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

The Elusive Concept of a Lie-In With the pressure of last week’s early start behind me, today’s long run came with a rare and glorious luxury: a slightly more relaxed morning. Now, any parent knows that “waking naturally” is a mythical event, usually accompanied by small feet in the ribs or a panicked shout about missing socks. Nevertheless, I managed what passes for a gentle start, complete with a toasted bagel and a cup of coffee brewed with the reverence it deserves—i.e., strong enough to wake the dead or at least mildly prod them. Off into the Green The weather was kind, the sun giving everything that warm glow which makes you momentarily forget that your legs are about to spend over an hour questioning your life choices. Setting out through the gentle countryside around Sittingbourne, I felt immediately at ease—legs ticking over nicely, heart rate nestled contentedly in the right range, and pace hovering around what I imagine (or hope, perhaps delusionally) will be marathon da...

Day 16 of my London Marathon 2025 training, and Sunday brought the usual long run, with a slight increase in duration to 1 hour and 12 minutes. Given it was still extremely cold (-4 degrees), it felt even longer! However, the sun was shining in the sky and there was little wind, so it made for a pleasant run. Into the Countryside My route today took me out from home, on the outskirts of Sittingbourne, into the neighbouring countryside. I crossed some frozen paths, a reminder that winter running requires extra caution. These paths, with their subtle shimmer of ice, seemed to say, "Tread carefully, or you might end up testing the ground’s sense of humour." Still, the crisp air and the golden light of the morning made the journey worthwhile. Heading towards the village of Rodmersham, I encountered a series of gently sloping roads and frosty hedgerows. Sadly, it wasn’t time to stop at the pub (perhaps that's a future reward for post-run recovery), so I turned around and made ...