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

 Another rest day has arrived, and it feels well-earned. It's a good time to look back at this week's training and see what progress has been made. It’s also an opportunity to appreciate the importance of rest, especially when a big weekend is on the horizon. I started my rest day with a delicious stack of pancakes this morning—the perfect way to kick off a day of recovery. Day 24: Recovery Run and Reflection Monday involved a 30-minute recovery run after a lovely weekend. This day saw a return to work and the reality of balancing training and the demands of daily life. The route started downhill along Maidstone Road but included a gentle incline back up towards Borstal. It was a reminder of how time seems to disappear when you are trying to cram a lot into the day. Day 25: Tempo Run and the Art of Recovery Tuesday was all about the art of the tempo run, with four five-minute efforts aiming to keep my heart rate around 160 bpm. Between each effort, there was a two-minute recove...

A Back That Knows When to Rest Day 13 of my London Marathon 2025 training and as planned, it was a rest day. My back, which muttered darkly during Day 12's run, seems much happier after some time off. A reminder, if I needed one, that sometimes the best way to move forward is to pause. An Alarm Clock’s Betrayal The day didn’t begin quite as I intended. My alarm—ever the traitor—decided not to do its job. Thankfully, Kelly’s alarm, set a full 30 minutes after mine was supposed to go off, saved the day. Waking up late is an effective way to discover just how well your morning routine is drilled into your muscle memory. My bag was already packed, my Huel breakfast and lunch waiting patiently in the fridge and my teaching materials prepared the night before. All that was left was a frantic dash to get ready, leaving me pondering whether alarm clocks are secretly unionised against early starts. A Calmer Evening and a Ride with Polly The chaos of the morning gave way to a much calmer eve...

A Return to Basics Day 8 of my London Marathon 2025 training, and today was all about getting back to basics after the festive indulgences. On the agenda: a steady 30-minute run to ease back into the rhythm. Nothing fancy, no fireworks, just the kind of run that’s the training equivalent of a warm hug—comforting, reliable, and slightly sweaty. Prepping for Tomorrow’s Challenge This run served as a perfect prelude to tomorrow’s longer effort, which promises to be a bit more demanding. Why? Because tonight, I’ll be indulging in a different kind of performance—an evening at the Royal Opera House to see La Bohème. It’s my final celebratory hurrah of the Christmas holidays before returning to work, and let’s face it, running a marathon may be epic, but Puccini’s high notes can make even a sprint finish look like a casual jog. Flexibility in Training Plans Fitting tomorrow’s long run into the schedule might require some tactical maneuvering. After all, staying overnight in London doesn’t exa...