What do you do if you can’t race?

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Race day has finally arrived. You’ve been training for months, it’s all lead to this moment but there’s just one issue – you can’t run. Somewhere along the road you’ve succumbed to injury or illness and had to pull out, so what do you?

Firstly it’s worth recognising that you won’t be on your own. It’s estimated that as much as 90% of people who train for a marathon will pick up an injury within a year of doing so. Running injuries are very common and you shouldn’t beat yourself up about it if you haven’t reached the start line. What it highlights really is how much of an achievement it is for those who do finish a race, regardless of the time they do it in! Training takes its toll on the body and getting through the hundreds of miles needed in training are as hard as the race itself.

Many choose to avoid the race at all costs, they think it’ll be too painful to watch everyone else enjoying the race they trained hard for but can’t run. That’s only human. I’ve missed out on 2 big races this year though and I would get yourself out there and give it your all from the sidelines!

My first race was The Grizzly, an off-road race I was doing with an old school friend. I was really looking forward to it but sadly just 2 weeks before I picked up a hamstring injury and couldn’t run. I went down to Devon to watch and cheer my friends on and I have to say I loved it! It was hard initially to see everyone milling around at the start, pinning on badges and warming up. I had a lump in my throat as the race began but it soon went and I got drawn into the atmosphere of a race that takes over a whole town for a day!

The Grizzly was part of my training plan for the big one…the Brighton Marathon, in my home town on streets I run down every week. Sadly the hamstring just didn’t settle enough and I had to defer. It would have been easy just to have had a lie-in and forgotten about it but instead, I headed out to watch and support. I’m really glad I did!

I camped myself by the mile 8 marker in Ovingdean with a hot chocolate in hand and within minutes I’d forgotten any sadness about not running and was getting well into the race! There was loads of banter flying around, a lady next to me asked, “why are there so many runners called ‘Pace’?” I didn’t have the heart to tell her the sign on their chest meant were pacing the elite runners! “Just a popular name I guess!” I said instead.

A little old lady came out of her cottage, propped herself up on her gate and gave raucous support to every runner that whizzed by. I saw noddy, batman and someone dressed as a shoe! There was a huge mix in abilities from elites flying through the 8-mile mark after just 40 minutes to mere mortals walking and hobbling through after double that. It was heartening to see so many different people, different shapes and sizes, different ages and backgrounds all running together. People think it’s hard to run a sub 3 hour marathon and I’m sure it is, but it must be equally hard for those running for 5 or 6 hours.

If you’re unable to run due to injury it’s easy to lose your running mojo. Watching an event like this will help you get it back! It’s impossible not to be inspired by people’s hard work and determination. And if you thought running a marathon was hard enough try doing it dressed like this…

Or this…

Or this…

Or this incredible effort…

Amazing isn’t it!? That’s a 17kg suit! There were 2 of them, Simon and Mark running for Spana. More on their story here.

So in answer to what do you do if you can’t race my view is get out there, give people your wholehearted support and you’ll find yourself inspired and itching to run again. This can be just the boost you need to push on with your rehab and beat whatever injury has you sidelined. And if all else fails at least you can have a good laugh…

Well done to everyone involved in The Grizzly and Brighton Marathon, from the runners to the supporters, volunteers and organisers – you should all be incredibly proud!