"London Marathon 2023: Getting in Shape Again for the Ultimate Running Challenge!"

  Today was the day - race day! The culmination of 16 weeks of training ended with the London Marathon today! It was an early start to get the train from Sittingbourne to Greenwich to reach the start line. The weather was particularly bad when I got there as it really started to rain quite heavily. But that didn't stop us getting to the start line and commencing the long 26.2 mile run to the finish. As I approached the starting line, my heart was racing with anticipation. The energy of the crowd was electric, and the sound of the starting gun was deafening. I started off at a steady pace, trying not to get caught up in the excitement of the moment. I knew that I had to pace myself if I wanted to finish strong. The first few miles went by quickly, and I was feeling good. My friend Paul Harris was standing in the middle of the road shouting my name at around mile 5, which was a great boost. The route then took me round the Cutty Sark, which had crowds that were around 10 deep in plac

This is it! One day to go until the big race day. Tomorrow morning I will be at the start line in Greenwich to kick off the 26.2 mile run. In fact, it is crazy to think that after these 16 weeks of training, this time tomorrow, I will have already crossed the finish line and be back home! It's been an incredible journey, and I can't believe it's almost over. As I sit here on the eve of the London Marathon 2023, I can't help but reflect on the past few months of training. It has been a tough journey with some ups and downs, but overall, I am extremely proud of myself for sticking with it. When I compare how I feel now with how I felt 4 years ago (when I last completed the London Marathon), my training this time has been so much better, and I have kept up with it too. I have learned so much about myself during this training period. I've learned that I am capable of pushing myself to new limits and that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to. I've also learned

  Happy birthday to me and welcome to day 110 of my London Marathon 2023 training blog! Today has been an incredible day filled with love, laughter, and of course, running. I started the day with a nice and easy 30 minute run to shake off the cobwebs from my now 37 year old body. It felt great to start the day with a little bit of exercise, and it really set the tone for the rest of the day. After my run, I headed off to work and powered through my day. I must admit that my mind was constantly drifting towards the upcoming marathon, but I managed to stay focused and productive. The excitement and anticipation of the race is definitely starting to build as the big day draws nearer. But, the real celebration began when I got home. Kelly and our three girls had planned a wonderful pizza party for me, complete with all of my favorite toppings. It was so nice to kick back and relax with my loved ones and enjoy some delicious food. And what's a birthday celebration without a little bit o

  Today was an exciting day as I went to collect my race number at the ExCel Centre. As Thursday was expected to be less busy, I decided to take myself up to the ExCel via the cable car from the O2 - and it was a great decision! When I arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it wasn't busy at all. I sailed through the collection process and soon had my race number in hand. The organisation was fantastic, and I navigated my way through the trade show with ease. As I walked around the trade show, I was amazed at the variety of products and services on offer. There were stands selling everything from high-tech running shoes to energy gels to recovery products. It was clear that the running community is well-catered for, and I made a mental note to try out some of the products once the race was over. After finishing up at the ExCel, I headed back home via the cable car again. It was such a great experience that I couldn't resist taking it twice! The views from the cable ca

  Welcome back to my London Marathon 2023 training blog! Today is day 108 out of 112, which means that there are only four days left until the big day. It's hard to believe that the end of my training is almost here, but I am feeling confident and ready to take on the challenge. This morning, I went for a short intervals run in Rochester. The session consisted of 2 x 5 minute efforts in heart rate zone 4 with a 1 minute rest in between. Including the warm-up and cool-down, the entire run was under 30 minutes, which was perfect for a tapering session. It felt great to get out and stretch my legs, and the intervals helped me to maintain my speed and intensity. Overall, my training has gone to plan so far, and I am feeling good about my progress. However, I have been experiencing some difficulty with sleep lately. My Garmin watch has told me for three days in a row that my sleep quality has not been the best. While there doesn't seem to be a specific reason for this, I know that g

  Welcome back to day 107 of my London Marathon 2023 training blog! As you know, I am now in the final stages of my marathon preparation, and today was a training day with a difference. Instead of running, I opted for something completely different - walking! I was fortunate enough to be on a school trip to the Houses of Parliament today. This is something that I have been wanting to do for years, and when the opportunity arose, I jumped at the chance. As I live outside of London, travelling to the capital by train was necessary, which meant a significant amount of walking was involved. So instead of my usual run, I set myself a goal of achieving 17,000 steps throughout the day. The walk was a refreshing change from my regular running routine, and it allowed me to explore the city on foot, taking in all the sights and sounds of the bustling metropolis. As I strolled through the city, I was filled with excitement and anticipation for the big race day on Sunday. The realisation that the

