Day 65: The Road to Whitstable
A Sudden Change of Plan Long run day arrived, and with it, the scheduled three-hour test of endurance. Last night’s carb-loading pasta fest had been in preparation for a straightforward session, but then Kelly—who has a habit of making excellent suggestions—proposed a change. Rather than a generic loop, why not run from Sittingbourne to Whitstable? It was an idea that had served me well in both 2019 and 2023 training blocks, so it seemed sensible to repeat it. After all, tradition is just peer pressure from people of the past and I wasn’t about to argue with my past self. The Steady Plod Along the A2 I set off at 8:30 am, armed with my trusty Camelbak, energy gels and an emergency supply of anti-chafe balm—because the road to regret is paved with poor preparation. The familiar stretch along the A2 took me through Bapchild, Teynham and onwards toward Faversham. The gentle undulations of the route provided an opportunity to focus on steady pacing rather than unnecessary heroics. Reaching...