The Aftermath of a Marathon Gone Wrong: Lessons from Loch Ness

Today, I want to dive into the raw emotions and repercussions of a marathon that went horribly wrong. Yesterday, I ran the Loch Ness Marathon, and now I’m here to dissect what went wrong, share some learnings, and hopefully provide some perspective for those of you venturing into the world of marathon running. This post is particularly for marathon runners or those aspiring to become one, as I walk you through not just my experience but also the valuable lessons I've learnt along the way.

Welcome Back to Day 1583: The Journey Continues

First off, thank you for joining me on consecutive day 1583 of my journey, Diary of a Runpreneur. For those of you who are new, I’m on a mission to save children's lives by attempting the ultimate ultramarathon—run vlogging consecutive daily distances equivalent to a lap of the world, barefoot. If you believe in this cause, please subscribe, share, like, and comment. The more people we reach, the more money we raise, and the more lives we save. But now, let's get into the nitty-gritty of my latest marathon escapade.

The Build-Up: Overconfidence and Mistakes

Coming into the Loch Ness Marathon, I felt I was in top shape. The race, a point-to-point marathon starting high up and ending lower down the Highlands, seemed an excellent opportunity for a personal best. My earlier record stood at 3:24:48. However, I finished this marathon in 3:48. Reflecting on it now, with the adversities I faced, I'm pretty proud of that time.

I initially felt a blend of embarrassment and disappointment at the result—emotions that many marathon runners can probably relate to. But let's be clear: finishing a marathon, any marathon, is an achievement and deserves massive respect. For me, the heartache stemmed from having my sights set on a personal best, even a 3:15 marathon time, which would qualify me for Chicago, one of the major marathons.

The Downhill Challenge: A Mistake in Tactics

The marathon began with a significant downhill stretch. Having been taught to let my legs go on downhills, I clocked my first 5k in under 21 minutes. However, the toll on my quads and the soles of my feet was immense. Barefoot running, by its nature, offers no cushion, turning my feet into shock absorbers. It's here I realised the downside—literally—of my strategy, as the considerable downhill greatly accelerated muscle fatigue.

The Blistering and Uphill Battle

By mile seven, I faced a recurring issue—blisters that plagued me badly during the Yorkshire Marathon almost a year ago. From that point, it was clear my dream time was slipping away. The second half of the marathon was nothing short of gruelling, as I limped through the remainder of the race, even stopping at medical stations to have my feet strapped.

The second half, taking me over two hours, was probably the hardest run I've endured since my first London Marathon. Back then, I collapsed from heat exhaustion. Still, this experience ranks a close second, battling through half the marathon with severely injured feet.

Lessons Learnt: Downhill Strategy and Blister Prevention

Post-race reflection has shifted my initial disappointment to a learning experience. The key lessons? First, mastering downhill running tactics. Either let yourself go entirely or control your pace to minimise impact. The toll on quads, calves, and feet can be severe, especially in barefoot running. Secondly, I need better blister prevention strategies. I've experimented with Body Glide, but might return to Vaseline or use Compeed blister plasters for future races. I'm also exploring various chemical resins to temporarily harden foot skin.

Looking Ahead: Spring 2025 Goals

In summary, I'm committed to learning from this experience. While this marathon didn't go as planned, the lessons are invaluable. I’m already looking ahead to spring 2025 with eyes set on marathons in Paris or Edinburgh. The journey of a Runpreneur is as much about the setbacks as the successes, and through it all, the mission remains—to save children's lives one run at a time.

Thank you for following my journey. If you have any questions or comments, drop me a line—I respond to everyone. Let's keep pushing forward. Stay positive, stay happy, and see you next time.

Kevin Brittain