This thought jumped into my mind this morning. I’d just dropped my son at school and headed out to a speed session on the track. I could have just gone back home and had a coffee. I was shattered and could definitely do with a sit.

With my 1.5mile warm up done, I started on my first 800m repeat. My mind ran through the checks … start time, target finish time, run tall, relax, shoulders down … On my recovery lap I sucked in the air and thought of nothing. Next repeat – same again. And again, and again until the track work was done. I did my last recovery lap, satisfied that I’d put in a good session, and looked forward to the steady warm down.

I started the 1.5m warm down and realised that I’d not thought about my doubt since the session started. My legs recovered quickly from the work and now seemed to swing effortlessly beneath me. I felt a million times better than I did when I started. For today, that is my answer. I know that it may be different tomorrow. In fact tomorrow I may struggle for a reason, but I will know that there is one and that will do for me.

I was up and out by 6.15am this morning. My legs felt loose and strong. It was only a 4 mile easy run, but I had put in 22 miles over the weekend (8 mile then a 14 mile) so keen (and concerned) to see how I had recovered in my day off yesterday.

Since starting this marathon training back in January, I have been amazed how comfortable it seems. It is all about running slowly. It seems backwards, but that appears to be the key to running quicker for longer. The slower pace keeps you heart rate lower, and allows your body to burn more fat as fuel, rather than carbohydrate. This means you can run for longer as fat stores last longer than your carbohydrate stores. As your body responds and becomes more efficient you gradually up the mileage and sharpen the pace whilst maintaining the lower heart rate and higher fat burn.

Its genius really. But as the training progresses towards the business end the speed and tempo runs kick in and really push you. I’m hitting my paces in these, and being strict on my easy days. And so far so good.

Finally I’m counting down to my debut marathon.

https://www.edinburghmarathon.com

Only 700 miles of training to fit in around work, family and life! Then there’s the 26.2miles to complete. My target? To finish it. Actually, to finish it and enjoy it. If I’m being honest, I’ve got a time in mind. If I finish it, enjoy it and beat my time, then I’ll look for the next one to enter.

So far it’s gone well. No injuries (kiss of death!?) and I’m really enjoying it. The challenge comes when juggling the kids activities – two weeks ago I found myself 10 miles into a 12 mile run in Leeds battling against gale force winds and horizontal hail, all against the clock so I return back to John Charles sports centre before the boys’ afternoon swim races started!

I don’t think I’d ever given up on the idea of running a marathon but my 40th birthday had come and gone and my last half marathon ended in the back of an ambulance just after the 12mile point and that scared me. In fact it really scared me. I felt totally out of control. I’d followed a training plan I’d read in Bart Yasso’s excellent book ‘A life on the Run’. I’d done everything right, but didn’t take on enough water. Everything went black. At Christmas just gone my wife bought me a copy of Runner’s World. There was a beginners marathon plan that lasted 18 weeks and maxed at 16 miles. The Hanson Method…https://hansons-running.com.

I could handle that.

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton