After 15 years of being a 100-400 metre sprinter county and nationally runner Ellie Staniforth decided to make the change and become a marathon runner, this has come with many struggles and challenges, mentally and physically.
To build her endurance thats needed for long-distance running, Staniforth has used modern day technology that has created her a plan and schedule that she has followed in this process.
“I am sticking to a plan, using the app Runna to make sure I am consistent throughout… and keeping my nutrition levels up and decent”
Rest and recovery has also became a big part of Staniforths approach
“If my body is tried, ill give myself more break when I need them”
When discussing her barriers and struggles has been keeping consistency especially now the weather is changing. “Sometimes, especially now its gotten colder, I do find it harder to run as I much prefer warmer weather”
There has also a big mental adjustment has been significant too, “it can be the mental aspect to as well, which I do find challenging, I am not used to preparing for a marathon”
Having spent more that a decade focused on short bursts events, this is the major difference she has had to work on.
“I have found long distances runner a lot harder, sprinting will be over in less than a minute, I’ve got to find that consistency to run further than a minute”
Reflections on her younger years, “I have done cross country when I was a lot younger, but I didn’t know how to pace myself, I just did it because I enjoyed it”
Now pacing is the main skill that Ellie need to master
“Finding the way to pace myself and being consistent in my pace so I’m not sprinting constantly is harder, so interval training has become by best friend”
“Luckily I haven’t gained ant injuries, but I know it can take a toll on my body” despite her upping her mileage, she has managed to stay injury free.
Running as a woman during the month when it becomes darker earlier has also had a big influence on her schedule “when it get darker I need to stick to the main road, where reflective clothing and make myself seen”
The journey Ellie Staniforth is making from sprinter to Marathon runner has required her to have a lot of patience and mental/ physical resilience, throughout the challenging obstacles.
“I am starting to fall in love with marathon running just as much as I did for sprinting’
