GP Mind and Body Fitness

Road to Dublin Marathon | Week 3 | 15 Weeks To Go

Hydration isn't just about what you drink during your run.

It starts long before you lace up your runners.

If you're only thinking about hydration five minutes before heading out, you're already behind.

For me, I focus on staying hydrated throughout the day. I use electrolytes daily because I train most days, and I don't usually carry water on my runs. Everyone is different, but having a hydration plan is far better than leaving it to chance.

As your marathon training progresses and your long runs get longer, getting your hydration right becomes even more important.

Question: Do you carry water on your runs, or do you prefer to hydrate well before and after? 👇

Road to Dublin Marathon | Week 3 | 15 Weeks To Go

First run back after climbing Kilimanjaro.

I'm not expecting miracles today, and that's the point.

Whether you've been away on holidays, coming back from injury, or just missed a few days of training, don't judge yourself on your first run back.

Forget the pace.

Forget what your watch says.

Just get out the door, enjoy the run, and let your body settle back into its routine.

Fitness comes back quicker than most people think, but only if you're patient enough to let it.

Question: Have you ever come back from a break and surprised yourself with how quickly your fitness returned? 👇

Road to Dublin Marathon | Week 2

Had a bad run this week?

You're not alone.

Every marathon runner has sessions where the legs feel heavy, the pace feels slow, and nothing seems to click.

The mistake is believing that one run defines your fitness.

It doesn't.

Look at your training over weeks and months, not one session. Poor sleep, stress, heat, nutrition, or simply accumulated fatigue can all affect how a run feels.

One bad run won't ruin your marathon.

Keep showing up, trust the process, and focus on being consistent.

Question: Have you had a run recently where nothing seemed to go right? What do you think caused it? 👇

Road to Dublin Marathon | Week 2

One of the most common questions I get asked is...

"What should I eat before my long run?"

The answer doesn't have to be complicated.

Your goal is to start the run feeling fuelled, not full. For most runners, simple carbohydrates a couple of hours beforehand work really well. If you're heading out early, even a banana or a slice of toast is often better than running on empty.

The biggest tip I can give you is this...

Don't experiment every weekend. Find a pre-run breakfast that agrees with your stomach and stick with it. You'll thank yourself on marathon day.

Question: What's your go-to breakfast before a long run? 👇

Road to Dublin Marathon | Week 2

Missed a training run this week?

Don't panic.

One missed run won't ruin your marathon, but trying to cram it into an already busy week might.

Marathon training isn't about putting together one perfect week. It's about building consistent training over months.

If life gets in the way, accept it, move on, and get back to your plan. Your body will thank you for it.

Question: Have you missed a session during this marathon block? What was the reason?

Road to Dublin Marathon – Week 1

18 weeks to go.

One of the most common questions I hear is:

"Should I run more miles or do more speed work?"

At this stage of an 18 week marathon plan, I'd focus on building consistency and gradually increasing your mileage.

Speed sessions absolutely have their place, but first you need to build the engine.

As race day gets closer, the focus will change, and we'll cover that in the weeks ahead.

For now, stay consistent, trust the process, and build your aerobic base.

Question: If you had an extra hour to train this week, would you choose another easy run or another speed session?

18 weeks to go until Dublin Marathon.

The biggest mistake I see runners making right now?

Trying to get marathon fit this week.

Marathon fitness isn't built in one session, one long run, or even one good week.

It's built through months of consistent training.

At this stage, your goal isn't to prove how fit you are.

Your goal is to build the consistency that will carry you all the way to the start line.

Road to Dublin Marathon – Week 1.

Are you running Dublin this year?

Over the years, Miriam and I have been lucky enough to travel all over the world together 🌍❤️
From marathons and endurance events on different continents, to adventures we never imagined we'd be part of.
Our next adventure takes us back to Africa, this time to Tanzania, where we'll attempt to climb Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain on the continent 🏔️
For now, we're enjoying the preparation, the walks, the conversations, and the excitement of what's ahead.