Day 5: A New Year's Day Parkrun

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Starting the Year with Determination

Happy New Year everyone! Day 5 of my London Marathon 2025 training, and I kicked off the year with the New Year's Day Sittingbourne Parkrun. Despite a late night celebrating New Year's Eve, I managed to drag myself out of bed, even convincing Emilia to join me. She wasn’t overly enthusiastic about leaving the warmth of her blanket cocoon, but she rallied and came along.

Battling the Elements

The weather wasn’t exactly ideal—wet and windy—but we braved the elements and completed the 5k. There was a particularly challenging section where we had to run directly into the wind. It felt less like running and more like negotiating terms with a particularly stubborn donkey: exhausting and occasionally futile. Combined with my post New Year's Eve celebration fatigue, it made for a tough run, but a good reminder that even short runs can challenge you in unexpected ways. Consistency, as they say, is the key to unlocking progress… or at least the key to getting to the end without collapsing.

Emilia’s Progress

Emilia found the run tough but managed to improve on her time from last Saturday. Watching her push through the challenges and finish strong was both inspiring and humbling. Her progress and dedication are wonderful to see, especially as she’s showing a real commitment to getting better.

The Importance of Rest

This afternoon, I succumbed to the inevitable post-lunch slump and ended up taking a power nap on the sofa. (A power nap, of course, being the grown-up equivalent of turning your brain off and on again.) Rest is just as crucial as the miles, especially when you’re pushing yourself.

Looking Ahead

Tomorrow will be a new day and another opportunity to get out there and train. Here’s to staying consistent and finding joy in the journey—even when the journey involves arguing with the wind and questioning life choices mid-run.

Location: Sittingbourne, UK

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