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

  Today was day 74 of my London Marathon 2023 training, and unfortunately, it didn't go as planned. I had a bit of a setback in that my legs really haven't recovered, and I am starting to feel that it wasn't Sunday's run that caused it. This was quite concerning for me as I don't want anything to jeopardise my preparation for the marathon. I decided to take a step back and reflect on the last few days, trying to think about anything that I had changed. It wasn't until I realised that I had changed my work shoes this week, and then walked in them for nearly 2 hours on Tuesday! It seems that this may have caused some strain on my legs, which is why they haven't recovered properly. This morning, I made the tough decision not to go for my run, as I felt that it would not be a good idea to try and run through the pain. I know that it is more important that I am ready to run the London Marathon on 23rd April, rather than trying to push myself too hard. Running thr...

  Today marked day 73 of my London Marathon training, and it was back to interval running. I have to say, it was definitely a struggle today. My legs just didn't feel like they had fully recovered from the weekend, but I pushed through the 3 x 10 minute efforts in heart rate zone 4. One of the biggest challenges of today's run was tackling Maidstone Road in Rochester. If you're familiar with the area, you'll know that it's not an easy feat considering its continual rise. But I persevered and managed to conquer it! It's always a great feeling to push yourself beyond your limits and come out victorious on the other side. But let's not dwell on the tough bits - today wasn't all bad! In fact, I was lucky enough to sample the delights of the school dinner roast. It's always a treat to indulge in some good old-fashioned comfort food, especially when you've just completed a gruelling workout. Before I sign off, I just wanted to remind you all that you c...

  Day 72 of my London Marathon training programme involved taking a well-deserved break after the heavy half-marathon run on Sunday. As a result, I have enjoyed a rare two days off from running, and since I didn't have a car available, I walked to and from the train station for my daily commute. The extra physical activity meant that my step count remained high for the day, which was great. Tomorrow, I'm excited to get back to running with a tough intervals session. Interval training involves alternating between high-intensity exercise and recovery periods, making it an effective way to improve cardiovascular fitness and increase speed. While I have discussed interval training in previous blog posts, I believe it's worth mentioning again as it is a key part of my training routine. It helps me break up the monotony of long-distance runs and challenge my body in new ways. In summary, taking rest days is important for both physical and mental recovery during marathon training....

  Today marks Day 71 of my London Marathon training blog, and I have to say, it's a short one. Why, you ask? Because it's rest day, that's why! And let me tell you, I am relieved about that fact. You see, this morning was extremely windy. I mean, it was absolutely wild out there! I'm glad I didn't have to run in that. In fact, the wind was so strong that when I took my bowl of porridge outside from my classroom to the staff room, I lost half of the porridge oats to the turbulent tornado in the walkway between the buildings. It was a real mess! But that's not even the worst part. When I opened the door to the staff room, who did I see but the deputy head! And there I was, being showered in Quaker's Finest! Can you imagine the embarrassment? I couldn't believe my luck. Anyway, I'm glad I have today to recover and regroup. Tomorrow is a new day, and I'll be ready to tackle whatever challenges come my way. Until then, happy training, fellow runners!

  Today is day 70 of my London Marathon 2023 training, and after a day off from training yesterday due to life getting in the way, I was determined to get back on track. So, I set my alarm for 6:15am, had a small breakfast and a cup of coffee, and hit the road by 7am for my first long distance run at marathon race pace. I planned an out and back route, which took me along the A2 to Faversham. Surprisingly, I found it easy to settle into race pace whilst operating in heart rate zone 3. The run started off well, and I was feeling good. However, at the turning point, I quickly realised that I was feeling a little low on energy. I made a quick stop at the Co-Op to get a bottle of Lucozade. Note to self: in the training runs closer to the big day, I'll have a stash of energy gels about my person to counteract this problem. The rest of the run was fairly uneventful, and I completed the half-marathon distance with no issues. Well, except for the fact that I had miscalculated the distance ...

