After Telford 10km I decide to have a week off. I am feeling abit jaded, mentally more than physically. The following week I get a cold, so 1 week becomes 2. Fine. I am quite happy to discover this is my first cold for almost 2 years, and that last time, I still ran a 100 mile week, just saying.
I enjoy doing non-running related things for a while. Interesting build project at work, installing Reinforced Steel Joists (RSJs). Out in the bitter winter air all day, but the exciting and engaging job helps the time pass quickly.
Attend my first Christmas play as a parent. Have to rush from a tough day at work, there are no more seats. I am not happy. Kids are terrible actors. They forget their lines, their outfits are not convincing, and I am unenthralled by the whole experience…
…Until Jim enters the stage. He single-handedly rescues the entire show. Yes he is a sheep, but he is the most charming sheep I have ever set eyes upon. OK, so he doesn’t have any lines, but he sings with gusto, and baaaas perfectly. I realise that I have turned into every other parent in the world.
On Christmas day I run 2 parkruns. Peckham Rye at 9am, and Dulwich at 10am. I am out of shape, and still feeling coldy, but manage to do just enough to win both, dressed as Santa’s little helper, and giving the kids high-5s along the way. Quite pleased with myself that I could pull that together.
The smile gets wiped off my face when we return to Wales. I am starting up the treadmill in the basement, having not touched it in a month. I plug in the numbers, 7min miling at 1% gradient. It feels like hell. I remember exactly a year ago, when I was recovering from knee injury, I couldn’t run 1 mile at this pace, and now, a year down the line, with 4 marathons and 4000 miles training under my belt, I am somehow back to square one. I am going to quit running forever. I turn myself inside out to finish the mile. Then lift my laptop away from the screen (I had intended to watch some American Football during ‘easy’ run), to reveal the incline was set to 10%, not 1%. I am so relieved I run another 9 miles at the lower setting just for kicks.
Overall it’s been a fantastic year. Pretty much injury and illness free all year, with just this cold and a slight hamstring pull back in Feb (I ran 80 miles that week, just saying).
Recovering from serious knee injury, I was in a race against time to get fit for London Marathon. I was not in sub 2.20 shape, but the hottest race on record made it a moot point. The build up to Berlin went fantastic, I was very disappointed with myself for failing to deliver there.
I assumed I would need a break after that. But my mind refused to let my body rest. I was angry, and needed to prove something to myself. There was a fire in my belly that I couldn’t quench. I raced and raced, until I found my peace with victory at Snowdonia Marathon.
This year my major goal was not to wind up in hospital. And I have managed that! So I am really excited to build up seemlessly into 2019.
I have really enjoyed the year, racing consistently through and sharing the adventures. Being an Ambassador for ON has lifted my game too, their products are so classy, I feel like some of that has to rub off on me!
Thanks for reading, commenting and following the journey. I’ve got some truly amazing ideas lined up for this space, so tell all your friends how much you love this awesome blog, have a fantastic New Year, and I will see you in 2019.
ps. modesty is for mice 😜
Best Movie Of 2018
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri
Best Song of 2018
Years and Years – If You’re Over Me
Best Book of 2018:
Alex Hutchinson – Endure
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Not like you to make spelling mistake Russell. I presume you meant ” two”
and not “too”.