One Marathon Task by cyberpixie

Friday I drove up to Buxton and back - about a 400 mile round trip. When I got home I got out and ran a 3 mile circuit to stretch my legs and get the miles in that I need to. My stomach hurt (goddam McDonalds at the service station...) but I succeeded and felt so much better for the fresh air and having got out there. As you can imagine, I slept very well that night. 

So today, I finally got myself a long run - 8 miles around Richmond Park (I had been avoiding it because of my foot, fyi - probably not a good thing but there you go). I will be doing few/couple of miles this evening to add to this before you start saying that my mileage should be waaaay up from that. You're right. It should. But I have been taking it very slowly in order to ensure my foot doesn't re-injure itself and as a very wise person told me - better to get to the start line slightly undertrained and uninjured than overtrained and hobbling. Or words to that effect (thanks Mike!)

Ok, so a good run - knackering though. The wind was in my face most of the way and the hills...oh god, the hills. I am extremely southern. I think Box Hill would give me altitude sickness. However, it worked my legs. I got a good steady pace all the way around. I took my time, frankly I think it's very important that I do so. The first half was hell (as usual). It got better apart from a point where my foot was complaining quite a bit and I had to stop to stretch it and roll it around. 

I keep being told that the mental battles about running a marathon are the worst ones. You have to get a mantra in your head that you can do it, you can do it, you can do it....I feel like that little train that could (currently starring as the Little Train who is trying so goddam hard...). 

I need to make it to that start line. I will put in as many miles as I possibly can before that day but I need to make it there because once there I know I can do it and I will be thinking positively because I will be surrounded by thousands of others who are in the same boat. 

So, I am just going to keep on going. I know I need to get more miles in, and I will. This is my first marathon, it's a real trial and error thing for me to learn what works and what doesn't. Next marathon I will be better - but this is where it all begins. 

This is also my marathon. I am trying incredibly hard not to get drawn into comparisons with other people's training. It's my training that is important and everyone is different. 

This is me trying to persuade myself on paper that I am going to be ok...I am raising money for people who suffer from a particularly agressive disease and I am complaining about that 26.2 miles that I have to get through on 17th April. Ah, perspective is a wonderful thing. 

I am grateful for all the responses and comments and PMs that my blog has so far produced - so please keep 'em coming. Your help is gratefully received from the bottom of my heart and the soles of my Asics. 

xxx