Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
“I Hate Running… But I’m Training for the London Marathon” with Ludwig Moreau
161 Plays5 days ago
In this episode of the UKRunChat Podcast, we meet Ludwig Moreau, better known on Instagram as @ihaterunningbut. Despite a lifelong dislike of running, Ludwig struck gold with a ballot entry for the 2026 London Marathon on his very first attempt.
He shares the rollercoaster of emotions from shock and doubt to determination, what he’s learned in his early weeks of training, and why he’s fundraising for Amnesty International UK. We also talk about:
- How volunteering at the London Marathon changed his perspective.
- Balancing training with other sports like CrossFit.
- The lessons he’s already picked up from books, coaches, and parkrun.
- How fundraising has added motivation (and pressure).
- Why respecting the marathon distance is key.
Plus, we finish with a fun quickfire round, hills vs intervals, running in the cold vs heat, and the first thing Ludwig wants to do when he crosses the finish line.
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction to UK Run Chat and Ludwig's story
00:00:00
UKRunChat
Hello, welcome to the UK Run Chat podcast, where we bring you stories from across the running community. I'm Michelle and today's guest, now his Instagram handle is IHateRunningButt, but somehow he has found himself signed up for one of the biggest races, certainly in the UK.
00:00:18
UKRunChat
ah Ludwig got a ballot entry for the 2026 London Marathon on his very first attempt at So his story today is all about doing something because life has decided it
Ludwig's initial reaction to the London Marathon entry
00:00:29
UKRunChat
for him. So welcome, Ludwig. Thank you so much for coming on to the podcast. How are you?
00:00:34
Ludwig
Hi, what a brilliant introduction. Thank you. i feel honored. Thank you, Michel. I'm fine. Thank you. Yeah. I'm excited actually to explain to you.
00:00:44
UKRunChat
So can we start with the obvious?
00:00:49
UKRunChat
and That's good. Can we start with the obvious question? Why do you say you hate running That's quite a strong statement.
00:00:58
Ludwig
I mean, yeah, it was my, it is my first statement because I always hated running. I joined the running club, but ah so I'm from Belgium.
00:01:09
Ludwig
Back to Belgium, when I met my partner with a strong runner, I joined the running club because I wanted to show that I could do it as well. And I did it in, I think it was eight week cycles and every single session I thought I'm going to die.
00:01:25
Ludwig
I just hated it and I didn't ah it it in progress. So yeah, it was quite a strong statement because that's the story of my life until recently,
CrossFit's influence on Ludwig's running journey
00:01:38
Ludwig
basically. I really didn't enjoy running until I started to do other sport like CrossFit and other circuit training, basically.
00:01:50
Ludwig
but yeah I'm not going lie, until recently, running was a pain for me. Just I didn't enjoy it, and I didn't get how people could enjoy doing it. It's a bit different now.
00:02:07
Ludwig
So yeah.
00:02:07
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:02:08
UKRunChat
So why did you enter the London Marathon ballot then?
00:02:13
Ludwig
So it's weird, it's life. My partner, as I said, this is a strong runner. I have a close friend who is a strong runner. He ran the London Marathon last year, not 24.
00:02:26
Ludwig
We went to Cherryman. So I found already the vibe was quite interesting. And I never seen something like this before because the races I went as a supporter before were not as so enthusiastic that the London on Marathon. And then through my partner, because he was in the running club and he had the the chance to have ah charity space like a few years ago. So he ran the London Marathon.
00:02:54
Ludwig
And to give back to to his running club, he volunteered this year and they needed volunteers. So
Confirming the marathon entry and diving into training
00:03:02
Ludwig
I went with him. I was at the the truck you know for the the packages. yeah So that was that was something because we were just after the arrival and we were the truck for the elite group. So I found it fascinating. It was really, really, the vibe was amazing. The people were so hyped and enthusiastic. And I said, I was listening on my way back home. I was listening all the people in the tube saying, well done, what an achievement.
00:03:36
Ludwig
All the work you put into it, it's amazing. And I said, whoa, it looks like a nice feeling, you know, just It looks like something really big to achieve.
00:03:48
Ludwig
And of course, on the way back with my two friends, they were thinking, i said saying saying, yeah, the ballot opens tomorrow or in two days, whatever. hope this year will be the good one. And I didn't say to them that I wouldn't as well because I felt ashamed. you know I'm not the good runner for them. So I was listening to their conversation.
00:04:11
Ludwig
And I was at work the day after, and I said, oh, why not? You know, anyway, the odds are so so low that I won't have spot, and I hope I won't have a spot.
00:04:23
Ludwig
And yeah, I entered, and here we are.
00:04:29
Ludwig
So a few weeks, months later, ah i was, yeah.
