Today, I did my last ‘big’ run of my training. It was ‘only’ ten miles, and it was just another easy afternoon jog.
Imagine that. I remember talking to my mate Dayle, walking down the High Street in Lincoln, saying how I struggled to run 1km without a stop. Today, for 16 kilometres, I only stopped so I didn’t spill water or a gel on myself. I started this journey at just under 16 stone (my whole running journey, I started at more than 17), and today the scales said I was under 14. The power of just going out and running.
Anyone can do it, it’s like that Mitchell and Webb sketch joking about ‘it’s completely free’.
That’s not strictly true. I spent a three-figure sum on some Brooks Ghost Max trainers in January (first run Feb 4th) and they’re already looking a bit tired on the sole. I’ve worked out I’ve put in just under 500km in those (that’s actual running time, so more where I’ve walked after my run, like today). That’s around 310 miles since February 4th. Running trainers have an expected lifespan of between 300 and 500 miles. I suppose I don’t have to replace mine quite as often as the Proclaimers.
London is really close now. Fundraising has passed the £5100 barrier, which is amazing, and people continue to give. You can do so here, if you wish. It’s been so humbling to see everyone pledging money, knowing that it will help the Lincoln City Foundation deliver its wonderful programmes and help across the county. Thank you.
This week is going to be a bit crazy. I’ll be on Radio Lincolnshire on Tuesday morning, 7:15, which means actually getting up for a change. Thursday, Jasper (who is also running for the Foundation) and I are heading off to London to grab our bibs and plot routes from hotels, and then Saturday, I’ll be back in London for the event. Once the Easter Weekend is done, all systems go.
Back to today’s run – while it is incredible to think that it was the last long one of my training (two more to do this week), it’s not going to be my last long one. I’m maybe going to take a few days off, but I’ll be back out on the roads before May has properly started.
Running is such a release for me now. I always hated the actual running, I just liked the fitness it provided and (being honest) the attention my journey generated. Now, it’s different. I’m an overthinker, sometimes to my detriment and sometimes to my benefit. Sometimes it leads to incredible achievements, such as building one of my websites and selling it on, other times down darker paths.
When I am running, I have time to properly sort my head out and put some of that overthinking into place. Some people find long runs isolating, but for me, they’re the opposite. They’re empowering, the endorphins are pumping, and I feel a real clarity in my purpose. If my body (and Paul, my trainer) allowed, I’d have happily done 30km today once I got into the zone.
There are plans afoot for another event, something (hopefully) a small group of us will be doing. Before that, I have a running book to get out on preorder, some signed Lincoln City shirts to get on eBay (there’s one here already), and 26.2 miles to run around our nation’s capital.
Like I said, all systems go.