The Face x On – 26.2 Miles.
Chapter 4: The wall.

The final stages of marathon preparation are when a runner needs to call on the mental and strength built during months of training. There’s a physical test too, of course, with long runs that can go beyond 20-miles (32 kilometers) and the heaviness of cumulative fatigue. But it’s the whispers about “hitting the wall” (running out of energy reserves during the run) that really make first-time marathoners apprehensive. 

In the penultimate chapter of our five-part video series 26.2 Miles: The Runners’ Story, the two remaining runners, Corbin Shaw and Hélène Selam Kleih, discuss this so-called “maranoia” with those who’ve already experienced crossing the finish line. 

Talking to fashion designer Charles Jeffrey, Corbin shares his hope that a focus on mindset throughout his training will help him embrace the marathon experience, even when things inevitably get tough. “Through this whole journey of training for a marathon, I’ve focused on myself mentally,” Corbin explains. “I want to succumb to the event and be completely immersed in it.” 

In her search to find the right headspace on race day, Hélene speaks with triathlete and running coach Olivia Ross-Hurst, who doesn’t sugarcoat the challenge ahead. “Expect the hard times – the marathon is a real journey,” is Olivia’s advice. “It’s a mental game, but the training is going to give you confidence, and that’s how we tap into mental strength.”

Find out how Corbin and Hélène’s preparations pay off on marathon day in the final episode of the series. Olivia sums it up well: “It’s going to be a rollercoaster.”