00:04:33
UKRunChat
wow
00:04:36
Ludwig
So yeah, yeah, it was... ah It was, i did it, i even said, if I'm not, of course, I won't have a ballot space, so I won't say that I entered because they will laugh at me, basically.
00:04:53
Ludwig
It is a different story when, of course, the so email, when when I received the email you are in, i thought it was a joke. I thought it was a chat GPT thing or someone was doing a joke to me.
00:05:08
Ludwig
I sent up on a WhatsApp group, we have WhatsApp group, and a I sent that to them. And they thought it was a joke as well. They were waiting for their results, both of them.
00:05:20
Ludwig
And then they received the email. They didn't make it. And I can tell you that the reaction were not really reaction were were that really friendly for me because they were jealous. They still are.
00:05:39
Ludwig
everybody around me is jealous basically so yeah yeah i know i know i know i felt
00:05:41
UKRunChat
Yeah. You've been very, very lucky, haven't you? Because I know people who try every year to get in. Yeah. So what what was your first thought at seeing that email? Was it yes or was it, oh, no, now I have to really do this?
00:05:58
Ludwig
totally mixed so i was in shock basically i was i remember i was at work and
00:06:00
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:06:07
Ludwig
I stopped, I looked at my personal email and I stopped and I said to my colleague, oh gosh, and he thought something really bad happened. And i showed him the email and I said, whoa. And he said to me, oh, you're going to do it. It's going to be okay. It's going to be okay.
00:06:24
Ludwig
And then I saw, yeah and so I'm managing a team and I have one of my reports who was there. She said, so i is is everything all right? Is everything all right? I said, yes. but She's a massive marathon London Marathon supporter. We talked about that before.
00:06:42
Ludwig
And she was happier than me. She said, you have to do it. You have to do it. We'll go to cheer you on and stuff. And I felt like i had to confirm my registration right now.
00:06:55
Ludwig
but Otherwise, I wouldn't do it because I was too scared. it was yeah I was shaking, basically, because i it was such a strange feeling, because I wanted to do it, and I didn't want at the same time.
00:07:07
Ludwig
i think the the distance hit me, the the fact that, of course, you can't improvise yourself a marathon runner. I think it would be disrespectful for the people who train so hard. So everything was, it was like a yeah a hurricane in my head, and I said, confirm it now, pay it, and that's
Marathon training strategy and goals
00:07:28
Ludwig
it.
00:07:28
Ludwig
And yeah, I did it. I paid it straight away.
00:07:37
UKRunChat
Yeah, amazing.
00:07:37
Ludwig
Yeah.
00:07:37
UKRunChat
so So that's that. So the the day after then, did training start then?
00:07:42
Ludwig
Yeah.
00:07:43
UKRunChat
What were your thoughts that day after?
00:07:43
Ludwig
Of course, yeah. Of course. So um I'm not lying to you. The day after, the night after, I didn't sleep well at all. Because I was seeing myself.
00:07:57
Ludwig
in the street of London, crying for help. And I couldn't sleep. i said I said to my partner the day after, what have I done? I can't do it.
00:08:10
Ludwig
And because the first thing, to be fair, because he was a bit bit jealous, he ran, I think, five, six marathon, maybe more. He will be really offended if it's more, but whatever.
00:08:23
Ludwig
And um yeah, when... when I said to him, so I'm going to do it, he said, are you sure you can? now Are you sure you have that in you? And that was the last thing to say to me, because if you say that to me, of course I'm going to do it.
00:08:38
Ludwig
And the day after I said to him, said to him, I'm not sure I can and stuff. And he changed his mind. He said, you can, if you train properly, you can, and ah but you can't improvise because otherwise you will you will hurt yourself. And ah that's not what you want.
00:08:55
Ludwig
So I started on day one to read, I think I read in one week, three books about previous marathon experiences, different experiences from amateurs to professionals.
00:09:10
Ludwig
And yeah, just take some I wanted just to take some tips and to see if with the knowledge, I would still feel able to put myself into the the game. and
00:09:24
Ludwig
I noticed that if you take it properly and if you listen to your body, especially during the preparation phase, it is possible. And also i I learned quickly that it's not an ego thing.
00:09:39
Ludwig
ah My ego needs to be, i don't expect to do an amazing time. i want to finish it alive and in one piece.
00:09:53
Ludwig
So I think once you have to so do this basic and you you condition yourself to that, I feel like my mind my mindset changed.
00:10:06
Ludwig
And I feel ready now. I feel scared. Every day I think about it. And I think it will be the case until the day. But that's what keeps me going. And that's why that's why I think I will succeed. It's because I'm...
