It's now been three weeks since my last post and it's safe to say those three weeks have been full of some major highs and some difficult lows.  Two weeks ago I managed my longest run to date - 15 miles in 2hrs 40 mins!  I was elated at having finished that distance - despite finding it very tough!  However, my ankle hurt before i started and unfortuantely it got worse and worse and by the end, the 15 miles had taken their toll and I was in major pain.  To add to it I had a particularly spectacular blood blister that though disgusting, did make me feel pretty hard core as I had felt it coming on about mile two and still managed the 13 that followed...  Hopefully the new trainers will be well and truly broken in after that!

Anyway, it turns out I had tendonitis which is why my ankle was hurting so much - so the last two weeks i haven't managed a SHRED of running which has made me feel almost totally detached from my marathon training which is making me feel quite anxious.  I had a ski holiday this last week (without being able to ski...) so was also eating and drinking horrendous amounts of wine/cheese etc so all in all I feel unfit, unhealthy & very frustrated!  I'm going to go back to see the physio to see if they think i can start running again - otherwise it will be a week of intense cross training.  I am DESPERATE to get back to running but fearful of starting again too soon and flaring up the tendons.  i'm wondering if a treadmill may be a good starting point as its softer?  Hoping my fitness won't have completely disappeared in the last 2 weeks.

However, having moaned on about my blisters/tendonitis/unhealthy diet, everything has been put hugely in perspective by the news that my training partner and truly wonderful friend has got cancer again.  After 4 years in the clear, at only 31, she has to have three tumors removed. Aside from everything else that is going on for her, she is bitterly disappointed not to be able to run in the Marathon which has been a life-long ambition for her as a very keen runner.  I am praying that she will recover quickly and be back to her bouncy, energetic & gorgeous self soon.  It has been a timely reminder to me that despite a gluttonous & lazy week, I am extremely privelidged to be healthy enough to run a marathon - something I will be sure to remember as I desperately try to cram in enough post-injury training in these final few weeks.