Now the other thing about Xmas which I enjoy every year, apart from elastic trousers, singing Santas, gingerbread and eggnog latte and Frosty Fondant Fancies, is seeing people start their marathon training in earnest. Alas I will not be one of them this year. I feel I have done my bit in that department. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed training for the marathon and the day itself was amazing. But at the tender age of 27, yes that’s right I did say 27, I feel it’s time to hang up the trusty running shoes and concentrate on things like spinning classes and zumba.

That’s not to say I haven’t been tempted. I was asked recently if I would like to run the Edinburgh Marathon next May. And insane as it may seem, I was briefly tempted..... well for approximately a minute and a half anyway. But I reluctantly declined for several reasons. First things first, I am not as young as I used to be..... my knees actually creak in the morning when I get out of bed. They really do. I have also started making a groaning sound when I stand up, especially after a prolonged time lying on the floor playing trains with my son. You know that sound that people make, a cross between satisfaction and relief that you have actually made it back up the perpendicular. And never mind the physical challenges I would face, I just don't think I could bear the mental humilation of having the Wombles pass me again at the 4-mile mark....

However the charity that asked me to do it, Help the Hospices, for whom I ran the London Marathon 4 years ago, have offered me another option. I have been invited to take part in a celebrity (I use that term loosely in relation to me of course) relay. So I would only have to run around 5 miles or so. And that does sound a lot more realistic – although I’m not doing it if Gordon Ramsay is involved. He’ll just shout at me, or even worse he’d be nice to me and I’d get a terrible crush.

Anyway back to the training and I did a gentle two and a half miles in the gym yesterday and I think I could manage to gallop (again I use that term loosely) that sort of distance again. So I shall be joining the throngs come Boxing Day, as they emerge blinking brightly into the sunlight. You know who you are. New lycra running gear. New running shoes. Slight paunch/pot belly after 15 mince pies and two bottles of Chardonnay too many on Christmas Day. All good intentions and joie de vivre, which will have evaporated in a puff of projectile vomit as you reach the half mile mark on your first training run. Ahh yes such happy memories. Still. I shall be out there with you my friends....just not for as long this time, especially if it’s really cold.... Oh and if you are really doing it this year, check out Footnote’s blog. This is a man who knows all about blisters and chaffed nipples.....

Tags: Edinburgh Marathon, Gordon Ramsay, Wombles, Help the Hospices

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