00:10:22
Ludwig
i am That's why its something I read in one of the books, and I'm sorry, i don't have I don't remember the reference, but respect the distance. And I always keep that in my head, the thing that I have to respect the distance.
00:10:37
Ludwig
ah
00:10:40
Ludwig
And yeah, put the work into it, basically. That's what I'm trying to
Ludwig's early training challenges and progress
00:10:46
Ludwig
do now.
00:10:46
UKRunChat
Yeah, I've got goosebumps listening to you talk about it and saying that.
00:10:50
Ludwig
Oh, thank you.
00:10:51
UKRunChat
Yeah, I love what you say about ego. It can't come into it over the marathon distance at all, can it?
00:10:57
Ludwig
Yeah.
00:10:59
UKRunChat
No.
00:10:59
Ludwig
Yeah. Yeah. I think, you know, even the the way it happened, the fact that I was really, it wasn't expected even that I entered the ballot.
00:11:11
Ludwig
And the reaction I had, i even I even had people laughing, you know, saying, you you're going to run a marathon, but you hate, you hate running. I think it's um it humbled me straight away.
00:11:24
Ludwig
um Yeah, don't pretend. it's It's not because you've been lucky in the ballot that you will run a marathon in three hours. you know Just but if you stay stay yourself and stay true to yourself. And it's a personal challenge more than anything else.
00:11:46
UKRunChat
Yeah, absolutely. So how how is training going so far then? You're you're a few weeks in, aren't you? You started kind of early July, is that right?
00:11:52
Ludwig
Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly. ah i kind of think the email came end of June. i was so anxious that I started started the day after.
00:12:06
Ludwig
i did my first run the day after just to assess the situation and to see if it was really something possible or not. oh As you can expect, struggled.
00:12:18
Ludwig
It was really hot on that day. And yeah it yeah, I asked first, I asked for advice as well. And I have to say that the London Marathon send you with the package, you have some ah some connection to make straight away just to have advice and to to start on the right foot.
00:12:40
Ludwig
And I talked to one of the coaches and he said to me, can't go from now now to the marathon day to a full training marathon because you will arrive totally burned out.
00:12:55
Ludwig
that That's not something to do. He said to me, advised to me to start running twice a week and then alternate twice a week and three times a week.
00:13:01
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:13:06
Ludwig
So I started with the twice a week and then i because I had a trial and of course I, I think that's ah it's the purpose of the thing with the partner app of the London Marathon, Cooper.
00:13:19
Ludwig
And I was convinced because honestly, again, it's not an ego thing. I think they're planning the the training plan is amazing. And it convinced me first month. So I so i subscribed after that because it respects my pace. And I feel like I'm progressing at the at a reasonable pace. So, yeah.
00:13:42
Ludwig
The training is well structured and I don't want to give up on my other activities like I was doing and quite a ah lot of fitness and circuit training. So I want to keep doing that at the same time. So I'm integrating running into my ah life and then I will start the proper marathon training in December.
00:14:03
Ludwig
I'm aiming now to improve my 5k and to be honest, I have Because, yeah, some people call me a show pony now because they say, hey, the show pony will have the luck in the balance. So I totally embrace my show pony status.
00:14:21
Ludwig
I was so proud this week for the first time since the beginning of my training. i had my first park run under 30, so I did 27 minutes and I was living for it.
00:14:33
Ludwig
So, yeah, the training is paying off, obviously.
00:14:40
UKRunChat
Yeah, that's that's great. I think that's great advice to start now at two sessions a week. I think that's brilliant because, like you say, you don't want to start marathon training in December and try and cram that all in in so a short space of time from nothing to you.
00:14:47
Ludwig
Yeah.
00:14:56
UKRunChat
So I think it's it's great to ease yourself in gently.
00:14:56
Ludwig
Yeah,
00:14:59
UKRunChat
So you you're back at Parkrun, aren't you? Tell us about that.
00:15:02
Ludwig
yeah, yeah. yeah You know, I know and I subscribed to Parkrun when ah the first time I came to the UK, basically, which was 11 years ago. And I didn't realize that i didn't do Parkrun since the first I came the So 11 years ago, basically.
00:15:20
Ludwig
So I did two parkrun at the time in 2014. And ah was ashamed to see that my time now, the first parkrun I did when I came back, so 11 years later, was like four minutes slower, so which was significantly slower.
00:15:45
Ludwig
And that was at the very beginning of the training. And now I'm back to the time I yeah i did, that so 11 years ago. So I'm confident.
00:15:57
Ludwig
I can't tell. The park run, of course, I have this ah competitive thing that just, I know that park run is for jogging and you're not supposed to. But yeah, I just wanted to challenge myself. And I'm happy to see that the training is paying off without me feeling bad. And yeah.
