Author: MarathonMannUK

Today it felt like I was going to do the most important run I had ever done.  It wasn’t a parkrun or some epic unfeasibly long distance at breakneck speed, but a simple out-and-back steady 2 miles!  For, those who have been following my story will know, this was my first time out running for about three weeks of illness and misery.

Now that I have got that out of the way, I need to come to terms with the reality that my Marathon training is now going to be much more of a challenge than it was going to be.  It will be like an old Tom and jerry cartoon with a demon standing on one shoulder saying “come on, you need to run lots and lots to train for a marathon, the more miles the better – no pain no gain etc” and the angel on the other side saying “Listen to your phsyio, take it steady, plenty of rest days, don’t be stupid”.

I now have three goals for March and these are 1. Don’t get injured. 2. Run a total of 100 miles. 3. Get up to an 18 mile long run by the end of the month.  I have got to take things steady and one step at a time but I’ve still got to get in a fit state to run a marathon hence the two distance goals.  My two mile trial run went OK today and I proved that I could breathe and that my legs still work.

It’s great to be back!

If anyone has been wondering where I’ve been for the last few weeks, well it’s not been a pleasant time.  I had a nasty cold that developed into a chest infection which has meant that I have been thoroughly grounded!

If you read my last post you will see how hard I found running a few weeks ago which I now know was actually due to the fact I was unwell (and in hindsight, going out running was a really bad idea).

I know sitting the last few weeks out was the right thing to do, but it’s been really lonely and has seemed like forever.  I have been watching all the wonderful exploits of my running friends on social media over the last few weeks and it has been agonising not being part of it.   I am recovering fast though and should be out running again in days and I will obviously tell you all about it.

My London Marathon training programme has been knocked for six but I’m going to be really sensible with my training and I will reach the finish line.

Thanks for reading!

If anyone ever tells you that training for a marathon is easy: DON’T BELEIVE THEM because it isn’t!  After around two weeks of almost no running due to illness, I ventured out to do a “long run”.  Because I wasn’t really sure what I could (or could not) do, I chose a route where I could bail-out if things got too tough.   In the end I was pleased to achieve 13 miles, but given my marathon training programme has me down for 17 today, it goes to show what two weeks off can do to you.  And, it was SO HARD!  It demonstrated to me that when you reach a certain level, you get tricked into thinking that a 1/2 marathon distance is no big deal and then you find out it is!

Forget the time, running a Marathon is an awesome undertaking and today reminded me of the reason I first decided do try, which was to understand just what it takes!  That moment was just as I finished my first half marathon in Leeds (2008) when I thought “how is it possible for anyone to run a single extra step, let alone carry on and do it again?”.  When I finished doing 13 miles today I remembered that moment.

Right now, my goal for London is to get round and there is no shame in that.  My method is to keep my cool and do the training, take the advice of the physio (who I see again on Friday).  Remember, you can make plans but sometimes life throws the unexpected at you, when it does you can’t fight it but you can adapt and as for me, I’ll just get on with it.