top of page
Search

Redemption Arc: Training for Brighton Marathon 2026

I fucked up.


Not catastrophically. Not in a way that ended my race or left me injured or unable to finish. But I missed my target.


December 2025. My first full marathon. Goal time: 3 hours 30 minutes.



I didn't hit it.


Completed in 4 hours 14 minutes.


Understanding the circumstances of what I went through (preparing for strictly come dancing, suffering with a back injury). I wasn't overly disappointed I didn't hit my target.


But there's something about setting a goal, training for months, lining up on race day... and watching it slip through your fingers.


So here we are. February 2026. And I'm going again.


The Road Ahead (Literally)


This year I've got three races lined up:


Forest of Dean Half Marathon – March 22nd

This is my tune-up race. My test run. My chance to see where my fitness is at before the big one. It's a beautiful course through the Gloucestershire countryside, and it'll tell me everything I need to know about whether I'm on track.


Brighton Marathon – April 12th

This is the one. The redemption race. The "let's try this again but smarter" race. I'm fundraising for Mind, the mental health charity, which makes this about more than just me chasing a time. Mental health and physical health are so intertwined—something I've seen firsthand with clients—and if I can raise some money while proving to myself I can hit 3:30, then it's worth every mile.



Loch Ness Marathon – September 27th

This one's in the calendar for later in the year. A completely different beast. Scenic as hell. And by then, hopefully, I'll have Brighton in the bag and I can just enjoy the experience without the pressure of a PB chase.


But right now? All roads lead to Brighton.


Training Smarter, Not Just Harder


Here's what I've changed since December.


Last time, I think I got a bit too eager. I pushed the intensity too high in training, didn't respect recovery enough, and probably overreached when I should've been holding back. Classic mistake. I know better. I teach this stuff. But when you're in it, it's easy to ignore your own advice.


This time, I'm training like I'd programme for a client who needs to perform but also stay healthy and functional. Balance. Structure. Progression without burnout.


The Lifting Programme


I'm still lifting four days a week because I'm not willing to sacrifice my strength work. But I've restructured it to complement the running, not compete with it.


Two Olympic Lifting Days:These sessions focus on either the snatch or the clean. I'm keeping the loads moderate and the technique sharp. No grinding reps. No ego lifting. Just clean, crisp movement patterns. After the main lift, I'll hit accessories—bodyweight pull-ups, dips, lunges, calf raises, arms, core. Nothing that's going to wreck me for my next run.


Two Strength Days:Deadlifts and bench press are the anchors here, with whole-body movements to follow. Again, I'm managing the load carefully. The goal isn't to set PRs right now—it's to maintain strength, support my running performance, and stay injury-free.


The key word here is management. I'm not pushing the intensity too high. I'm not chasing fatigue. I'm respecting rest times. I'm listening to my body. And I'm reminding myself that right now, the running is the priority.


The Running Programme


Three days a week. Simple structure. Effective.



1 Easy Run

Low intensity, conversational pace, just ticking over. These are the runs where I'm building aerobic base without stressing my system.


1 Tempo Run

Controlled discomfort. Faster than easy, but not all-out. This is where I'm building lactate threshold and getting comfortable with race pace.


1 Long Run

The bread and butter of marathon training. Gradually building volume, getting my body used to time on feet, learning to manage fuelling and hydration.

I'll drop a picture of the full running programme in this post so you can see the structure. Nothing fancy. Nothing revolutionary. Just consistent, progressive work.


FuelLing The Machine


I'm eating 3,200 calories a day.


That might sound like a lot. It is a lot. But when you're lifting four days a week, running three days a week, and trying to maintain muscle mass while training for a marathon, your body needs fuel.


I'm following a fairly flexible approach because rigid meal plans don't work for me long-term. But with a protein target of 200g per day, I have to make smart choices. I can't just eat whatever I want and hope to hit my numbers.


Here's what a typical day looks like:

  • Breakfast: Two slices of toast with 3-4 large eggs.

  • Lunch: Chicken wraps or tuna and rice.

  • Dinner: Usually a Hello Fresh meal—keeps things simple, takes the decision-making out of it.

  • Dessert: Yogurt bowl with oats, blueberries, and honey

  • Snacks/Supplements: Protein shake to top up my intake.


That's it. Nothing complicated. Nothing Instagram-worthy. Just real food that works.


The key is consistency. I'm not tracking every single macro religiously, but I'm aware of what I'm eating. I'm making sure I'm hitting my protein target. And I'm eating enough to support my training without gaining unnecessary weight.


It's the same advice I give my clients: Choose what works. Keep it simple. Be consistent.


What I've Learned


Missing my goal in December taught me a few things.


1. Respect the process.

You can't rush a marathon. You can't shortcut the training. And you definitely can't ignore recovery and expect to perform on race day.


2. Manage your intensity.

Just because you can train harder doesn't mean you should. Smart training beats hard training every time.


3. It's okay to miss a goal.

I preach this to clients all the time, but it's harder to accept when it's you. Missing 3:30 doesn't make me a failure. It makes me human. And it gives me a reason to come back stronger.


4. The process matters more than the outcome.

Yeah, I want to hit 3:30 in Brighton. But the real value is in the training. The discipline. The consistency. The lessons learned along the way. Even if I miss it again (and I really hope I don't), I'll still have become a better athlete, a better coach, and a better version of myself.


Why This Matters


I'm not just doing this for me.


I'm fundraising for Mind because mental health matters. It's something I see every day in my coaching—the connection between physical and mental wellbeing. How moving your body changes how you feel. How setting goals and achieving them builds confidence. How having structure and accountability can pull you out of a dark place.



Every bit helps.


But even beyond that, I'm sharing this journey because I want people to see that even coaches have struggles. Even people who should know better make mistakes. Even experienced athletes miss goals and have to come back for another go.


That's the whole point.


You're not supposed to get it right the first time. You're not supposed to be perfect. You're supposed to show up, do the work, learn from your mistakes, and try again.


That's what I'm doing.


64 days until Brighton. Let's see what I'm made of.


First YouTube video in the series goes live today. If you want to follow along with the training, the struggles, and (hopefully) the redemption, subscribe and come along for the ride.



– Andrew


 
 
 

Comments

© 2026 Andrew Caine PT. All rights reserved.

bottom of page