00:16:17
UKRunChat
Yeah, but well, that's great that you're back and that you're already seeing progress. and What have you learned then from all your research into marathon training that you'll be putting into practice over the next months leading up the marathon?
00:16:31
Ludwig
I've learned that you can't go too quick. you can't You can't change from one day to ah to another and pretend to ah to to climb this mountain and without putting the work into it.
00:16:48
Ludwig
And small small things, I have realized that small things are really important because sometimes I'm trying to visualize myself on the day and now,
00:17:00
Ludwig
I said to myself, I need to learn, for example, to um to identify what's my comfortable space. what What's my... average speed, where am I comfortable, where I'm not, and what my body is telling me.
00:17:16
Ludwig
And when my body is telling me it's too much, slow down, when can I push myself a little bit more? So I think it's something crucial to learn that. And i'm I'm a baby in that, you know, at the moment I'm just learning, but I find this aspect of it fascinating.
Adapting to environmental conditions and personal preferences
00:17:34
Ludwig
ah Sometimes I have the feeling that I'm super slow and because I train quite regularly, I see, it oh, wow, that's my new that's size that's my new basic, you know.
00:17:47
Ludwig
ah But I learned as well that um it's ah it's a full package. You need to sleep well. shoes, the first three weeks, I had a persistent pain in the knee.
00:18:03
Ludwig
which scared me. i said, my knee will never, never, never will be on my side. And yeah, research about, you know, I discovered that ah I had the hyperproponation and just, I bought the right shoes and ah and and it disappeared. So all those little things, I think that's, so I learned every single training session, I learned something.
00:18:32
Ludwig
And yeah, I learned as well that that was my ah my running today, actually, that sometimes it's OK to be not 100%. I was slower today. I think it was my slowest run since the the beginning. And to start, i in my head, it was like, no, you need to do better. You need to do better. And then I said, chill out. You know, just sometimes you can have a run a bit weaker than ah the week before. And that's OK, you know.
00:18:59
Ludwig
Oh, yeah. I learned a lot.
00:19:07
UKRunChat
you Yeah, that's that's an important thing to learn about ourselves, isn't it? That not every day is going to be a great run. Yeah, I think that's important.
00:19:14
Ludwig
Yeah.
00:19:15
UKRunChat
And you will have runs through marathon training where that happens and you just don't feel great. So what's what keep what's been the toughest training day for you so far? I know we're not far into we've not stuff started a proper marathon training cycle yet.
00:19:31
UKRunChat
But what's been the toughest run for you so far, so far?
00:19:34
Ludwig
i think it's when i I think it was my second running, a end of June. The anxiety said to me, even if it's 30 degrees outside, go for it.
00:19:46
Ludwig
And I pushed myself to run without any experience in 30 degrees, and that wasn't a pleasant experience.
00:19:48
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:19:54
Ludwig
ah But I'm glad I did it because now I know what it's like. But yeah, that wasn't really... I think I will... I would prefer running in in the cold. Maybe when it will be cool too cold and ah when it will rain heavily, I will won't be happy with that. But i I found it quite challenging to run in a high heat, I have to say.
00:20:24
UKRunChat
Yeah, it is.
00:20:24
Ludwig
Yeah.
00:20:24
UKRunChat
I was going to ask about that. You will be doing the bulk of your long run training over winter, won't you? So a you would you say you're more of a ah cold weather runner?
00:20:31
Ludwig
yeah
00:20:35
Ludwig
Yeah. yeah Yeah, because,
00:20:38
UKRunChat
Yeah, I think I would prefer to to train for a spring marathon, definitely, and do those cold runs.
00:20:42
Ludwig
yeah
00:20:45
Ludwig
I think, yeah, you know, with the cold, I have the feeling is there is something you can do about it. ah You can cover more, or you can run quicker, or whatever. But when it's too hot, it's too hot. I mean, yeah, it's just, as you hope ah will I will enjoy the cold better.
00:21:05
Ludwig
The problem is the lack of light that I'm a bit so scared to find the motivation with the
Solo training and motivation through fundraising
00:21:10
Ludwig
lack of light. But that will be the part so that's part of the challenge.
00:21:18
UKRunChat
Yeah, it is. And it's it's all part of the experience, isn't it? So will you be kind of doing those long runs of a weekend or will you have to be getting up early in the morning to get your training in?
00:21:29
UKRunChat
How will you fit it in?
00:21:31
Ludwig
Ideally, I would say in the in the morning, but I'm so bad in the morning that I know it's not realistic at all. I know I'm not doing that. So yeah, I think the long run will be definitely in the weekend.
00:21:49
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:21:50
Ludwig
But yeah, I would love to be able to do that in ah in the morning, but I know I will never do that i now.
