For weeks now, I’ve been clinging by my fingertips to the Dublin marathon fantasy, but I think I’ve finally faced up to the reality of the situation. I could enter, and I could jog half of it and hobble the rest. But I don’t want to do that. Even if the recent good progress is sustained, I’m just not going to get through anything like enough long runs before mid-October. Too bad, but well, there’s always next year.
I’m still hopeful about the Great North Run on September 21st. I received a large envelope from them a week or two back, and I finally opened it this evening to find a magazine and my number (44647). Mmmmm, race numbers. They are like banknotes. So much more than just pieces of paper. They have a particular texture, and of course the number itself bestows a uniqueness that sends a thrill through you. When the number fell out of the envelope onto my desk, I felt a tightening in my stomach, and knew then that, barring disaster, I’d be at the race.
For the first time in months I overslept this morning, and missed my early run, but got out this evening instead for 3.5 twilight miles. Nothing happened. Nothing whatsoever to report. I ran round the block, through the local estate and the deer park, and arrived back home again. That was it. It wasn’t very fast but it was another step on the road back to fitness. I’m still not running quickly, but at least I’m back to being able comfortably to run for 40, 50, 60 minutes without having to stop.
Booked my flight to Israel today. I always said I’d never fly El Al, but they’re incredibly cheap. £158 +tax for a return to Heathrow.
I posted a message recently on Hal Higdon’s running forum asking for advice about running in Tel Aviv, and had several helpful responses. It’s very hot out there at the moment: between 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The advice is to run early and to run along the Boardwalk, which follows the beach for about 4 miles. Sounds quite pleasant.
No doubt you’ll get to hear about it eventually.
