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

Saturday arrived, and with it, the glorious sensation of a morning that didn’t require a pre-dawn alarm call. The world, it seemed, was not in such a desperate hurry today, which was a pleasant change. The usual Saturday duties took precedence first—Daisy to swimming, then onwards to musical theatre—before a brief return home for a well-earned breather. Sprinting into the Afternoon Looking back over the week, it was clear that the higher-intensity work had been lounging about, rather like a cat that had found a particularly sunny windowsill. That wouldn’t do. Today’s run was all about effort, and effort was exactly what was given. The session involved an anaerobic workout with seven repetitions of one-minute sprints, aiming for around a 4:15min/km pace. This was, naturally, both ambitious and painful. A few of these efforts even came with the delightful addition of an incline, as if gravity had suddenly decided to make things more interesting. Each intense burst was followed by a three...

Today marked the start of a well-earned nine-day break, and I made the most of the chance to enjoy a slightly longer lie-in before the day's events got underway. A morning without an alarm is one of life's simple pleasures—like finding an extra crisp at the bottom of the bag, but with fewer calories and more satisfaction. Family and Football The morning began with a trip to football, where Polly put in a great performance and was delighted to be named "Top Banana" for one of her matches. Her excitement was contagious, making the chilly morning on the sidelines well worth it. Adventure Golf in Margate After football, we headed to Margate for a round of indoor adventure golf with friends. The competitive spirit was high, and while my putting skills were questionable at best, the laughter and good company made up for any lost dignity. Scorekeeping may have been slightly optimistic in some cases, but no one was keeping too close an eye on the numbers. Sprint Session: Chas...

After a tough day yesterday, I was determined to make today count. By 5:30 am, I was up and out the door, laces double-knotted with the kind of determination usually reserved for people trying to get the last seat on a delayed train. My run started just after 6 am and, for a change, today’s session was all about speed. The Sprint Session The plan was simple but effective: 3 x 15-second sprints with a three-minute recovery in between. After that, a five-minute rest, and then repeating the cycle twice more, making a total of three rounds. Given that the roads around The Math School seem to be designed by someone who really enjoyed drawing rollercoasters, I planned my route carefully. I found the flattest stretch of road nearby, ensuring that I could get the best possible speed without having to fight gravity in both directions. It turned out to be a good session and I can already tell that this kind of training will be invaluable. Sprinting may not seem like the most obvious component of...