I have started this blog to map my progress as I train for my first ever marathon. I've been running for a few years, I've done lots of half marathons and a 20 mile fell race but I've never done a full marathon. I've always said I don't want to do a marathon, mostly because I never believed that I was capable of it. Last year a lot of my friends ran marathons, these friends weren't elite athletes but just normal runners like me. My mindset then became "well they did it, there's no real reason why I shouldn't", I then discovered that the Greater Manchester Marathon 2013 is on my 38th birthday and somehow I signed up for it.
I'm not starting this venture from nothing, I usually run about 20 miles a week with my friends and clubmates from Long Eaton Running Club (LERC) so the foundations are there. I go to bootcamp at least twice a week to help with the strength and fitness work which in turn keeps me running.
I have bought a marathon training book which contains a variety of interchangeable 16 week plans, I'll be starting the official training on 7th January so this is my last week of just running as when I feel like it. I'll do a little run tomorrow and then on Sunday it's the Huncote Hash which is 6-8 miles of hills, mud and water.
I think my main concern about the marathon are exactly how the training is going to fit in with my already busy life. I work full-time and have a husband and an 8 year old son so spare time can be hard to find. The other minor issue is that I am currently undergoing a few tests to work out what (if anything) is wrong with me as my liver is not performing exactly as it should on some recent liver function tests. Other than that I think I'm ready to start. More importantly I have bought two beautiful new pairs of trainers (kayano 18s and 19s trainer geeks).