00:21:59
Ludwig
Maybe, you know, Maybe I will will surprise myself there, but it's not the plan.
00:22:10
UKRunChat
Yeah. So have you got other people that you can train with who will come and do some runs with you?
00:22:16
Ludwig
yeah
00:22:17
UKRunChat
While you're training for the marathon, or will you be doing much of it on your own?
00:22:21
Ludwig
That's another trait. It's just as it stands at the moment, I'm comfortable to be on my own. um I think I don't want to feel the pressure to have to follow a pace or to have to talk even when I'm running.
00:22:32
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:22:38
Ludwig
i want to stay totally focused and to train to be in my bubble. And at the moment, my it's weird, but the good side of, you know what, I told you at the beginning that I didn't understand the safe space Some people were saying they found into running.
00:22:59
Ludwig
And i I'm starting to to find it when I'm on my own. It's quite meditative to run and to listen to my music. And ah just but some I I decide some milestones in the area.
00:23:10
UKRunChat
Yeah. yeah
00:23:13
Ludwig
I say I need to go ah until that point and then I can reverse. and So at the moment, I have the feeling I'm at that stage where ah it's between me and me.
00:23:25
Ludwig
ah I hope that soon will be confident enough to run with other people. I think my main struggle at the moment, every time I run with other people before, I was the slow one and I felt bad because ah because I was slowing everybody down.
00:23:43
Ludwig
And I don't enjoy that. So at least when I'm on my own, I go at my pace and that's it.
00:23:49
UKRunChat
yeah
00:23:49
Ludwig
So, yeah.
00:23:55
Ludwig
But maybe, you know, because I will i'll be quicker.
00:23:56
UKRunChat
yeah i understand that yeah you just want to you want to find your own place don't you yeah yeah yeah that makes sense so what's what's going to keep you motivated yeah what's
00:24:01
Ludwig
Yeah. Yeah, not to be a burden and, you know, to be pressured. and The main thing, so yeah again, i think it's ah it's a it's a full package.
00:24:20
Ludwig
ah The fact that i i i have I'm lucky enough to have a ballot entry, I didn't have to to fundraise for anything. um But I've decided quickly to fundraise because I said in the current climate, it will be a missed opportunity not to do it.
00:24:34
UKRunChat
Thank you.
00:24:42
Ludwig
And I don't have, again, I don't have the pressure ah But definitely, I've seen after three months now, it gives you ah massive boost in the in motivation because you are accountable.
00:24:58
Ludwig
You have people supporting you in something that you decide to do. And when you see that people give their hard-earned to support your project, you can't fail and you can't fail them.
00:25:12
Ludwig
so That helps me a lot, I have to say, to in know in this whole thing. Sometimes I don't want, I said, why am I doing that? And then I think, no no, you have a few people already who gave money. And I believe in, we'll talk, I guess, about that later, but I believe in the charity I picked. And ah I have to, I'm accountable now, and I want to be accountable for that.
00:25:39
Ludwig
So at this point, At this time, yeah, my main motivation comes from that, which is good because ah I think it's ah it legitimizes with my luck. you know The fact to have been so lucky, like unshamefully lucky to have a violent entry from the get go, it's a way to get to give back you know and to yeah to do something of it as well.
00:26:12
Ludwig
To give back, I don't know if I want to give back.
00:26:14
UKRunChat
Yeah, that's amazing. Well, that seems a good opportunity. Tell us a little bit about the charity.
00:26:20
Ludwig
yeah Sure, sure. So I choose Amnesty International UK because for me, ah with everything everything going on in the world at the moment, I'm really concerned to see our freedoms narrowing down and the freedom on press now the freedom of press is not what it was before.
00:26:46
Ludwig
We can see horrendous images day in, day out on our screens without anything being even acknowledged of it by yeah the people who decide for us. And I think Amnesty International does an amazing work in challenging that and in trying to securing or essential freedom and human right freedom.
00:27:11
Ludwig
So I think there is no nothing more important than that in the moment, in my view. I think it's something we can't lose that. And i I went to some charity event and some stand-up night organized by Amnesty International, and i was I was really impressed with the the positive vibes there and the fact that The people who were there were were there to to build a better world and to without being naive, but they challenged the things that i've I believe are going wrong. So, yeah.
00:27:50
Ludwig
But they need support because, of course, in this again, in this climate, those charities are targeted. And I think it has to come from the people.
00:28:04
Ludwig
And yeah, that's why I think it's it's a good opportunity. also are very professional in the way they fundraise. They have a huge team of fundraisers.
00:28:15
Ludwig
And from day one, when I sent them an email to say, I would like to fundraise for you, they were supportive in in know yeah explaining to me how it works because I didn't know anything.
