Day 39: The Longest Pre-Work Run Ever

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An Early Start

As I mentioned yesterday, my plan for this morning was to embark upon the longest pre-work run that I have ever done—whether in marathon training or otherwise. To make it work, I had to be at school by 5:45 am, giving myself enough time to get ready and have breakfast before the school day began. Arriving before even the site team was there felt strange. The school, usually bustling, was eerily quiet and locked up. Luckily, I only needed to park my car before setting off. There’s something slightly unsettling about arriving somewhere before the people who are supposed to unlock the doors. It’s like arriving at a ghost town that hasn’t quite got the memo about being abandoned—quiet, unsettling and making you question your life choices.

Finding My Way

I started my run towards the M2 Medway Bridge footpath, crossing over into Strood. This is a route I’ve tackled a few times before, and I reached the familiarity of Rochester Bridge in good time. But then came the tricky part—figuring out how to stretch the run to 1 hour and 18 minutes, as I was on pace to finish in just over an hour.

Since I absolutely hate lapping (as I’ve previously mentioned in my training reflections), I opted to extend my route through Rochester High Street, winding my way up Delce Road and into St. Williams Way. This part of Rochester always confuses me—I know I need to turn right, but I’m never quite sure when. True to form, I took a wrong turn down a cul-de-sac before finally finding the correct route that led me back towards school. Some roads seem to exist purely to confuse, as if designed by a town planner who once lost a bet.

The Final Stretch

Even then, I still had five minutes left, so I had to run past the ‘finish line’ before finally completing the longest pre-work run I’ve ever done. Interestingly, I didn’t feel tired at all, but I was incredibly hungry. This is something I’ll need to factor into future morning runs—perhaps adjusting my pre-run nutrition or planning a more substantial recovery meal. The problem with early morning exercise is that it turns breakfast from a pleasant ritual into an urgent diplomatic negotiation with your stomach.

As my training continues to ramp up, these milestone runs remind me just how much progress I’ve made since I started. Today was a test of endurance, planning, and mental resilience, and I’m happy to say I passed. Now, onto the next challenge!

Location: Sittingbourne, UK

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