Today’s training session is ‘Easy 25 minute relaxed run’… Keep the pace really relaxed, try and think about breathing consistently throughout. Enjoy it! During this session I have to run at a 12.57 min/mile pace which is 4.6mph. Although this pace is supposed to be easy… I somewhat struggle or at least I think I do but the more I run… the easier it is becoming.

At the moment, training is going well but I am not sure how I am going to cope when it starts to get dark towards the winter (Shift Worker). Today, I was on the early shift (6am start which means getting up about 4am/4.20am) and when I finished work the weather was amazing… really hot and sunny. I spend my working day in a basement without any natural daylight so as soon as I am out of work, I want to make the most of being outdoors.

It was so tempting not to go for my run today. The thoughts going through my head were… It is only one run. It’s not a big deal. It’s 9 months away…. actually it is less now… it is 8 months, 3 weeks and 6 days!! I reminded myself that I had already reset the current training programme once but that was acceptable as I didn’t realise my little road trip to Scotland was going to tire me out so much and I didn’t want to run being extremely tired and risk injury. I tell myself….. just do your run it is only 25 minutes and then you can reward yourself with an outdoor swim!

By the time, I got home, Jorge said… the weather is so great why don’t we go for a swim first and then go for a run… wow this wasn’t part of my plan… Am I really going to want to go for a run after messing around in the outdoor pool? Is the sun going to make me sleepy and then I will want to bin off the run? AARRRGGGHHH!!!! Just breathe Louise…. ‘OK, how about we swim, run, swim?’ I feel as though I deserve a relaxing swim after my run…. by the way, when I refer to a swim or swimming this doesn’t actually mean a swim swim… it is more of a ‘lets float’, or mess around with the pool noodles, pretend to be a crab (good excuse to annoy Jorge) and then I start dreaming about having cocktails at the poolside… Get a grip Gregory you are in training for a marathon! I still can’t believe I am actually training now… I had no intentions of training so early but I joined a couple of London Marathon groups on Facebook and lots of people are already running on a regular basis and that is for both seasonal runners and newbies.

Jorge agreed to the Swim/Run/Swim approach. We head out the door and enjoy our relaxation time in the pool. The time comes where we need to head off to the gym for our run. You may have already guessed but only one of us heads to the gym and the other one stays to sunbathe! Thank goodness it is me that actually heads to the gym and not Jorge!

I don’t quite stick to the plan as I decide to increase the speed only by 0.1mph. The reason for this is quite silly now that I think of it.. which is that the treadmill has to reach the speed of 4.6mph and I am not sure how long it will take to reach that pace and I have to run for 25 minutes and the target is 1.9 miles… Why on earth did I think I would have to increase the speed just because I am on a treadmill, I have no idea. I mean seriously if I was running outdoors, I wouldn’t just start off at 4.6mph, I would have to gradually increase it. The bonus was I now know that I can manage running at 4.7mph for 25 minutes.

What an awesome feeling…. there I am running away and a Squash Team Mate comes and chats to me.. she is also training for a Marathon but she is doing Brighton. Hey Louise, how you doing? Not too bad so far (But I am only 15 minutes into my Easy Run!) You are looking really good and comfortable.

Well I wouldn’t say I felt comfortable as such… more like I am feeling good at being comfortable with the uncomfortable! Mind you after the initial part of the run where I think I sound like a steam train and my breathing goes really fast, I start to concentrate on my breathing and getting enough oxygen into my lungs. I quickly settle into my rhythm. I also remember advice that Penny from You Can Coaching gave me…. hips to the lips. Yes, yes, yes… I have this!