A week without much running, I know what you are thinking, surely this is going to be a thrilling blog article then!? I write this blog primarily about my running, but running and my life are so closely intertwined it is hard to separate the two at times. This week has been hard for me, but probably least of all in running.

I ran Liverpool Marathon on Sunday, my second marathon in a four week period after the London Marathon in April, with a half marathon race also thrown in the middle for good measure... mad I know! It has been a big four weeks for me, and I am proud of what I have achieved and still probably slightly amazed and unable to believe it. This week I knew I had to fight the desire in my head to lace up my trainers, and I had to really focus on rest. I mean REALLY focus on rest, not the usual 'couple of days' Alice form of rest. This years is far from over for me in terms of running and I need my body and legs in one piece. 

MONDAY: the morning post Liverpool Marathon and I woke to near perfect legs, again making my doubt had I really ran 26.2 miles again? Still in Liverpool, I enjoyed a gentle 6 mile walk around the city, reliving the race with my sister and her boyfriend.

TUESDAY: I had developed blisters on the base of nearly all my toes today, a delayed reaction maybe, but my legs were great still, and I was walking and getting up/sitting down completely normally. I found it so hard to believe. I did go to a Body Pump class this evening, but only as I hoped I may be able to see my friend; I didn't and it made the class a bit of an effort as I probably would not have gone otherwise.

WEDNESDAY to FRIDAY: I completely rested - making it five days without running a step. 

SATURDAY: I was at work early morning so unable to attend my home Lincoln parkrun as usual, which made me a little sad, so I laced up for 4 early morning miles instead (see image). At first my knees protested as I started to run, but after this I felt fine, keeping the pace steady.

​I had been signed up for the Rock n Roll Liverpool Marathon for many months; having taken part in the half marathon distance for the past three years, my curiosity to take the challenge and step up a distance was there. I had my London Marathon place, but with these two marathons falling just four weeks apart, I thought it could be a back up race if for whatever reason things did not go to plan in London. The final factor was my sister, who lives in Liverpool, could actually get me free spot in the race and therefore there was not too much financial investment if I decided nearer the time I did not want to take up the place.
 
I was completely happy and proud of my 2018 London Marathon performance in those brutal conditions, I loved the day and will cherish the memories forever, but if I am honest I felt I had trained for better, and the heat had prevented me from reaching my full potential. Once I had come down from the emotion of London Marathon day, Liverpool beckoned and I will admit thoughts crossed my mind that perhaps I would be able to PB in this race and get the sub 3:45 time I had worked hard for. However, as Liverpool race day neared I began to feel this hope may be unrealistic for two factors. Firstly, whilst initially my recovery following the London Marathon had been good, I had been struggling with a bad cold in the two weeks leading up to Liverpool and it had totally wiped me out, leaving me feeling very apprehensive about how strong my body actually was. Secondly, I was quite literally scared of this challenge. I had never attempted two marathons so close together before, preferring the safety of having sixteen good weeks of training behind me, and the logical side of my head kept telling me it was a crazy idea. I was so fearful of running Liverpool I barely told anyone I was planning on running it – which was quite hard!
 
Arriving in Liverpool for the Rock n Roll weekend I was still very nervous about attempting the marathon. My sister and her boyfriend were taking part in the half marathon, and I was hit by waves of anxiety that I had not just opted to join them. However, my overriding feeling was this was my moment to try this challenge and to attempt a second marathon relatively soon after running another. If it was horrid and I hated it, I would know it was not for me, and I would seek sanctuary in my sixteen-week plans. I pushed out all form of time goals from my head and the mission was simply to finish – in one piece. 
 
Race day was very warm – again – trust my luck to have another 26.2 miles to complete in 20+ degree temperatures! However, before I even began to run, I knew it felt nowhere near as intense as London conditions; if I could cope with that I could do this. I think London was a learning experience for me, I had never run any distance in that heat before, but now I had, I could draw on coping strategies.

