Happy New Year

Despite the festive season training continues.

With Trevor away I have been down in Kent trying to keep motivated.
I have followed the schedule laid down for me and am beginning to feel somewhat confident, not least as I put a solid 18 miles under my belt this weekend. Today’s eight miles was simply divine – rain like stair rods, a biting wind and floods. It was fantastic to test myself against the elements and put in a decent time for the distance.

However, training has been bittersweet. Almost every run has taken my past places that remind me of my dad and whilst everyone was raising a glass of cheer I felt a palatable sadness. Today as I ran past the church where we held his funeral I simply couldn’t not resist shouting some good natured abuse of the ‘I am bloody cold, soaking wet, tired and miserable…are you up there laughing at me?’ type.

I have run pas the pub we used to drink, the police station where he used to work and countless other places that have a significance. Each run has been harder than the last as the memories pile up. Sometimes even pulling
on my shoes was difficult enough.

However, today, as I ran down through the village and out into the country, on rolling hills , I had to allow myself a wry grin. I remembered that just over a year ago I had run to the bottom of the village and then limped back home exhausted. Today I sped through there singing rude songs and really didn’t feel even slightly tired for another hour. This to me is a real achievement.

I am now very much looking forward to closing this adventure. I want to grit my teeth, finish the training and run the race. Next Christmas I plan to be staggering back from the pub, drunk as a lord, not running through flooded streets with a fistful of Gu and a head full of sadness.