What's in your marathon mind?

19/07/16 - 7.96km (oooh so close to 5 miles)

Last year I read that a good base for a half marathon is short runs being 5 miles, so I’ve been aiming to build that up the last  few weeks, last night I ran for an hour and managed literally 4.94 miles!  I’m pleased with that but it still seems such a long way off.  On the other hand I’m starting to feel fitter, and the start of the run was much more pleasant (dare I say easier) than it normally is, the end was also pleasant, the middle bit was ugh.  I will press on, I’m making progress, I just need to stick with the plan.

One of the nice things I noticed last week, is that my mind is starting to relax a bit (which is a sign its getting easier) I’m not focused on every movement every minute, I’m looking up and around at the view and relaxing a little more, that’s when I start to enjoy what I’m doing, and that feeling is growing.  But of course as soon as I stop I love it and want more!

I read a good book on the weekend "Don't Stop  Me Now' by Vassos Alexander.  I highly recommend it, if you love running, or are thinking about doing a long distance run, I got runner's high just reading it. He sets the book out as each mile of a marathon, as he describes a marathon he ran, intersected with stories from his running history and pieces written by famous runners as to how they got into it and what they love about running.  

Its funny but I just can’t imagine what its like to run thirteen miles (or 26 for that matter) the book was helpful.  I remember feeling that way when I first started to think about the camino: what was it like to walk 30km a day? What goes through your head with each step?  That was when I decided to walk 26 miles across London one day to find out.  As I sat on Greenwich Hill looking out over London, absolutely wrecked, it did cross my mind I’d just walked a marathon.  Since then I’ve done 30km-40km  (walking) numerous times, and I love it, I hope I get to feel that way about running one day.