Let's Talk About Loops

Marathoners are typically creatures of habit, and generally unafraid of repetition. It definitely comes with the territory of an activity requiring such long miles and lengthy training cycles.

Most of our competitive or recreational marathoning happens on courses meant to minimize looping and lapping, which is slightly different than the typical courses of our upcoming challenge. Just as Boston marathoners prep for the Newton Hills or New York marathoners need to prepare not to go too fast on 1st Avenue, we need to be prepared mentally and physically to run some loop courses.

We'll be in good company with elite championship racers. Most of the last few Olympic, World Championship, and Olympic Trials marathons have involved courses with repeat loops, and the World Cross Country Championships (in recent history) is typically 5 x 2K loops for the 10K distance.

• Stash or put on outer layers without carrying them the whole way.
• Receive fluids and fuel without necessarily carrying them yourself.
• Reliable restroom facilities along the way of what could be a very long effort.
• Helpful, measurable feedback and a concrete sense of accomplishment as you progress through the reps required on the day.
• Regular refreshment and predictability that can keep your performance as strong as possible for as long as possible.

It's hard to head out away from what will eventually be the finishing area when you are already feeling near your limit, and repetitive scenery perhaps isn't as stimulating as new vistas throughout an entire run.

I'll never forget the final out and back of the Tokyo marathon, watching those runners a few miles ahead of me running the reverse direction on the other side of the street and knowing I still had the battle of the intervening miles ahead.

— Dena Evans

We need to prepare mentally and physically for that type of environment, and I recommend intentionally including some multiple loop versions of your long runs, whether straight through or with short rest. We may not be doing as many laps as a 50K racewalk on the track (yes, this happens!), but if your typical running schedule has the luxury of minimal repetition in most runs, you need to prepare for this aspect as well.

Hopefully this practice can help you build your playlist of positive self-talk, refine your fueling and fluid strategies, and arrive in January ready to see loops as an asset toward the achievement of your goals.