  Today was day 69 of my London Marathon training, and I have to admit, it didn't go quite as planned. Some days in a training programme, life gets in the way, and that's precisely what happened to me today. But that's okay because I always had tomorrow to fall back on. Unfortunately, it means that I'll have to get up early to fit in the half-marathon distance. The weekend is jam-packed, and I don't want to miss my scheduled run. Running a half marathon distance is no joke, and I need to be mentally and physically prepared for it. I've learned that the most challenging part of training is staying disciplined and focused. Life is unpredictable, and things don't always go as planned, but that's part of the journey. It's essential to be adaptable and not let setbacks discourage you from reaching your goals. I've been following my training plan religiously, and it's been paying off. My endurance and speed have improved, and I'm feeling more c...

Today, I went for a short 20-minute run to keep my legs loose and ready for the half marathon distance run tomorrow. It was a gentle run, and I took it easy to avoid any unnecessary strain on my body. As I ran through the streets of Rochester, I enjoyed the fresh air and the feeling of my muscles warming up. Tomorrow's run will be an extra challenge as I plan to take Polly in her running buggy with me. It will be the furthest we have ever gone together, and I am excited about the challenge. However, I also know that it will be important to pace myself and listen to my body to avoid any injuries. Now that the run is complete, I am taking the time to rest up and ensure that my body is well-prepared for tomorrow's half marathon. I have been hydrating throughout the day, and I plan to get an early night to ensure that I am well-rested and energized for tomorrow's run. Overall, today's short run was a great way to prepare for tomorrow's challenge. I am feeling optimistic...

  Today, I tackled a threshold run that really put my endurance and willpower to the test. The run consisted of a 10-minute warm-up, followed by a 10-minute hard effort in heart rate zone 4, and then a 10-minute cool down. While this may not seem like a long run, the intensity of the workout made it feel like an eternity. Maintaining the right zone for a full 10 minutes is no easy feat, and I found myself pushing my limits to stay within the required heart rate zone. As the minutes ticked by, I could feel my legs starting to turn to jelly, and my breathing became more laboured. However, I was determined to complete the run and managed to push through until the end. Despite the challenging nature of the run, I was pleased with the results. Completing the threshold run served as an excellent test of my endurance and gave me a boost of confidence as I prepare to run a full half-marathon at race pace on Saturday. With each passing day, I am feeling more and more prepared for the upcomi...

  Today was day 66 of my training, and it was an eventful one. Why, you ask? Because it snowed! Living in Sittingbourne, I was excited to see some snowfall. However, as I set out to drive to Rochester for my training session, I quickly realized that it was not going to be easy. The visibility was low, and the snow was making it difficult to drive. After a slow and cautious drive, I made it to Rochester, and it was time to get my running shoes on. But, as soon as I stepped out of the car, I realised that it was not going to be a regular run. The snow was deep, and I had to be extra careful not to slip and fall. I started my run down the hill, and within the first few steps, I had already saved myself from falling twice. It was clear that running outside was not going to be an option. I didn't want to risk getting injured, so I decided to head to the school gym instead. I must admit, it wasn't the most enthusiastic workout. Rowing in the gym was a far cry from my usual outdoor ru...

  It's Day 65 of my London Marathon training, and I'm excited to share my latest training session with you all. Today, I returned to a straightforward intervals session, which consisted of 5 x 3 minute efforts in heart rate zone 4 with a 90-second rest. While I've grown accustomed to this type of training, it still challenges my legs every time, especially when running in the ups and downs of the streets of Rochester. One thing I've learned during my training is that consistency is key. I try to stick to my training plan and give it my all during each session, whether it's an interval session, a tempo run or a long-distance run. It's not always easy, but it's essential to stay committed to achieving my goals. In addition to my training, I also had a trip to London today to take Emilia for a routine appointment at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital. Polly came along too, and we all enjoyed a pre-appointment lunch. Before I go, I'd like to remind you all t...

