Challenges, Ambitions, and Inspiration
We spoke with Kevin Nicola, a passionate runner and personal trainer from Ossendrecht, who discovered his love for running during COVID. He is pursuing his ambition to complete the KPMG Lentemarathon in under 3 hours and 15 minutes.
Can you introduce yourself? And how did you get involved in the Lentemarathon?
I’m Kevin Nicola, 34 years old, residing in Ossendrecht. Engaged for half a year and a father to Jax, almost 2.5 years old. I work as a personal trainer in Hoogerheide and am on a mission online to make running enjoyable and accessible. The KPMG Lentemarathon is new to me; I was looking for an early event to prepare for multiple marathons in the summer, and this one fit perfectly into my schedule.
Do you have any experience with marathons, and if so, could you tell us about it?
Yes, I’ve ran two marathons. My first marathon went surprisingly well. I had no expectations and mainly hoped to finish it. In October, I did my second marathon, which was much tougher. I had trained less and experienced cramps for the entire last 17km. I knew it could happen, but it was a less-than-enjoyable experience. It was a significant mental victory because I did finish it.
How are you currently preparing for the Lentemarathon?
Currently, I run 4 to 5 times a week, with 80% of my runs at an easy pace, in zone 2, to improve my endurance. In between, I try to do both interval training and progressive runs to train in other zones and work on speed.
Are those training sessions going as planned for you at the moment?
It’s going quite well, also because I believe not 100% of your training sessions can go perfectly. I always keep in mind that one-third of your workouts go according to plan, one-third are a bit challenging, and one-third go very poorly or don’t work at all. But for now, I’m satisfied with how it’s going.
Do you have specific challenges for the Lentemarathon, and what strategies do you plan to use?
My ambitious goal is to complete the marathon in less than 3 hours and 15 minutes, half an hour faster than my best time ever. The biggest challenge is maintaining that pace. I want to run a negative split, where my second half is faster than the first, so I have to be careful not to push myself too hard because the pace might be too high. But I believe that if you really want something, you can achieve it.
What are your future plans in running after the Lentemarathon?
My first marathon was about challenging myself, crossing a mental threshold to do something I never expected I would do. By the end of next year, I’m considering running from my hometown Ossendrecht to my friend’s place in Groningen, who lives about 300km away. We want to do it in a week, almost running 7 marathons in 7 days, pushing another boundary.
Are there specific athletes who inspire you?
Absolutely! American athletes like Nick Bare, Matt Choi, and Jeremy Miller inspire me. They are runners who started running as a personal challenge and are now trying to spread the running virus through social media. That’s what I’m trying to do in the Netherlands now.
How do you share your passion for running on social media?
I want to make running fun and accessible for everyone. On my social media, @coachkevinnicola, I share videos for beginners who want to train for their own ‘couch to 5k’. Additionally, I provide insights into my own journey to various events and share general tips for both speed and endurance.
How do you combine your passion for running with your work as a personal trainer?
Planning is essential. I often work at the gym in the mornings and evenings, so I have time during the day to train. I try to pre-record videos for my social media, and I also engage in online coaching. It’s part of my job.
What would you like to share with other runners?
Listen to your body, trust the process, and have patience. I think running is not something that happens quickly; it’s a process over the years. It’s a bit of discipline and consistency, so just keep going!
