After seven years, I finally made the decision to return to the gym. Why now? Well, in my post “Reflecting on 2023“, I shared one of my resolutions for 2023: to run a full marathon, specifically the Tirana Marathon 2023, which took place in late October.
My journey began after completing an Olympic Triathlon in May 2023, followed by a Sprint Triathlon in June. After a month of recovery, I kicked off my marathon training in mid-July, despite the challenging weather conditions — high temperatures and humidity — making it the toughest time of the year to start training for a long race.Despite advice from professionals emphasizing the importance of strength training alongside running, I initially ignored it. However, reality hit after the Olympic Triathlon. I realized that brick training alone wasn’t enough to endure a race lasting over four hours. My muscles, particularly those in my abdomen, felt the strain.
Reflecting on my past experiences, I remembered that when I ran my first Half Marathon in 2021, I incorporated strength training during my Krav Maga classes. However, over the past year, I had neglected strength training entirely, focusing solely on running, swimming, and cycling. Though I never enjoyed going to the gym, I reluctantly started attending during the last month of training, which proved insufficient.
Despite completing the 42K successfully, albeit slowly, and even securing the third place for Albanian Women, I couldn’t ignore the fact that I had walked during segments of the race, especially when the scorching sun offered no respite from the heat. The realization hit me at the finish line when a man approached me with news of winning a prize — a pleasant shock considering my usual luck in races.
Looking back, I don’t regret the time spent on running, but I can’t help but wonder how incorporating even a small amount of strength training could have improved my performance and overall experience. You can delve into my marathon and triathlon training journey, including schedules and fuel strategies, on my Strava account.
After a two-week recovery period, I returned to the gym, committing to twice-weekly sessions. Fortunately, I discovered a functional circuit routine that suited me, gradually adding to it. Of course, I continued my outdoor activities on weekends, either running or joining a group of cyclists for a 50K ride.Twice a week may not seem like much, but consistency is key, especially for someone like me who isn’t fond of indoor sports. As I’ve emphasized in my post “My Journey from Couch to Half Marathon”, starting small and being realistic is crucial for maintaining consistency. Since then, I haven’t missed a day of training, ensuring I make up for any missed sessions the following week. I’m pleased with the gradual transformation of my body, but above all, I feel stronger and healthier.
