan Corcoran OCTOBER SEES A surge in races before winter hits. The marathon draws millions of intrigued runners and non-runners to its start line – participants worldwide journeying 42.2 kilometres on foot to cheering crowds.Watching the spectacle of the London Marathon as a young teenager piqued my interest in the strange endurance event. It was attention-grabbing because of the sheer volume of participants and the range in their abilities, attire and reasons to partake.

Although the London Marathon planted a seed, Eddie Izzard and Terry Fox genetically modified it into a monster. I witnessed Eddie run 43 marathons in 51 days on TV for Sports Relief. I was overwhelmed with emotions watching Terry Fox’s story on YouTube – a young Canadian cancer patient with an amputated leg trying to run across Canada. With their inspiring stories, I naively dared to aim higher.

I concocted a four-week ‘couch to marathon runner’ programme. I had to create one because, despite all the information available online, apparently, a four-week marathon training plan is not a thing. That should have been an obvious sign. Chancing it, I hopped on the Luas on the 31 October to join the crowds on Fitzwilliam Street Upper, at the start line. I was apprehensive, like before a test I hadn’t studied for, but the crowds and buzz of anticipation nullified the nerves with adrenaline.

My muscles, tendons and joints were fine at the start, screaming in the middle and then feeling better near the end. The only reason it felt easier was that I knew I was going to finish. ‘You got this,’ I told myself. #Open journalism No news is bad news Support The Journal Your contributions will help us continue to deliver the stories that are important to youI felt part of something bigger than just me. The supporters were cheering and holding out Jelly Babies and tubs of Vaseline.

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