00:28:33
Ludwig
uh, they, it's them. They put me in contact with the coach, a running coach who, it wasn't a, an AI coach. It was a proper person who just contacted me, asked me a lot of questions about my, uh, fitness habits.
00:28:45
Ludwig
And, uh, and he, he was the one who said to me, do that, do that, do that.
00:28:47
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:28:51
Ludwig
And, uh, I find it really, really good because it's a, it's a two way street. And, uh, um, I'm really glad to do that. And I realized as well that, uh,
00:29:03
Ludwig
It's a charity that speaks to to people because i'm I guess I'm not the only one to be a bit concerned about this change in our freedoms. So it's also an opportunity to raise money and to to do something about about this situation without being too political law or having to pick a side in the with the all the conflict that we all have had.
00:29:30
Ludwig
It's about humanity. and that's was was the most important for me.
00:29:41
UKRunChat
Yeah. ah Well, what a wonderful gift that you've given to the charity with the fact you've already got a place. They must be really grateful for that. And what a wonderful cause.
00:29:48
Ludwig
Yeah.
00:29:49
UKRunChat
and We will put a link into your fundraising page in the show notes. um So, yeah, feel free to have a look in the show notes if you'd like to support Ludwig in that.
00:29:55
Ludwig
Yeah, thank you.
00:30:00
UKRunChat
and Has fundraising, I know you said it's motivating you. Is it adding any extra pressure, do you think, as well? Yeah. Is it just motivational?
00:30:09
Ludwig
It does. No, I'm not going to lie, it does. Some days, fundraising, the thing is, and it's something I'm not used to do. You have to put yourself out there. Otherwise, other people don't know what you're doing. And you have realized that what's obvious for me, it's not obvious just for people I ask money for and from. so I need to explain and I need to justify why why i i choose ah what I believe in. And it's not an easy exercise at the beginning.
00:30:45
Ludwig
So it adds a pressure in that sense because you expose yourself to judgment. And that I feel, you know, sometimes using my fundraising page and social media,
00:30:59
Ludwig
of In one way, yeah, yeah you can feel sometimes a bit observed or judged. But in the other hand, I had donations from people I absolutely didn't expect.
00:31:12
UKRunChat
yeah
00:31:13
Ludwig
And that's amazing. That's an amazing feeling when you see people you you haven't seen for years, and they believe in you, and they support you, and they don't ask anything back. And they just say, yeah, yeah, let's go do it. And that gives me wings, I have to say.
00:31:31
Ludwig
I love this aspect because every time far, we're not far in the fundraising, but I set a reasonable target.
00:31:42
Ludwig
We nearly had 25%. So I'm glad with that because it's just just people i knew from but most of them I haven't seen for years. I had a colleague I haven't seen since I moved ah from Belgium.
00:31:57
Ludwig
And she was one of the first. and That's really nice to see. Yeah. I'm a bit emotional about that because, yeah, it just,
00:32:09
UKRunChat
Yeah, like
Preparing for marathon day and mental readiness
00:32:10
Ludwig
it's just,
00:32:10
UKRunChat
that's incredible. And that must feel nice to have the support of all those people as well. Yeah, that's lovely.
00:32:17
Ludwig
yeah. just ah
00:32:20
Ludwig
yeah
00:32:20
UKRunChat
So looking ahead to
00:32:24
UKRunChat
looking ahead to Marathon Day itself, I know it's a long way off, but what's going through your mind at the moment when you think about Marathon Day itself?
00:32:31
Ludwig
It's a long long way long way, but not long not long enough. Today, because I have even a countdown on my phone. And 250 days.
00:32:45
Ludwig
And yes, it's long, but on the other hand, it' it's so not long.
00:32:45
UKRunChat
Thank you.
00:32:49
Ludwig
Because if you ask me to run the marathon tomorrow, i would say, I can't. I can't. so
00:32:59
Ludwig
I'm excited, but I have a feeling the closer we will be, the the more anxious I will be. So in a sense, I'm looking forward to start the marathon training just to be, to reassure myself a little.
00:33:17
Ludwig
ah At the moment, you know, I'm doing my thing with the 5Ks and I guess improving my 5Ks.
00:33:22
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:33:24
Ludwig
And at the end of the day, the longest run I've had in three months is 10 kilometers. So yeah, my aim is four times that. So I think, yeah, the anxiety, i'm an anxious so I'm an anxious person anyway. So I think the anxiety, i I'm ready to live with this increasing and anxiety until the the day because I think I will have just to to monitor it and to to deal with it.
00:33:55
Ludwig
I will be anxious, that's for sure.
00:34:00
Ludwig
But I can't wait, you know.
00:34:02
Ludwig
Yeah.
