Dare I Say?

Eleven years ago I ran my first marathon, a year and a half after taking up running. I got this book out of the library (pre Google days!)

after reading it I entered London, then it was FLM. I failed to get a place through the ballot, instead got a Golden bond place from Cancer Research. This book made me believe it was possible to complete 26.2 miles, without it I doubt I would have ever entered, but enter it I did and completed also, not bad for a non-runner.

Fast forward 11 years and I am training again and about to read the book weekly for the sixth time. The training plan itself is just one to get you round, it contains no speedwork, no hill work, just four runs a week. But it works. Anything that could turn this non-runner in to a marathoner in 16 weeks is believe me nothing short of a miracle worker. Even though I am not following the plan, this time, which is a shame as this week it calls for this

• 3 miles
• 5 miles
• 3 miles
• 8 miles

instead I am doing this

• 4 miles
• 7 miles including 12 x 30 secs repeats up hill
• 6 mile steady
• 8 miles with 100/200m fartlek
• 14 miles off road

(Off to work out, why I’m not following the book plan!)

I read a chapter every week, the tips, mind exercises, and general advice are fantastic and for me invaluable. After all this running lark is 50 % legs 50 % mind.

Week Four chapter tells me I am 25% there! Yay! It goes on to talk about confidence. They say if you act confident and optimistic then you will begin to feel confident and optimistic. Makes sense, right? So working on this theory I will say…………………….

that training is going really well, I am enjoying it, the hills are getting easier, the body recovering well, I am running strong.

(now I just need to uncross my fingers!)