We met up with my sister’s running club at the race start – the Dockside Runners -and I was pleased to be wearing my own ‘Dockside’ club vest year. I have run with the club a few times, and met them at a few at races, they are such a friendly bunch and so welcoming to me as an occasional member. After a group photo, the half marathoner runners took their place in the pens, I wished my sister and her boyfriend luck and then had a nervy hour to fill before the marathon was due to begin. Time went relatively quick, and I was soon taking my own place in the starting line-up. I messaged my friend and long-suffering running buddy in the start funnel only minutes before the race began; I missed her being with me, I missed her calming influence and her emotional understanding of both me and of marathons. In that moment I wished she was by my side about to complete a long run together. I tried to adopt this mentality as the start gun was fired – it was just a long run. 
 
The race starts close to the dock in Liverpool and the first mile winds through the city centre, the same as the half marathon course. We soon forked off my more familiar route though and began a new loop of Liverpool I had never experienced, heading out towards Everton and Liverpool Football Clubs’ grounds. This first section was hot and hilly – very hilly. I tried not to let this bother me though and instead took the climbs in my stride and soaked up the new sights I was seeing. I kept myself doused with water from early on, never without a bottle in my hand in case I felt I needed a sip or to pour some over my head. A particularly touching moment was a gentleman driving a car near Everton who was leaning out his car window handing bottles to runners completely off his own back – what a nice thing to do. I enjoyed running around Everton’s ‘Goodison Park’ stadium and literally running through the stands of Liverpool’s ‘Anfield’ stadium, with Stanley Park a very beautiful setting to link the two sections of the route. I was in a good place.
 
After leaving the football landmarks, the marathon route then headed back toward the centre of Liverpool again, and between seven and eight miles I suddenly had a little wobble. The warmth of the day hit me and the thought that I still had a lot of miles to go crossed my mind. Can I actually do this? It was here I made a strategy in my mind – break the race down into two 10 mile sections and a 6 mile finish, and just focus on each section at a time. It worked, and making it to ten miles I then started a new race in my head. It also helped that I was now back on the half marathon route and was enjoying running past sights like the famous Cavern Club, which I was more accustomed to running past, and which somehow just helped me feel more under control again.
 
Just after the 11 mile point I got a real boost. It suddenly dawned on me as I passed this marker that I would be running past my sister’s flat soon – why had we not arranged to see each other here? – I questioned in my mind. Both her and her boyfriend would have finished the half marathon by now, it would have been perfect. As I passed her street though, there they both were standing on the roadside. The same thought had crossed my sister’s mind (maybe it’s a twin thing!) I was ecstatic to see them, waving madly as I neared them. They joined me either side as I ran, which felt a lovely surprise. The relative quietness of this marathon, compared to say the streets of the London Marathon, and the more relaxed tone meant it so nice to be able to do this. I asked about their half marathon experience – hot and hard -  and they asked how I was feeling. I can remember my positive response - ‘Good… I am feeling good!’ I beamed, and I meant it. I now felt fully in control. My sister and her boyfriend probably ran with me for half a mile through China town but dropped to the side as yet another long hill approached – funny that! In all seriousness, having their support left me with a smile, and I strode up this next hilly challenge with added belief.
 
The next section of the course very much focused on two of the beautiful parks Liverpool has; Princes Park and Sefton Park. It was peaceful running around these, with the tranquillity only broken by the occasional live band which are dotted around the whole course to give an extra motivational boost. 

The highlight of this week has been the one non running thing I actually did - which instantly says something about how my running has been! Starting with the good; I watched the excellent Skid Row Marathon at the cinema on Wednesday (see image), a powerful film which to me emphasised just how transformational running can be to life. The film was being screen in selected UK cinemas for one night only, but I recommend if you do get a chance to watch it in future, you definitely take it! Now the not so good; running has been an effort all this week thanks to a niggling and draining cold. My germs started last weekend and I seem to have been unable to shake them...

