Reflections on the past few days....

I recovered from girl flu just in time to return to work for a couple of days of paper pushing and then three nights out on the trot. This is a far cry from my last marathon training wherein I abstained completely from alcohol and became somewhat of a social recluse. I was in the zone, I needed to wake up able to run. Perhaps I could say I was a little bit naive… Anyway, this time around, for Brighton, I have decided that giving up the alcohol couldn’t possibly have given me an edge for London as I finished in 5:51. So no, I won’t say no to that cheeky glass of wine on a Thursday, Friday or even a Saturday, but I ought to say no to the 4th, or even 5th.

Self control this week has gone out of the window a little bit. I could be a bit cheeky and say that I have been celebrating my new role (even though I haven’t yet started) but I think it’s more that I just like a drink and a catch up with friends. On Wednesday, I must have had about a bottle of wine over the entire night, on Thursday I had approximately 10 G&T’s and on Friday several glasses of wine and a couple of beers. This has all led to me staggering home, downing two pints of water and collapsing in my bed to get up again the next day and do it all over again.

Saturday dawned and I knew I had to cover 12 miles today. I’d also suggested to my boyfriend that we take part in a Parkrun. Thus, my alarm went off at 7am. I leapt out of bed and got ready to go….. Feeling somewhat jaded, I threw a cup of tea down my throat and then an effervescent vitamin drink (together with some porridge) before running to the station…. I then ran to the park that I was to meet the bf in and also run in. However, disaster struck as I realised that my Garmin’s battery had died. Nooooooooooooooooooooo!! Luckily I had paced out all my routes yesterday whilst at work (not a lot going on until I start my new job apparently) and knew I was capable of getting in 12 miles today… Sweet! We did Gunnersbury Park Run and I really enjoyed it – pretty flat, open and about 200 or so friendly runners. And me and him.

So, Parkrun done and we walked to the tube station. Sadly, I was a few minutes late for my next running engagement at Regents Park. So, I missed a lap of the park but this was ok as I knew I would catch up with my runs on an extra wiggle back to Waterloo. I ran with some of the group until I realised that currently 9 minute miles aren’t my think. This was quite a quick realisation I hasten to add. So, I was stuck in between groups. This was fine, as I was in a bit of grump with myself – mainly for getting smashed so much over the last few days and affecting my own performance. But hey, that was ok. I was running around Regents Park in a beautiful atmosphere. Sometimes I think to myself that I ought not stop and take photos, but I did. Of the mosque. I reflected on how busy that is on a Friday night as everyone goes to worship there. And how it was pretty busy now with young families travelling to the zoo or just for a day out in one of London’s Royal Parks.

Note to self – improve photography skills.

Anyway, I met up with the rest of the marathon training group eventually and then went for a tapas lunch and training session. More on that later..

Then, the training session was over and it was time for me to bid the runners goodbye as I dashed off to Waterloo – the long way round! I also stopped to buy a hat in Sweatshop as I was distinctly cold and had lost mine earlier in the week. Besides, you can never have too many hats. I’m a girl, it works.

So, I dashed between people wandering around London on their Saturday afternoon. Some were lunching, some were lurching to the pub, others off to the theatre, but mostly they were all in my way! Either that or I had become invisible in my bright pink hat and jacket? Anyway, I got to Waterloo and a long day and 12 miles later (!) I was at the station.

Tomorrow I will be running and logging my last Jantastic run – a brief 5 miler with hopefully a fully charged Garmin! Give me back my stats!!

This week’s lessons learned:

1. Drink in moderation

2. Ensure Garmin is charged

3. Continue to research routes in advance.

4. Probably get more sleep.

5. Enjoy it!!

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