Day 31: Rest Day After Canterbury and the Aftermath of Chicken Wings

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After the triumphs and trials of yesterday's Canterbury 10-mile race, Day 31 of my London Marathon 2025 training plan was a much-needed rest day. Let me tell you, nothing quite underscores the importance of rest like the combination of a hill-filled race, an unholy alliance of chicken wings and crisps, and a late-night NFL playoff marathon.

Aches, Pains, and a Dash of Regret

Waking up today, my lower back and hamstrings felt like they'd been in an unsanctioned tug-of-war match. Oddly enough, my neck decided to get in on the action, gifting me a headache or two throughout the day. It’s funny how the body likes to communicate its displeasure after a race – sometimes with subtle whispers, and other times with the grace of a gong crash at 3 a.m. Perhaps my enthusiastic consumption of spicy chicken wings wasn’t the recovery food of champions, but if you are going to eat spicy wings, you have to be prepared to take the consequences.

Rest, Recovery, and Community Connections

Rest days like this serve as a vital reminder that training is as much about recovery as it is about effort. The body needs time to rebuild – though I suspect mine was also busy asking why I thought beer and wings were appropriate fuel for a marathoner.

On a brighter note, I was buoyed by the messages from fellow runners after yesterday's post. A special shout-out to Simon Jackson, who shared a photo of me charging (or trudging, depending on your perspective) up one of yesterday's infamous hills. It’s moments like this that remind me how invaluable the running community is – they’ll cheer you on, even when your face looks like you’re auditioning for a role in a tragic opera.

Planning for Tomorrow and Beyond

While today was about recovery, my mind has already shifted to the week ahead. The mileage is ramping up, which means it’s time to map out some longer routes and rethink my morning routine. If I’m to get to work on time and fit in my runs, I may need to summon organisational skills heretofore unseen. If there’s one thing I’ve learned so far in this process, it’s that marathon training is as much about logistics as it is about putting your shoes on.

The Bigger Picture

Marathon training is a balancing act, a fine line between pushing your limits and listening to your body’s protests. It’s not all glory and personal bests – some days are filled with aches, uncooperative neck muscles and a lingering sense of regret over snack-based decisions. But that’s what makes this journey so unique. It’s not just about building physical endurance; it’s about navigating life’s quirks with the kind of determination that keeps you moving forward, even when your hamstrings strongly disagree.

Tomorrow, it’s back to the grind. I’ve got new routes to explore, more miles to log, and plenty of lessons to carry with me – including one very important note about the limits of post-race indulgence.

Location: Sittingbourne, UK

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