Day 41: An Unexpected Rest Day and Fuelling Up for the Week Ahead

Well, here we are at Day 41 of the London Marathon 2025 training plan. Today was supposed to be a recovery run—just a gentle 30-minute outing to stretch the legs after a few days of higher mileage. My alarm was even set a little later than usual, a small luxury in a training schedule that often seems to be designed by someone with a deep-rooted suspicion of sleep. But the universe, or at least my own limbs, had other ideas.

Listening to the Body (For Once)

I still woke up early—just not quite as early as usual. And instead of immediately leaping out of bed with the enthusiasm of someone who has mistaken marathon training for a sensible pastime, I found myself contemplating something radical: skipping the run altogether. There was a brief internal debate (which I lost) and the decision was made. A proper rest day was in order.

Marathon training isn't just about the miles you cover, it's about knowing when to pause. My schedule for the rest of the week looks demanding, and my body, in its own quiet way, was suggesting that today was best spent recovering rather than pounding pavements. And if there's one thing running teaches you, it’s that sometimes, discretion really is the better part of valour.

Stocking Up for the Miles Ahead

With unexpected free time on my hands, I did what any sensible runner would do—I went to the supermarket. Increased mileage has led to increased appetite, which, as it turns out, is not a bad thing when managed properly. I stocked up on dried fruit, which makes for excellent snacking throughout the day. If I’m going to ask my legs to carry me ridiculous distances, the least I can do is provide them with something better than hastily grabbed biscuits and wishful thinking.

The Importance of Rest and Reset

The rest of the day, predictably, was hectic. Life doesn’t pause just because I’m training for a marathon, though it does occasionally glance at my schedule and chuckle. But this evening, I’m making time to decompress, unwind, and prepare for the days ahead. The road to the marathon isn’t just about endurance—it’s about patience, balance, and knowing when to stop as much as when to push forward.

Even the best-laid plans need a little flexibility, and today was a perfect example. Sometimes, training means running. Sometimes, it means eating dried apricots and pretending that counts as serious preparation. Either way, tomorrow’s another day—and the road is still waiting.