  Today was Day 64 of my London Marathon training and it was a rest day. After a very busy day at work, I knew it was important to take it easy and recharge for tomorrow's intervals session. As much as I wanted to go for a run, I listened to my body and took a much-needed break. Rest days are just as important as training days because they allow our muscles to recover and prevent injury. I spent the evening relaxing and getting some much-needed rest. Sleep is essential for recovery and performance, and it's important to prioritise it in our busy schedules. Training for a marathon is a challenging task, and it requires dedication, commitment and patience. It's important to remember that rest is an essential part of the process and not to push ourselves too hard. Tomorrow, I have an intervals session, which will be 5 x 3 minute efforts at my 10k pace. It's important to be well-rested and energized for this type of workout, so taking it easy today was crucial. Overall, Day...

  It's day 63 of my London Marathon 2023 training, and I'm pleased to report some exciting progress. Today was the day where I finally started to work in some extended running at my proposed marathon pace. The session began with an hour in heart rate zone 2 to get myself warm and well into the endurance running zone. I then progressed to half an hour in heart rate zone 3, which appeared to be a perfect level as I was able to comfortably run at around 5:45min/km. If I was able to keep that pace up for 26.2 miles, I would complete it in just over four hours! Now, let's be honest, there are far too many factors on marathon day that could prevent me from running at that level. So, my main goal is to beat my previous London Marathon time of 4 hours and 52 minutes, which I believe is possible after this training programme. But there are two things any runner will encounter on a long run - other runners and needing a wee. And today, both happened to me at the same time. I had anot...

  Day 62 of my London Marathon training is done and dusted, and it was a nice gentle 40-minute run today. The purpose of today's run was to prepare me for tomorrow's run that will start to introduce some extended running at my planned marathon pace. It's important to ease into longer runs at marathon pace, especially if you haven't done so before. I want to make sure I don't go out too fast and burn out too quickly. The key is to find a comfortable pace that I can maintain for a long period of time, so I can finish the marathon strong. I'm feeling pretty good so far, and I'm excited to start pushing myself a little harder tomorrow. I've been training for weeks now, and I can definitely feel myself getting stronger and more confident with each run. On a separate note, I want to take a moment to remind you all that you can donate to the Sittingbourne Carnival Court via my GoFundMe page. They had their first outing this evening, and it would be great to ra...

  It's Day 61 of my London Marathon 2023 training blog, and today was my planned rest day. After weeks of intense training, it's nice to take a break and let my body recover. But today was extra special because I also got to leave work early, and I decided to treat myself and my family to something sweet. I headed to Rochester High Street, which is just a stone's throw away from my workplace. There's a sweet shop that I run past most days, and I've always been curious about it. Today, I finally got the chance to check it out. And let me tell you, I went in with 'Sweet Expectations'!!! The shop was filled with all kinds of sweets you could imagine. From old-fashioned hard-boiled sweets to gummies, fudge, and chocolate, there was something for everyone. I was like a kid in a sweet shop (literally!), and I couldn't resist buying some treats for myself and my family. I managed to find Kelly and the girls to some of their favourites, but the best part was whe...

  Today was day 60 of my London Marathon 2023 training and it was a nice, gentle recovery run. The increase to 40 minutes was applied, keeping in line with the trend in duration for this week. However, it was incredibly cold outside and I found that it took some time to warm up, which is never easy. Nevertheless, I persevered and got through the run without any issues. After the run, I had an incredibly busy day at work. It can be challenging to balance work and training, but I know that staying committed to my training plan will pay off in the end. Now that I'm home, it's time to focus on rest and recuperation, which also extends to tomorrow's rest day. It's important to remember that rest days are just as crucial as training days. They give your body time to recover and help prevent injury. So, I'll be taking it easy tomorrow and allowing my body to fully recharge for the next round of training. With only 7 weeks left until the London Marathon, it's important ...