How Running Challenges Your Resolve: Andrew Marmion’s Path to Chicago
Health challenges can derail even the most dedicated athlete’s training plans. For Andrew Marmion, the past few months have been a test of patience and perseverance as he navigates multiple health issues while keeping his eye on the ultimate prize – the Chicago Marathon. Training and racing in endurance sports is a journey. Along the way we will be tested. When running challenges your resolve, how do you step up?
The Berlin Beginning
The story begins at the Berlin Marathon, where stomach issues disrupted what started as a promising race. “I was on time for halfway at 1:35, perfect for my sub-3:10 goal,” Marmion recalls. “But at mile 15, I threw up. Once that happens, you don’t really want to push yourself hard anymore.”
What followed Berlin was a series of health setbacks that would test any athlete’s resolve. A work trip to Atlanta led to a chest infection that lingered through October and November. Then came the abdominal pain, which doctors eventually identified as a kidney stone – but not just any kidney stone.
“Lucky me, I got to go one bigger than everyone else,” Marmion says with a hint of humor in his voice. “It’s so big I physically cannot pass it.” The stone’s size has led to ongoing pain and complications, requiring specialized surgery that’s still pending.
The Mental Game
For runners, being sidelined from training can be as challenging mentally as it is physically. Marmion has had to completely adjust his approach to movement. “I don’t want to run far away from my home because I’m worried that something may happen,” he explains. “Even the treadmill I bought sits mostly unused because it’s demoralizing seeing your heart rate 40 beats higher than it should be.”
The setbacks have forced Marmion to reassess his racing calendar and goals. With the Edinburgh Marathon in May and another marathon in June, he’s keeping his options open. “My plan had been to go for sub-3:10 at Edinburgh to qualify for Boston 2026,” he shares. “But I don’t know if that’s going to be possible now.”
Despite these challenges, Marmion is taking a measured approach to his eventual return to running. “This is a forced rest, but it’s still a stressful rest,” he reflects. “Part of me sees it as a good thing, forcing me to step back and not worry about running. But in the back of my head, I know this impacts the plans I wanted to execute.”
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Looking Ahead to Chicago
The Chicago Marathon remains a beacon on the horizon. Originally, Marmion’s plan was to use this year for base building – lots of easy running and hill work to prepare for Chicago’s flat, fast course. While the timeline has shifted, the goal remains.
“Maybe I run Edinburgh and just practice rather than racing, knowing I can bail at any point,” he considers. “The way I see it, there are a couple of paths forward. Either I’m running by Valentine’s Day after surgery, or we adjust and focus on the bigger picture.”
The Human Side of Training
Through all of this, Marmion’s story reminds us that behind every training log and race result lies a human story of challenges, adaptations, and persistence. “There’s a diagnosis, there’s a prognosis, there’s a solution,” he says. “We just don’t know when that tunnel ends.”
For now, Marmion continues to focus on what he can control – maintaining perspective, staying patient with the recovery process, and keeping his long-term goals in sight. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most important training happens when we’re forced to step back from training itself.
The road to Chicago may have taken an unexpected turn, but Marmion’s journey continues – one day, one challenge, and one small victory at a time. Are you like Andrew and when running challenges your resolve, how do you keep moving forward?
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