Part 2: The Recovery that Woke Me Up
- Ben Laskey
- Mar 13
- 4 min read
Part 2: The Recovery that Woke Me Up
After finishing my first marathon, I didn’t pull up well.
Wait, that’s an understatement.
By race-day evening, I was going downhill fast. I didn’t feel like eating. I didn’t feel like drinking. I definitely didn’t feel like moving.
We hobbled back to the hotel early. I had a shower and went straight to bed.
Except I couldn’t sleep.
The pain wasn’t just in my legs — it was everywhere. My back. My ribs. Even breathing felt uncomfortable. I couldn’t get settled in the bed, so I ended up lying on the hotel floor because it felt slightly firmer and somehow more manageable.
Around midnight, I still couldn’t move properly. Every small adjustment hurt. Nicole started getting concerned and suggested maybe we should head to the hospital.
My response?
“And tell them what? I did a running race?”
Eventually, I fell asleep — I think purely from exhaustion.
The next day was marginally better. Marginally.
But every step still felt like punishment. And Nicole, in what I’m sure she thought was a gentle recovery strategy, decided shopping would be a good idea.
Let’s just say Melbourne footpaths have never felt longer.
The Long Break
Looking back, that marathon was both the start — and the end — of my running career for a few years.
It took my body months to properly recover. I had no desire to put myself through that again. Not without knowing what I was doing.
Running went back to being background noise.
Something that supported footy. Something you tolerated. Not something you pursued.
And that’s where it sat.
2023 - The Question
Fast forward to the beginning of 2023.
I was deciding whether to keep playing footy. And if I didn’t — what then?
What was I going to do to stay active? To challenge myself? To replace that competitive outlet?
The marathon idea started creeping back in.
But this time, it wasn’t about proving someone wrong.
It was about curiosity.
What could I do if I actually prepared?
I realised something uncomfortable: my knowledge of running was still close to zero.
So I started learning.
Podcasts. Running websites. Training articles. Free marathon plans online.
Eventually, I downloaded a generic marathon program — nicely formatted, ready-to-print PDF. It looked professional enough. That was good enough for me.
I decided 2023 would be my final year of footy. So I was juggling work, running, football, and family life — but I entered the Melbourne Marathon again.
This time with the intention of being “prepared.”
At least what I thought prepared meant.
Six Months. Zero Clue.
I had just over six months to get ready.
I started with enthusiasm. Too much enthusiasm.
Month one: 260km.
No gradual build. No understanding of load management. Just motivation and mileage.
The following months looked like this:
60km
210km
100km
120km
30km in October before race day
There was no structure. No progression. No understanding of periodisation. Just “run more, get fitter.”
I did upgrade a few things, though.
I bought gels.
And I invested in a pair of Nike Alphafly 2.
At the time, I genuinely believed the shoes might carry me to a better result. As if technology was the missing piece.
Truthfully, I was still raw. Just slightly better equipped.
Race Day - Attempt Two
Race day arrived.
The nerves? Still there.
I spent the moments before the start throwing up in the gardens before lining up.
Some habits don’t change quickly.
The gun went off, and I did exactly what you’d expect.
Too fast.
First few kilometres: around 4:30/km.
Adrenaline again.
It didn’t last long.
Gradually, the pace drifted. 5:00/km. Then 5:15. Then the final kilometres closer to 5:30–6:00/km.
But this time, something was different.
I didn’t completely implode.
I survived.
I learned.
And I finished in 3:29:40.
Over 35 minutes faster.
Was it perfect? Not even close.
Was I still hanging on at the end? Absolutely.
But I had improved. And that mattered.
For the first time, I felt like I’d actually achieved something — not just survived something.
The Turning Point
Around this time, something shifted.
Instead of thinking, I never want to do that again, I started thinking:
How much better could I be if I actually understood this sport?
That’s when I found OVERLAP while searching for coaching options.
I recognised a few names and faces from social media. Initially, I didn’t even realise they were Tassie-based.
I sent an enquiry. And before long, I’d signed up with Zac for proper coaching, guidance, and accountability.
For the first time, I wasn’t guessing.
I was learning.
And that’s where things really began.
Stay tuned for Part 3 - the final piece…
Written by Ben Laskey, OVERLAP Athlete & Coach
Edited by Zac Harris, OVERLAP Founder & Head Coach
Inspired by Ben's journey? Join the OVERLAP family! Just email us at info@overlapcoaching.com or click the button below.
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