"London Marathon 2025: Getting in Shape Again for the Ultimate Running Challenge!"

Today shall henceforth be referred to as Pasta Bake Day . Not merely a nod to a comforting dinner staple, but a full-blown carbohydrate crusade in the name of glycogen. I have consumed what can conservatively be estimated as three enormous bowls of pasta bake—enough to comfortably feed six normal human beings or one slightly obsessive marathon runner on the edge of taper-induced madness. A Culinary Marathon Begins The day started innocently enough. Two toasted bagels and a strong coffee to open proceedings—because while pasta is king this close to race day, one must not disrespect the ancient breakfast rites. By 11am, the call came: the first bowl of pasta bake. Steaming, cheesy, laced with sausage and layered like an edible safety blanket, it was absolutely divine. The kind of meal that makes you momentarily forget the existential weight of Sunday’s upcoming 26.2 miles. But like all good things, the second bowl—consumed two hours later—was not greeted with the same enthusiasm. Some...

 Another day, another bagel. As tapering continues, today was all about taking things slow — and, crucially, horizontal when possible. I even managed what I’d call a "decent night’s sleep," which in tapering terms is the gold standard just below "slept like a teenager during half term." The day began with a pilgrimage to Asda before work. The mission: acquire bagels. The outcome: success. The carb-rich spoils now await their glorious role in fuelling the engine over the coming days. A Standing Teacher Takes a Seat Most of my professional life involves standing — whether it’s in front of a whiteboard, beside a student’s desk, or pacing with a purpose that says, "Yes, I’m absolutely headed somewhere specific, not just stretching my legs." But today, I consciously chose to sit down whenever I could. My long-term back and shoulder issues have made a standing desk a necessity over the years, but today the goal was simple: preserve the legs. My students — wo...