Welcome back to day 106 of my London Marathon 2023 training blog! Today marked the beginning of the carb-loading process, but before we get into that, let's start with the fact that today was a rest day. After a long day back at work, I felt like I really needed the rest. I took this time to reflect on my training journey so far and reminded myself of how far I've come. With only 6 days left until the London Marathon, I'm excited and nervous at the same time. I'm ready to push my limits and accomplish my goal, but at the same time, I'm aware of the challenge that lies ahead. Today also marked the beginning of the carb-loading process. For those who aren't familiar with it, carb-loading involves increasing your carbohydrate intake a few days before a long endurance event like a marathon. The idea is to maximise your glycogen stores, which are the body's primary source of fuel during exercise. For dinner, I had an interesting combination of beef burgers and to

  Today was a significant day in my London Marathon 2023 training journey. It was the last run over an hour before the big race day next Sunday. I took Polly out again in her running buggy, and she lasted about 10 minutes before falling asleep this time! It's great to know that I can rely on this tactic to keep her calm and comfortable while I focus on my training. During the run, I spent 10 minutes in heart rate zone 2, 50 minutes in heart rate zone 3, and then a final 10 minutes in heart rate zone 2. It felt like a productive session, and I'm happy with my progress so far. With only one week left before the big race day, I'm feeling both excited and nervous. As well as marking the end of my last long run, today also signals a return to work after two weeks off with my family. I'm incredibly grateful for the time I had with them, and it was wonderful to have the opportunity to focus on my training while also spending quality time with my loved ones. I will definitely m

  Today was a nice and easy day in my London Marathon training schedule. I had a short 30-minute run planned, and I decided to take Polly along with me in the running buggy. Polly had a late night yesterday and was feeling a bit grotty today, so I thought some fresh air might do her some good. In fact she ended up asleep in the buggy for two hours! The run was uneventful, which is always a good thing when it comes to training. I didn't push myself too hard, and I made sure to stay within my target heart rate zone. I felt good and strong, but I wasn't feeling particularly hungry, which is unusual for me. I suspect my body is already thinking ahead to next week, and the sheer volume of pasta I'll be consuming in order to do some low-level carb loading before race day. Carb loading is a strategy used by many endurance athletes to increase the amount of glycogen stored in their muscles and liver. Glycogen is the primary fuel source for long-duration, high-intensity exercise lik

  Today, on day 103 out of 112, I completed a threshold run with the longest interval in heart rate zone 4 throughout my entire training programme. I started with 25 minutes in zone 2, followed by a full 25 minutes in zone 4, and finished with another 25 minutes in zone 2. During the zone 4 run, I found it challenging to keep my heart rate within the desired range. It required a great deal of mental fortitude to push through the discomfort and maintain my pace. However, I reminded myself of the importance of this type of training and the benefits it would bring to my overall fitness and performance. Threshold runs are a crucial component of any endurance training programme. They help to increase your lactate threshold, which is the point at which your muscles start to fatigue due to the build-up of lactic acid. By training at this intensity, you are teaching your body to tolerate and clear lactic acid more efficiently, allowing you to maintain a higher intensity for longer periods. Tra

  Welcome back to my London Marathon 2023 training blog! Today is day 102 out of 112, and unfortunately, life got in the way of my training. As much as we try to stick to a training plan, sometimes unexpected events can disrupt our routine, and that's okay. So, there was no run for me today, but I did manage to finish painting my latest Blood Bowl team. As a runner, I find it essential to have hobbies and other interests to keep me balanced and grounded. Painting miniatures is my go-to hobby, and it's a great way to unwind after a long day at work or a tough workout. Plus, it's always satisfying to see the finished product. While it's essential to prioritise our training, it's equally important to make time for the things that make us happy and help us relax. After all, training for a marathon is a long and challenging process, and we need to take care of our mental health as well as our physical health. Tomorrow is a new day, and I'll be back out on the streets

  It was another rest day in my London Marathon 2023 training plan, and I must say, it was a welcome break. As much as I love to run, it's nice to have a day off to spend some quality time with my family and recharge my batteries. I made the most of the extra time by catching up on some reading and watching a movie with my loved ones. But despite the day off, I did receive some news that got me thinking. I found out that I'll be starting the London Marathon in wave 7. For those who don't know, due to the sheer number of participants, runners have to be split up into separate waves, meaning that I'll likely not start until around 40-45 minutes after the official start time. This is okay - I mean, I'm not looking to run at the front of the race! Everyone is chip timed anyway, so your time does not officially start until you cross the start line. But it did get me thinking about the logistics of such a huge event. The London Marathon is one of the biggest races in the