Race Recap: Michael’s 2:38 in Hamburg

Michael is a long time user of Kaizen, having previously completed 3 marathons with the underlying technology guiding his training through each build up. On 23 April 2023, he ran Hamburg Marathon in a PB of 2:38:33. We ask him some key questions about his running, marathon training and how he uses Kaizen to maximise his performance.

Why do you run?

Running is my outlet. It’s the one thing I have just for me, where I can control (almost) every variable to influence the outcome. I find that channeling my competitive energy towards running helps me be more balanced in how I approach the rest of my life. It’s where I can let my mind wander and create space to allow myself to think – often it’s where I solve the most difficult problems or have my best ideas. Then there’s the bits about staying fit, getting into nature and making sure the dog gets her daily exercise.

How did you get into running?

I ran a bit of cross-country and middle distance at school off not much training, having primarily played football throughout. Kept up running a few times a week (e.g. 5k flat out) throughout my 20s until I ran a half marathon off a couple days’ notice (and no real training) on the cusp of the supershoe era in 2017. Loved it and decided running was for me. Have since run 4 marathons, including Hamburg at the weekend.

How was your race at the Hamburg Marathon?

I was really happy with the result, which was a 5 minute PB from a year ago in Vienna. Kaizen had predicted that based on my training I would be able to run 2:36:01 (if I executed perfectly), and I had a bit of a niggle going into it so I didn’t want to set out any faster than that pace. I found a group from early on that was exactly on 2:36 pace, which was perfect. We went through half in 1:18:01 and everything felt pretty comfortable. The pace heated up at around 24km, and I decided it would be better to stick with the group at a more aggressive pace than planned rather than go alone. Started getting tough around 33km in and I was running alone from there on in. Was a huge boost to have so many people lining the course in the last few km and I was really able to enjoy the fact that I was en route to a big PB.

How does Kaizen influence your training?

My day-to-day life is full of constraints with two young children, a dog and a demanding work life. The reason why I am a power user of Kaizen is because I know it’ll get me to within striking distance of my goal for an upcoming race if I keep hitting my weekly target, irrespective of how I do that. Hitting my weekly target is my top priority, and then I bake in certain sessions within the week - where possible - to keep things interesting. I don’t have a particularly scientific approach to training so having the overarching comfort that Kaizen doesn’t need to care about specifics to predict my fitness is a huge benefit. Also worth noting; the vast majority of my mileage is easy, which means I can run more and recover better. I find that managing stress of daily life and super hard and prescriptive sessions 2-3x a week is far too much so setting the default to easy running and sprinkling in sessions is the way to go.

Next marathon and goal?

Berlin, September 2023. Will set Kaizen to get me under 2:30. Whether I can get all the training in and execute on the day is a different question!