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

Back on the Road After yesterday’s rest day, I was absolutely raring to go this morning! There are few things more satisfying than feeling properly recovered and ready to get back to training. I got up in good time, brewed a much-needed coffee and set off for The Math School with the kind of enthusiasm usually reserved for people discovering an extra biscuit in the tin. On arrival, I checked my watch and was pleased to see a 46-minute base run on the schedule. With the daylight already staking its claim over the morning—a welcome shift from those cold, dark starts—I decided to extend my run by another ten minutes. My route took me through Borstal, across the Medway Bridge and into Strood, a journey made all the more pleasant by the fact that, for once, my legs and lungs were in quiet agreement about the pace. Running with Purpose It was wonderful to enjoy a morning run where every step felt purposeful, rather than a grand negotiation between body and willpower. These steady runs are wh...

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 ...