MONDAY: as it was beautiful Bank Holiday Monday I took an easy 3 mile round run to the gym and back for a Body Pump class, not wanting to push my legs too much after Sunday's North Lincolnshire Half Marathon. My cold was stuffy and in my head, am sure you know the type, and the warmth of the day did not help how I felt. 

TUESDAY: on another warm day I tried to run later in the day hoping it would affect my cold less. Short answer: it did not help. I ran 6 miles which just did not feel that great, and I had the first sense that I just lacked any real energy. 

WEDNESDAY: heading out for an early morning 5 miler I was not really sure why I was expecting to feel any better than yesterday. I felt worse - my legs were lead and just not wanting to run, and my cold was seemed like it was somehow in full grasp of my body. 

THURSDAY: I hoped I would start to feel better as the week wore on but today was the biggest struggle. I had a headache all day and just felt lethargic. Me being me, I pulled on my trainers after work still and did an easy 4 mile round run to the gym for Body Pump. Exercise made me feel better mentally, but my body still was not right when running; it just did not feel like me - which sounds a weird thing to say, but it didn't. 

Standing on the race track at Quibell Park Stadium in Scunthorpe having just completed the North Lincolnshire Half Marathon there was a strange sense of déjà vu about the situation. I was hot, drenched from pouring copious amounts of water over my head, and feeling physically drained from running in high temperatures. I waited a few minutes next to the finish archway for my friend to cross the line and as I greeted her we both had that same look in our eyes which said – why on earth do we do this to ourselves?! Two weeks after we had both battled the intense heat on the streets of the London Marathon here we were again racing miles in near 25 degree temperatures, we really did seem to be a glutton for punishment! Once the shock of putting our bodies through such demands died down we were both of course able to remember why we do in fact do this crazy thing called running – helped by the fact the North Lincolnshire Half Marathon itself was a really great race.

Race morning was a glorious day; I knew it was going to be a very hot race, but to be honest after London’s test, I also kind of knew I just had to deal with it. I had no real goal for the race, I just wanted to give myself a half marathon test and try out a new event. I quite liked how relaxed everything felt in the starting area, my friend and I chatted away waiting for the 9am start to arrive, and the atmosphere around was simply calm and friendly. I had however woken with a niggling cold, so my only slight concern was if I would be sniffing my way round the course (thankfully this proved not to be the case!) Giving the forthcoming 13.1 miles a quick bit of thought before the starting gun was fired, I planned to set off at a steady but comfortable pace and simply see how things went.

The first 3.5 miles of the route were set on a long straight road, which thankfully had large sections of shade. This cooler start and uninterrupted running pathway meant I actually was running a bit quicker than I may have intended; however, things felt good so I did not worry too much. I knew I was ahead of the 1:40 pacer, and to be honest I was not confident I would be able to maintain this position, but I just stuck with it for the time being. What was already apparent from these initial few miles though was how wonderful the Tape 2 Tape volunteer marshal team would be; every single one had a smile, offered a friendly cheer and gave encouraging support, it was really lovely, especially as the course is quite rural so at times lacks other supporters.

Miles 4 to 6 were set along another virtually straight road. This section was much more exposed though and the heat of the day now hit with a bang. I began dowsing myself in water and trying to adapt. Pace wise I had slowed marginally from my speedy start, but not dramatically and probably in accordance to the change in conditions. I just decided to stick with my mantra and keep going as long as possible, I probably knew deep down I would start to suffer at some point; my half marathon PB is 1:36:51 which I set at Cambridge Half a few months back, and earlier in the year I ran a then PB of 1:39:15 at Leicestershire Half, so I knew my current placing in front of the 1:40 pacer may still be rather optimist given the conditions. 

Just after the 6 mile marker I began running alongside another runner, we struck up conversation and started chatting about running, training, races, running shoes – all the usual runner stuff! We had very similar views on running and I was interested to hear about his experiences of running through taking part in Iron Man competitions. Our conversation meant miles 6-9 were a bit of a blur to me - in a good way! - and I struggle to recall much from the course in these sections! I knew I had slowed more now though and I also knew that the heat was really building, however the conversation was helping to distract me from focusing too much on both these factors. Just as we passed the 9 mile point the 1:40 pacer caught us up. My new friend said he was going to try hang onto them, however a quick assessment of my body, and quite specifically my tiring quads, told me I did not have the power in my limbs to try push the pace. I encouraged him on and settled back into my own race for the final few miles.

