Highs and Lows of Marathon Training

Less than five weeks to go until the Big Day.

I’ve been training hard for the London Marathon for 11 weeks and it’s fair to say there have been some highs and some lows. Here are a few that have been rattling round:
HIGH

The moment I realised that I no longer checked the weather every five minutes in the four hours before running home from work. I am going to run home in rain, snow, sun or anything in between.

LOW
Realising that no matter how fast I get, I have still to overcome my weak mental state. It won’t just fall in line with my stronger physical state.

HIGH
Finishing 4th in the 20k Great Northern Run in Derby in 1.21.16. It was a rolling course in the countryside – everything I like – and I even led for a while in the third kilometre (although the winner eventually put more than four minutes on me)

LOW
Forgetting to rest after the 20k Great Northern Run and continuing training as if nothing had happened. 18 miles in the next two days and I was one broken Malc. Stoopid, stooped, stooped.

HIGH
Joining the track sessions at Oxford Tri and realising why people work so hard at training. Because when you’re with a group of people pushing you, and encouraging you, and helping you, it is damn near impossible not to get faster.

LOW
Realising that my life has limits. Before this I could tell myself that the only reason I never become a professional athlete is that I never had the chance. It is now painfully clear that I would never have had the ability

I’ve had to stop at three each because I can’t think of any more Lows – this has generally been an awesome experience and I wouldn’t change it. I reckon I could smash out about 20 more Highs.