The 40 Feats for 40 years Blog of Paul Kruzycki by Paul_Kruzycki

It's at times like these that you wonder if running a marathon is such a good idea. Having been laid low with a fever / flu / sore throat bug that developed into a nasty antibiotic requiring throat ulcer infection and having missed a chunk of training I was feeling a bit down and about ready to utter the deadly Q word.

With fund raising not started there was little guilt to perk up my failing mind at the low point of the enforced break. Thank god for Eddie Izzard! The man is a god and if I'm ever lucky enough to meet him in the flesh I shall give him a big wet kiss.

Sitting on the sofa feeling sorry for myself I watched part 1 of his documentary about the mammoth marathon run he did. And by half way I was almost shouting at the screen that if this bloke can do what he did with 5 weeks running behind him there is no sodding way I'm not getting to that start line and finishing. Broken bloody glass would be crawled over before I didn't get off my arse and run.

So, come Sunday I was back out - in shorts for the first time this year and at the RSPB bird sanctuary in Purfleet. the schedule said 16 miles (the 5 hr schedule) but the body said "no". It dragged itself round a 5 mile loop with a nasty wind from the river, but it was 5 miles further than  the week before.

Tuesday was club night - and a nearly 5 mile run with club mate Lee who is running in a Mr Men suit on Marathon day. I pushed myself on this run - there was something to prove - and completed nearly 5 miles in 51 mins at between 10.10 and 10.45 pace. For me, this is fast. there isn't, I believe, enough time to get a 5hr pace from the training I have left, but there is enough time to get to my target and find some silly hats to wear.

The text for the fund-raising page is written and tomorrow we start promoting that.

Take care and happy running.