00:34:02
UKRunChat
Yeah, I think that but anxiety can work in our favour, though, as well, in helping us plan, can't it?
00:34:08
UKRunChat
We can be meticulous in planning what we're doing, so it can be helpful, I think.
00:34:12
Ludwig
Yeah. Yeah.
00:34:14
UKRunChat
But, yeah, I understand that.
00:34:17
Ludwig
Yeah, it's it's just, you just have to accept that not, to move yeah?
00:34:19
UKRunChat
and So if some people out there listening...
00:34:25
Ludwig
I was saying you just have to accept that not everything is in your hand as well, yeah.
00:34:27
UKRunChat
So I was going to say, if people out there listening are in the same boat and have perhaps got a marathon
00:34:33
Ludwig
Yeah.
00:34:35
UKRunChat
Yeah. what What advice would give to people in the same position as you who perhaps haven't started the training yet?
00:34:43
Ludwig
I would say start now. First thing. Start immediately. And I would say go for it. Honestly, is no right wrong.
00:34:56
Ludwig
there is no right or wrong the The most important thing is to do it properly. And if you commit to do it, commit for yourself.
00:35:08
Ludwig
You don't want to have your joints ruined after three weeks. So read about it. see See where you stand, where you are in your journey, if it's reasonable or not. You know, I read a book where they were totally, they were finding crazy to do it to prepare for a marathon in a year.
00:35:32
Ludwig
They said you need to run for at least three years. I think there is no, again, there is no exact science for that. I always, I'm not a runner, but I'm training, I'm doing other sports for years. If you don't do any sport at all, I think one year for a marathon is a bit ambitious and maybe dangerous. So what I would advise It's nice to have this kind of dreams and it's it end to challenge to challenge yourself. Just be reasonable and green read about it. Ask people who did it before.
00:36:07
Ludwig
That's also something that helps me. spoke to people who run a marathon before and I know what to expect. I know that after kilometers, kilometers, 20, twenty I'm preparing myself mentally as well to hit that.
00:36:23
Ludwig
so that I don't want to hit the wall. I want to prepare myself not to hit the wall, but to be prepared of, yeah, it will be hard.
00:36:31
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:36:31
Ludwig
And I know that at this time, I will have my, in my baggage, I will have, yeah, now you you need to activate that mode because now you will you will really suffer till the end.
00:36:36
UKRunChat
yeah
00:36:42
Ludwig
So that's what I think ah I would advise to anyone in ah in the same position than me Just don't do it blindly.
Reflecting on the marathon journey and community support
00:36:53
Ludwig
And find yourself a yeah motivation. Like fundraising, I think, is amazing.
00:37:01
Ludwig
Find yourself to justify the fact that you're doing that. And and don't don't bother too much about what other people think, because you do that for yourself at the end of the day. so And if you think you can do it, you will do it.
00:37:15
Ludwig
That's what I say to myself. I'm going to do it.
00:37:19
UKRunChat
Yeah. Yeah, there's a lot of there's a lot in our heads about it. It's a mental game as well, yeah.
00:37:24
Ludwig
Yeah. Yeah.
00:37:28
Ludwig
Yeah. And yeah, I think read the sign. For me, it's a sign. i wasn't expecting it all. I didn't want to be successful in the ballot.
00:37:41
Ludwig
If I have been, it's because I have to do it. That's it. Yeah.
00:37:48
UKRunChat
Yeah. It's for a reason, isn't it? Yeah.
00:37:52
Ludwig
Yeah. just
00:37:55
UKRunChat
Yeah, what a wonderful gift. this It might be the marathon that turns you into I like running now instead of I hate running.
00:38:02
Ludwig
oh I didn't think I would say that, but I wouldn't be surprised, to be honest. um Yeah.
00:38:10
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:38:11
Ludwig
It's just, yeah. I can see, I can, before that, I remember, you know, when we had this conversation with my friend on the way back from the marathon, I said, but it's so boring. I'm so bored when I run. And, know,
00:38:27
Ludwig
that's changing because now I see the the meditative aspect and i see I see the benefits so I wouldn't be surprised. yeah I'm not at that stage yet.
00:38:37
UKRunChat
Thank you.
00:38:38
Ludwig
every you know Every time I start running in the beginning i said no it's not for me. It's not for me.
00:38:50
Ludwig
Systematically. to I run yeah at lunchtime and ah the first my first day was it's No, it's not it's not something for me. It's it just no. and And then it changes. So who knows?
00:39:11
UKRunChat
yeah oh well you are vlogging weekly on instagram aren't you you're doing a video to let us know how you're getting on with each week of training um so people can follow you there and find out more um yeah and we yeah we wish you all the best you'll have to let us know how you how you do maybe you can come back on and tell us how the experience was yeah
00:39:17
Ludwig
Yeah. Yeah. yeah Yeah.
