5 weeks to go...

I have spent most of this week convinced that I have already written this blog, apparently not... ah well, no time like the present, although by Sunday I'll be in a position to write '4 weeks to go' and Sunday is but a few days away, so I guess I am suddenly in a state of mostly Zen-like calm about the prospect of running the ACTUAL marathon, all 26.2 miles, in a few weeks time...

This week has been a good week, even though I've not really managed to hit every training target, it has gone well. The weather has been playing havoc with my training schedule. Nevermind the damage that it has done across the UK, oh no, dwell instead on the fact that wind and rain has prevented me from doing the distance I would have liked this week - that is the real news story here let me tell you!

Monday I was all geared up for a long plod home, gear at work, ready to go, but the wind and rain got worse, then it was slightly sunny, then it got worse, and even worse, so by the time I left work it was clear that there was nothing for it but to cut my run short. There's no point in being out in the awful weather, I could catch cold, it's wet, it's freezing, there are no upsides and that's before I've even started. For a moment though as I pushed open the door, switched on my iPod shuffle and crossed the road I was nostalgic for the running I have done in the past, soaked but warm, tired and beaten by the wind but glowing, and for a second I considered going the whole distance. For just a second though before a huge gust of wind came straight at me, rain poured directly in my face and I decided that I was much much better off with just the 6 miles home...

Wednesday I had Mil Fit penciled in. After a whole day being 'welcomed' at work with an induction I was beat. It was great fun but really I had spent the whole day in a darkened room looking at PowerPoint, so I was energised about my job, but also about to nod off due to the warm darkened room! However, just when I had decided I could go straight home, fate, or rather motivation stepped in in the form of a talk by a patient, our last session of the day. Hearing about what someone else went through, and then just 14 months later running the Londn Marathon made me realise that my fit and healthy self has no excuses, and so off to Mil Fit I went. Another great session, topped off by being interviewed at the end about why I do Mil Fit for a piece about alternatives to the gym, I wore my work hoodie with pride so I hope we get coverage!

And so to today... my rescheduled long run loomed large today. Still tired, but OK I decided to take the plunge. The weather was chilly but dry. Well, it was until about 4pm and then it all went very very wrong. Looking out the window I realised that I would have to consider cutting my run short again but thought I'd see how it went. I started off well and the first two laps of Regent's Park were comfy and a bit wet but mostly dry. As I started to turn and run towards the next stage though things took a turn for the worse. The rain came down harder and harder and I realised that three hours out, cold and wet, would do me no favours. So just the 12 miles tonight it seems, I am now home, warm in my PJs and fluffy Uggs about to have some dinner. I could have gone for longer, but really the chill was getting to me. As I nearer Vauxhall Bridge I took stock one last time, considering lengthening the run, when a bus went past me, through the biggest puddle I have seen in a long time and covered me from head to toe in dirty rain water down my left side and most of my right. Soggy, but laughing at the irony that the decision had finally been made for me I stuck to my straight home route and look forward to 20 miles on Monday.

Yes, you did read the right, I'm looking forward to 20 miles on Monday! Bring it on!