Day 52: A Half-Term Rest Day

Today marks Day 52 of my London Marathon 2025 training plan, and after yesterday's long run, it's a well-earned rest day. It also happens to be my first weekday off during the half-term holidays. As a teacher, that means finally tackling all those tasks that seem to gather in dark corners during term time, muttering ominously about deadlines.

Medical Errands and Unexpected Perforations

The morning began with a trip to the medical centre for routine blood tests, which, despite being perfectly planned, still involved the usual game of "Find a Vein That Works." The nurse, wielding a needle with the casual confidence of someone who could extract blood from a stone, managed it on the first attempt. Just as I was about to make my escape, I was unexpectedly ambushed by a flu jab. It turns out that medical centres operate on the same principle as certain types of salespeople—once they have you sitting down, they find something else to give you.

The Art of Doing Nothing (Properly)

With my minor medical adventures out of the way, I dedicated the rest of the day to something highly underrated: doing absolutely nothing. This is, of course, harder than it sounds. The modern world seems determined to ensure that any attempt at relaxation is interrupted by the nagging suspicion that you should be doing something productive.

But rest is a crucial part of marathon training. Muscles need time to repair, the mind needs a break, and, quite frankly, if I don't have at least one day to put my feet up, they might stage a protest mid-run and refuse to continue. So today was spent mastering the fine balance of active recovery: stretching, hydrating, and sitting very still while contemplating the likelihood of making it to race day with both knees intact.

Gearing Up for the Next Run

Tomorrow, the training resumes, and with it, the miles that will eventually add up to 26.2. For now, though, I'll take my rest day seriously, resisting the urge to fill it with tasks that could, quite frankly, wait. After all, even the best long-distance runners understand the importance of pacing—not just in races, but in life too.

Now, if you'll excuse me, there's a cup of coffee with my name on it, and I intend to drink it at the exact speed required to make the most of a day off.