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

A Rest Day, Blessed Be After a week spent tentatively reintroducing myself to the concept of running (my legs were not particularly pleased to see me), and yesterday’s threshold run which could generously be described as “ambitious” and less generously as “utterly daft,” I was more than ready for a break. So when I woke this morning and saw my Garmin suggesting a rest day, it felt like the universe – or at least a very smug wrist-based algorithm – was offering me a reprieve. To be honest, I needed it. My sleep has been patchy all week, the kind of nights where you wake at 3 a.m. for no reason except to stare at the ceiling and overthink decisions you made in 2001. That kind of tired worms its way deep into the bones and no amount of coffee or protein powder can magic it away. Breakfast: A Civilised Affair There’s a quiet joy in Friday rest days. They bring with them a change of pace – and, more importantly, a change of breakfast. When you’re not trying to line your stomach before a...

C old Reality If yesterday was a write-off thanks to an unwelcome cold, then today wasn’t exactly breaking out the celebratory bunting either. As I turned in last night, my body was already holding a quiet but determined protest, waving placards that read “No Running Tomorrow” and “Let Us Sleep In Peace.” I did the sensible thing – an unusual occurrence, I’ll admit – and set my alarm a good 45 minutes later than usual, fully aware that even this generous gesture would be met with the same enthusiasm one reserves for a Monday morning tax audit. Sure enough, dragging myself out of bed this morning felt like emerging from a swamp of treacle, only with less glamour and more sniffles. Not one to wallow – for long – I decided to inject a touch of positivity into proceedings. On the way to work, I swung by the shop to restock with something more exciting than the usual breakfast fare. Fruit and lemon pancakes made a strong case for morale boosting and bagels at lunchtime promised a kind o...

As I suspected yesterday, the vague tickle in my throat and the slight fog in my head have not graciously departed. No, they’ve unpacked their bags, settled in and brought friends. The cold has officially arrived and my head currently feels like it's filled with wet cement, while my throat seems to have been sandpapered by an enthusiastic DIYer. So, I am on full rest—well, as full as possible when you spend your day teaching teenagers who emit both energy and chaos in equal measure. That said, this is hardly catastrophic. With five and a half weeks to go until the London Marathon, I’m grateful that this bug has chosen now to make its grand entrance rather than waiting for marathon week. In the grand scheme of 16 weeks of training, a cold was always a likely visitor. Like an unexpected relative at Christmas, it’s not if they turn up, but when . Rest: Doing Nothing Properly I’ll be taking the tried-and-tested approach of plenty of fluids, multivitamins, and Lemsip (the triad of m...

Today marks Day 45 of my London Marathon 2025 training plan—a day dedicated not to clocking miles, but to embracing the art of pause. After yesterday’s long run, an evening that whisked me from a round of bingo to the excitement of the Super Bowl, it was clear that my body was calling for a break. Rest days, as it turns out, are less about lounging aimlessly and more about the delicate act of keeping on, all while dodging the occasional stumble. The Aftermath of a Late Night Last night, despite managing a respectable couple of hours of sleep around 8 pm in anticipation of the big game, the reality of a late NFL night quickly set in. My body, it seems, has an uncanny way of keeping score—a ledger of sleep debt that demands immediate repayment. The thrill of football was undeniable, yet the resulting disruption in my sleep pattern left a noticeable mark on my mood and energy. It’s as if my internal clock decided that even the most riveting game couldn’t outshine the necessity for proper ...

Well, here we are at Day 41 of the London Marathon 2025 training plan. Today was supposed to be a recovery run—just a gentle 30-minute outing to stretch the legs after a few days of higher mileage. My alarm was even set a little later than usual, a small luxury in a training schedule that often seems to be designed by someone with a deep-rooted suspicion of sleep. But the universe, or at least my own limbs, had other ideas. Listening to the Body (For Once) I still woke up early—just not quite as early as usual. And instead of immediately leaping out of bed with the enthusiasm of someone who has mistaken marathon training for a sensible pastime, I found myself contemplating something radical: skipping the run altogether. There was a brief internal debate (which I lost) and the decision was made. A proper rest day was in order. Marathon training isn't just about the miles you cover, it's about knowing when to pause. My schedule for the rest of the week looks demanding, and my bod...

A Fine Line Between Pushing and Listening Day 34 of London Marathon 2025 training, and after yesterday’s tough session, today’s run always had the potential to be more of a battle than a breeze. I set out once again from The Math School, this time crossing the M2 Medway Bridge and venturing into Strood. On paper, it was meant to be a base run—steady, controlled, nothing too strenuous. In reality, my legs were voicing a rather strong opinion about the previous day’s exertions. The trouble with training is that improvement often masquerades as exhaustion, and knowing whether to push on or ease up requires the wisdom of a seasoned athlete or at least the common sense not to ignore your own knees when they start issuing threats. Twenty minutes in, I was already feeling the strain, making today’s run less about speed and more about persistence. No Turning Back Now Thankfully, my route choice was inspired—or at least, effectively limiting. Once I’d started, there was no real option but to co...

Starting the Year with Determination Happy New Year everyone! Day 5 of my London Marathon 2025 training, and I kicked off the year with the New Year's Day Sittingbourne Parkrun. Despite a late night celebrating New Year's Eve, I managed to drag myself out of bed, even convincing Emilia to join me. She wasn’t overly enthusiastic about leaving the warmth of her blanket cocoon, but she rallied and came along. Battling the Elements The weather wasn’t exactly ideal—wet and windy—but we braved the elements and completed the 5k. There was a particularly challenging section where we had to run directly into the wind. It felt less like running and more like negotiating terms with a particularly stubborn donkey: exhausting and occasionally futile. Combined with my post New Year's Eve celebration fatigue, it made for a tough run, but a good reminder that even short runs can challenge you in unexpected ways. Consistency, as they say, is the key to unlocking progress… or at least the ke...