This evening’s run was one of the most important of the entire training programme. As far as the marathon preparations go, the last few days have not been good. The house move and the drudgery of a week of DIY have twisted my routine and my diet, and I’ve been feeling increasingly unprepared for the big day.
Today I felt fatigued and unmotivated. Wandering past Thornton’s in Reading, I had a sudden urge for one of their luxurious double ice creams, and within moments I had one of these offending articles in my hand. It was a magnificent treat: Strawberry Surprise and Toffee Crunch, full of fat and sugar and cream. One-nil to the Devil. Tried cheering myself up by buying 8 chairs from an antique pine shop but I still felt fat and bloated and wretched, and almost talked myself into not bothering with my final long weekend training run when we got home.
But I did it. Eventually I got into my running togs and pattered off towards the canal for my 8 miler. The sun was still out, and – running westwards – the strong glare from the water meant a four mile squint rather than a four mile sprint. It was another negative in a clumsy, lumbering start, but by the time I got to Aldermaston and started the return leg I was feeling much better. That awkward, bloated feeling had begun to drain away and a rhythm was developing.
It wasn’t my fastest 8 miler but it was one of the most significant. I’m more conscious than ever that this is now a ‘mind thing’. The past week has seen an uncomfortable dip in self-confidence, and without this run it might have developed into a disastrous obstacle. But it’s been dealt with. The run reminded me that despite the problems of the past week, the benefits of putting in the training over the last four months are still there. It was a wake-up call: my last chance to get this right. If I can get my diet back on track this week and get the rest I need, I will be OK.
