I have been thinking a lot this week about when I first started running marathons, and why I did. 

London 2013 was my first shortly followed 5 weeks later by Edinburgh. 

The training was hard. Much harder than I am finding it this year. Don’t get me wrong running the miles is still a challenge but the recovery now is much quicker as my body has learnt to adapt quicker. I was speaking to a colleague this week at work, her friend is running her first marathon at London this year. She mentioned how hard she was finding the training. How sore she was feeling, how she was struggling to walk when she saw her. This is exactly how I was in my first year. 

I remember having sore legs every day. I would wake in the morning and before I had even stood up I could feel my legs hurting. Walking down the stairs was a challenge after long runs and I felt very tired all the time. 

 I stuck to a schedule I pulled out of a magazine as I didn’t really have any idea of what was needed. I had it stuck on the fridge and used to tick off every run completed. It was a venture into the unknown but I knew if I did the leg work then I would be able to complete the task, and I did.  😊 3.36.29 was the time and I was very happy with it.  From that moment on I was addicted to marathon. 



When London was over I soon felt very lost without a strong fitness focus in my life. I’d even go to say I had post marathon blues!!! So I got myself a charity spot in Edinburgh marathon which was 5 weeks away, did a few longish runs in between then went out hard for a better time at Edinburgh. Finished time was 3.30.12. It was tough but I was over the moon at my achievement. 



To this day that is still my PB. I haven’t managed to beat it. YET!!!!

So why do I love it? Most of my friends do not understand why I want to keep running these 26.2 mile races. Mainly I love the race. If so someone asked me why that is what I would say. And it is true, I really love the race. 

I also love the discipline of the training. There are no short cuts to marathon. You have to put in the work to get out the rewards. If you skip training then when you hit 18-20 miles you are going to know about it!!! 

I’m definitely not training shy. I make a plan at the beginning of the week and I stick to it. Unless there is a niggle and a bit if rest is needed there are no excuses.  So when I am standing at that start line I know I have done everything I can. 

So this year, my third marathon year, and heading into my fifth marathon, I am feeling a lot more confident with my training. I no longer need that schedule on the fridge. I write my own plan now. I know what I need to do and I am doing it.  As I said before recovery is quicker, which is a relief!! I feel I have made a huge investment in my mileage over the last three years and that is going to help me in Boston and London 6 days later 😊 All is going to plan so far and I have managed to stay injury free. 

But there is still a long way to go. 5 more weeks of hard traing, and some long runs in there too. Then the two week taper and I will be good to race 👍

And I can’t wait!!!!!