For athletes preparing for the Rotterdam Marathon
Every marathon preparation ends in roughly the same way. Not with a perfect workout and not with complete certainty, but with a moment of doubt.
As a coach, i see it every year athletes who have trained consistently for months. Long runs done, marathon pace sessions completed and stronger week after week. And then, in the final weeks, the message comes: “Coach… do you think I’m ready?”
Doubt Is Part of Being an Athlete Who Cares
I remember one athlete who had almost a perfect preparation. Long runs of 32 km, strong marathon-pace blocks, everything according to plan but two weeks before the race he got sick and three workouts missed. His first reaction was: “Now everything is ruined.” But that’s not how the body works. Fitness is built over months, not in the final ten days. Those earlier weeks that’s where the real adaptation happens.
On race day he ran a personal best, not despite that setback. But because the foundation was already strong enough.
No Marathon Preparation Is Perfect
In almost every marathon build-up something happens:
- A key session affected by strong wind or storm
- A long run that needs to be shortened
- A cold, flu, or virus
- A small injury or physical complaint
- Work stress or poor sleep
Yet i see the same pattern again and again: the athletes who adapt and keep going often arrive stronger at the start line. Perfect preparation doesn’t exist, robust preparation does.
Taper Doubts: “Why do i feel so slow?”
One of the most common messages i receive in the final weeks: “My legs feel heavy… did I lose my fitness?” Almost every athlete experiences this during the taper. Your body is recovering and the training fatigue is slowly leaving the system. The strange part is: sometimes you feel worse… right before your best performance. I’ve seen it dozens of times. Athletes who feel uncertain during the taper and then run their best race ever.
Trust the taper!
Confidence after a small injury
Sometimes the doubt runs deeper. One athlete i coached toward a marathon developed a hamstring issue three weeks before the race. We had to adjust: fewer kilometers, more recovery and he thought his race was over. But recovery, patience, and trust did their work. On race day he stood at the start fresh.
…..And what happened?
The extra recovery had actually made him stronger. Sometimes less training is exactly what the body needs.
From Emotion to Evidence
When doubt appears, we do one simple exercise.We don’t look at one single workout.
We look at the entire block:
- All the kilometers
- All the long runs
- All the early mornings
- All the sessions that did go well
Then the question changes.
Not:
“Am I ready?”
But:
“How could I not be ready after all this work?”
Mental Strategy for KM 30–42
Every marathon eventually reaches the same point. Around kilometer 30 the real conversation begins. Not just physically, but mentally. The strategy i always give my athletes:
1. Break the race into smaller parts
Don’t run to the finish, run from moment to moment. This is how you stay in control when the race starts asking questions. Use mental checkpoints:
KM 21 → Stay relaxed, second half starts now.
KM 26 → Trust the work. Adjust to the course and race(weather) conditions, don’t fight it.
KM 30 → This is where the race begins. Stay composed.
KM 33 → Control your mind, not the pain.
KM 36 → Legs are tired, mind stays strong.
KM 39 → The tank is empty, but no limits now.
KM 40 → Break it down. Just this moment.
KM 41 → One more push and finish what you started.
And then…… the finish.
Last 1200m, this is where everything comes together. Fatigue, emotion and focus.
Create your mantra
Because in those final meters that’s what carries you.
2. Expect the difficult moment
When it comes, remember it’s part of the race. Accept it and stay in the race.
3. Stay in rhythm
Focus on breathing and cadence.
4. Trust your preparation
This is exactly what you trained for.
The Rotterdam Mindset
The Rotterdam Marathon is a special race.
The energy of the city.
The bridges.
The crowds along the course.
The final kilometers toward the Coolsingel.
But the strongest marathons are run by athletes who stay calm.
Don’t start too fast.
Don’t react to others.
Follow your own plan.
Coach’s Note
After years of coaching, i see the same pattern again and again. The athletes who doubt themselves before the start are often the ones who have invested the most.
Because they care about the result.
Because they take it seriously.
Doubt doesn’t mean you’re not ready.
It means it matters to you.
And usually, once the starting gun fires…..the doubt disappears and all that remains is the rhythm of your steps.
Final Thoughts
Your preparation doesn’t have to be perfect to be strong.
What matters is:
- The months of work
- The consistency
- The adjustments you made
- The confidence you built
Stand on the start line of the Rotterdam Marathon with calm in your mind. You’ve done the work and now it’s time to run.
Strong legs, calm mind.
Trust the process.
Now go finish what you started!