00:39:24
Ludwig
Yeah, sure. So Still, I hate running in one word.
00:39:34
Ludwig
it would be I would be delighted. ah would be delighted, honest honestly. I would be so proud to come again with my medal.
00:39:46
Ludwig
But yeah, oh it's really interesting. And honestly, thank you for, you know, i know that I sent you a message.
00:39:50
UKRunChat
Oh, yeah. I will be things for...
00:39:55
Ludwig
Sorry?
00:40:00
Ludwig
Sorry, I didn't pick the last question.
00:40:01
UKRunChat
It's OK. I was going to finish what you're saying and then, yeah, I'll ask some quickfire questions.
00:40:05
Ludwig
kind know I was yeah
00:40:06
UKRunChat
But what were you saying? so
00:40:08
Ludwig
ah was so i was saying, no honestly, ah it means a lot. to i feel I feel by just inviting me to your pot in your podcast, I feel supported. And it gives it those kind of things give me a lot of courage and strength. So thank you. That's what I wanted to say.
Quickfire questions and podcast conclusion
00:40:31
UKRunChat
Yeah. Oh, well, you're very welcome. Yeah, we we love chatting to members of our community. So, yeah, it's been lovely having you. So before we finish, we've got a quick fire round for you.
00:40:40
Ludwig
o
00:40:41
UKRunChat
So no time to think too hard. Just give us your first answer, whatever springs into your head.
00:40:44
Ludwig
Okay.
00:40:47
Ludwig
Okay.
00:40:47
UKRunChat
Are you ready?
00:40:48
Ludwig
Yeah, I'm ready.
00:40:50
UKRunChat
So running in the cold or running in the heat?
00:40:53
Ludwig
Cold.
00:41:00
Ludwig
Definitely cold, yeah.
00:41:01
UKRunChat
Morning runner or evening runner?
00:41:04
Ludwig
Definitely evening. Definitely. And that, honestly, i don't think it's going to change.
00:41:18
UKRunChat
Okay. Music, podcasts or silence when you run?
00:41:22
Ludwig
Music all the way. I'm already working you know on my ah playlist for the marathon. Every time I have a ah tune that i really like, I said, that must be on the day. And I don't listen to those songs. I don't listen to them too often because I don't want to arrive in April and to be bored of them.
00:41:44
Ludwig
So yeah, music.
00:41:50
UKRunChat
That's a great idea. Yeah.
00:41:56
UKRunChat
What's worse, hills or intervals?
00:41:59
Ludwig
Hills all the way. i hate hills. I am quite comfortable with intervals because I can see, i like the fact that there is a ah deadline.
00:42:10
Ludwig
The hills for me never finishes. So yeah.
00:42:16
Ludwig
No hills, please.
00:42:18
UKRunChat
What's scarier?
00:42:22
UKRunChat
What's scarier? The London Marathon start line on mile 20.
00:42:27
Ludwig
Mile 20. have nightmares about mile 20. I read so many stuff about mile 20 that, yeah yeah, I'm scared.
00:42:45
UKRunChat
Would you rather run a mile every day for a year or do one marathon and never run again?
00:42:55
Ludwig
I think I would like to do one mile for a year every day because if I enjoy the London Marathon, I don't want to say that I want to run another one. So yeah, one mile a day for a year.
00:43:12
UKRunChat
yeah
00:43:15
UKRunChat
and Completely understandable. and When you cross the London Marathon finish line, what's the very first thing that you want to do?
00:43:27
Ludwig
I want to find my two friends i took the train last year with and to say, you see, i did it. That's the first thing I want to do, just to show them that I did it.
00:43:43
UKRunChat
Amazing. Yeah. Oh, that's amazing. Oh, well, thank you.
00:43:48
Ludwig
Yeah.
00:43:49
UKRunChat
Thank you so much, Ludwig. It's been an absolute pleasure chatting to you today on the UK Run Chat Podcast.
00:43:52
Ludwig
Thank you, Michel. It's you.
00:43:54
UKRunChat
Thank you.
00:43:55
Ludwig
Thank you so much. Honestly, it was a pleasure.
00:44:00
UKRunChat
um Yeah, we can't wait to follow your journey. So do catch up with Ludwig on his Instagram. We will post a link to that in the show notes as well. And we'll be cheering you on as you take on those 26.2 miles from Amnesty International.
00:44:10
Ludwig
Amazing.
00:44:14
UKRunChat
That's it for today's episode. So thank you for listening. And as always, if you've enjoyed the show, please subscribe, share it with a friend and join in the conversation with us at UK Run Chat across our social media.
00:44:25
UKRunChat
Until next time, happy running.