Miles 10 to around 12 were set along another long straight section; the course certainly lived up to its billing of being flat and one for PB potential (maybe just not on really hot days!) By now I was struggling. My legs were rapidly fading and the trail of runners in the distance seemed to go on forever, an image which seriously tests your mental strength at times. I accepted my situation though, I had almost predicted this final mile fade, and now it was time to deal with it. I drew on some of my resilience and just kept ticking off the miles. Just before the 12 mile marker there was in fact a bit of a cruel, short, sharp climb, one of the only inclines on the course. For that reason, I think it felt an extra test, and after this challenge there were some runners who started to suffer in the heat and were requiring support from marshals and medics - slightly scarily, it really was like the London Marathon all over again. 
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The final mile felt really long and hard, and I had nothing left to pick up my pace. I could hear the tannoy at the finish line in the distance and just wanted the sound to get closer. The finish line is located at Quibell Park Stadium and sees the final 200m of the course set on the running track which is based there. Reaching the track surface I suddenly felt a bit more energy in my legs; I began chasing down the runner in front of me and then attempted to sprint down the home stretch – I think I like to imagine I am an athlete sometimes! I crossed the line in 1:41:28 which I was instantly really pleased with. This was was my third quickest half marathon time to date, and with the race being fairly soon after completing a marathon and being held in pretty intense weather conditions, I had to be happy. I caught my on course companion at the finish, he had held onto the pacer and managed to overtake them in the final stages to go sub 1:40, which was a great outcome.

After waiting for my friend and sharing that moment of ‘why do we do this?’ we collected our finishers medal and t-shirt, which were both quite unique items; a t-shirt themed medal with the finisher t-shirt itself featuring a design created by a local school child which rather aptly had a hand drawn character with a speech bubble saying ‘I’m tired’! My friend and I sat our own tired bodies in the shade and embraced some coolness. It was a tough race, and I think we were both a little guilty of also forgetting how hard half marathons are sometimes, regardless of the heat. I know I can run 13.1 miles, but racing it becomes a different beast. I was proud of us both though, to go through that kind of test again in such quick succession meant that whilst we might be a little mad, we also simply love the challenge.

I have felt quite free this week - no training plan to follow, not having to solely focus on trying to do the right thing in order to recover from the marathon, just doing what I want. In the past this would have been something I hated, but I have enjoyed this week. I think because I trained so hard this time for the London Marathon and then the day itself was so demanding, I actually feel like I need a bit of a physical and mental break from pushing myself too much. I mean, this week has still contained a lot of running and a half marathon race (and also a lot of gin!) - but by my usual standards it has felt quite relaxed!

MONDAY: Body Pump class

TUESDAY: an early morning 5 miler. My legs felt very heavy from the start, which I think was predominantly due to there not being many hours recovery between a late night Pump class and an early morning running alarm. I managed to keep a steady pace though, averaging 7.57 min/mile. 

WEDNESDAY: another steady run, 6 miles this time on improved legs, but with a couple of hill challenges thrown in... just because! I have no real motivation to be running intervals or anything like that right now, so I guess hills were my form of natural test. 

THURSDAY: a run commute to the gym and back for a Body Pump class. I ran a faster 3 miles to the gym, around 7.30 min/mile pace, but was less bothered by my pace running the 2 miles home after the class and just kept it gentle. 

FRIDAY: Rest Day - and a slightly different Friday evening to my usual rather unexciting routine. I attended a friend's wedding reception and without the pressures of marathon training I felt fully able to embrace the occasion. I (literally) dusted off my high heels, drank too much gin, and danced without a care in the world until 3am - running was the last thing on my mind!