My first marathon age 49 and 3/4 by Antone

The delivery man brought my new trainers to the door the other day. I was delighted with them and put them on immediately. Time was when I didn’t own a pair of trainers and felt that investment in sportswear was a shocking waste of a limited clothes budget. Friends have remarked that I am the only person they know who gives directions, not using pubs as landmarks, but shoe shops. How times have changed.

My filthy old Wave Tech looked unappealing in comparison, but I resisted the temptation to rush off and pound the lanes in the upgrades! The roads are still wet and mud spattered, with tractors leaving sticky and stony detritus in their wake.

I read that the perfect amount of wear to have on a pair of trainers before a marathon is 50 miles’ worth. I shared this fact with my husband who, I sensed, felt I was getting a bit too scientific about this marathon malarkey. Nevertheless, I am keeping a rough tally in my head just so I don’t over work my bouncy new trainers. (I was thinking of starting a spreadsheet to record the mileage and realised I was getting a bit sad. Although I could put a note on my Garmin uploads…)

I did a short run in the new shoes and a pair of compression socks yesterday. I felt good and had no aches or pains from Sunday’s ten mile race. It was bitterly cold and took three miles before my thumbs and toes defrosted. This week I need to either ramp up my distance or try to improve my speed. I think the weather will be the decider on that issue.