The post marathon week is never straightforward for me. I hate the comedown feeling – the post marathon blues - and I always tell myself I will try hard not to let it affect me too much, but it’s tough. Mixed with the comedown though are the moments of celebration, joyously reliving the Berlin Marathon memories and recounting the experience to others. The fact I had a place in the Lincoln Half Marathon on Sunday was also on my mind. Should I do it? A race one week after a marathon is not the smartest idea (although I did somehow do the Berlin Marathon/Lincoln Half Marathon/Royal Parks Half Marathon consecutive triple last year!), but could I really sit out of a race in my hometown? 

MONDAY: waking up post marathon in Berlin I did not want to leave – that marked the start of a return to reality! I did not sleep well at all overnight, my legs were restless and my mind was simply not able to switch off from the joy of the day. Today, one day post marathon, my legs were however not as bad as I feared, my quads were tender but movement generally seemed alright – that was until my friend and I tried to run for a train at the station – that definitely did not happen! Once back in the UK I found myself unable to switch off again; I set about writing my blog of the day, which only served to confirm how much I had loved everything about Berlin, and also meant my mind was whirring and I then struggled to sleep again.

TUESDAY: tired - today I was tired. My legs shocked me – they did not seem any worse and walking was only marginally laboured. I have definitely been in much worse states after my previous marathon adventures. Running crossed my mind, but I resisted it, resolving that I must use my time to thoroughly stretch and foam roll my legs instead. Foam rolling my quads was painful to say the least – no change there then, as these muscles always seem to bear the brunt of my marathon exertions.

WEDNESDAY: today was my birthday – which meant I continued with the other theme of this week which has been to eat a lot of chocolate and cake (my diet has been truly appalling!) I wanted to go for a run on my birthday, so I rose early and tested my legs. I was slow, steady and completed a relatively short 3.75 mile loop around the block. Things were not perfect by any means, but again I was pleasantly surprised I didn’t feel sick with pain and that my running style did not feel horrendously compromised – which has all happened in the past when I have attempted a marathon comeback run. 

​Rewind a year, and I was sat in the September sunshine, sipping a cool beer having just completed the 2016 Berlin Marathon. My friend was celebrating with me, however had been unable to complete the marathon, which we had originally planned to take part in together, due to injury. In that moment we resolved to come back next year and run it together, and in that moment I was equally determined to make sure it actually happened. The Berlin Marathon 2017 has therefore been a year in the making, securing places, planning the trip, training and looking forward to being back in the city again – we both just had to make it to the start line.
 
Friday 22nd September 2017 arrived and as in 2016 we both boarded the plane to Berlin, however this time we both had running gear packed. I was excited and happy for the trip ahead and I think this feeling overwhelmed any apprehension of the race, which itself was now rapidly approaching. Having been in Berlin the previous year we instantly felt more at home in the city, we knew what trains we needed, where things roughly were and also what we wanted to do. We collected our race numbers on Friday, braving the expo which was somewhat more manic than last year (perhaps an indication of things to come…) found our names listed on the Berlin Marathon ‘Wall of Fame’ and visited Brandenburg Gate. This gate is the iconic finishing landmark of the Berlin Marathon route and unsurprisingly I found it could be appreciated much more at this point than at mile 26 of a marathon!

​Saturday we toured some of the landmarks of the city. What I love about Berlin is its totally relaxed feel; you can hardly tell thousands of runners have descended on the place for a world class sporting event, and this calm atmosphere removes so much of the pre-marathon nerves and stress. We started Saturday with a little two mile shake out run to the Berlin Victory Column and finished the day by climbing the 220 odd steps to the top of the same column. This was maybe not the most advisable pre-marathon rest activity, but the view of Berlin at the top was worth it, even if I did spend most of my time cautiously clinging to the side with a look of sheer fear on my face! It was not really until I was lying in bed Saturday night that the prospect of running the actual marathon really hit me. I just had one goal for this race though and that was to run it with my friend. I knew together we could be capable of a very good finish time, we had trained well and were both in good shape, but the complexities of a marathon mean nothing is a given, and as long as she was by my side as we passed through Brandenburg Gate I would class the race a success.
 
Sunday September 24th 2017 arrived – race day. After heavy rain overnight we were greeted by a misty and drizzly morning. It was cool though and we both agreed this was much preferable to blazing sunshine. The hazy skies meant as we took our spot in mass start line on The Straße des 17. Juni, which forms a somewhat iconic image of an endless sea of runners, the Berlin Victory Column which should have stood proudly ahead was nearly impossible to make out. The comfort of having my friend stood next to me on this start line really dissipated any nerves I had. I bobbed along to music being played over the tannoy and enjoyed watching video clips played across the big screens. When the countdown clock dipped below 5 minutes though I did feel some nerves rise within me. ‘Do I look as scared as I did at the top of that column?’ I asked my friend. ‘A different type of scared!’ she replied with a smile. ‘It’s just long run Sunday’ we agreed – albeit with a few more people and on a route we have not had to plan out! Throwing away are old unwanted clothing, it was time to put the route to the test, and crossing the start line together our journey to beat Berlin begun.
 
It’s fair to say the first few miles of the race were not very relaxing. Running wise my body felt good, but the streets seemed rammed with runners and much busier than last year (which may have been why the expo also appeared more manic?) We weaved as best as we could between runners, trying not to add too much extra distance on, but also attempting to stick to a good running pace. It was a challenge, but I guess it also meant I barely noticed these initial miles pass as I was not at all focussed on what distance I was running, more so on not tripping up! Despite the challenges we remained together though, and when we did get a small amount of breathing space I glanced at my watch and commented to my friend I could not believe how quickly that first hour had passed. ‘I hope you are saying that between hours 3 and 4!’ she replied – now that would be some outcome!
 
Ten miles passed and it was only really at this point I felt I actually started to run the marathon with more of a marathon focus. Slightly more space on the streets (I mean slightly!) meant running was marginally less of a weave, and we could appreciate some of the sights on route. The German spectators puzzled us at times; some stood in lines almost deathly quiet, staring at us all like we were mad (yes, we probably are!), whilst other pockets were enthusiastically cheering us on and had brought items such as drum kits to the street corner or were shaking tambourines madly. As last year, the water stations provided much entertainment though. The plastic cups are one thing, but why they only have aid tables on one side of the road I really cannot work out. This leads to everyone suddenly veering to one side of the route, and you have to almost dodge your way past, or fight your way to a cup and hope you don’t spill half of it in the process. It really seems chaotic. How my friend and I did not lose each other at one of these stations I don’t know, but somehow I would come out from the runners brawl and she would just be there and we would resume running side by side.

We passed half way in 1:53:58. I had not really been too concerned with time or my pace and had simply been trusting what felt right from my experiences training and running with my friend, but this was pleasing and a confidence boost for the forthcoming miles. Normally at around miles 16 to 18 of a marathon things can sometimes feel a bit tough. However, this time I just didn’t get that feeling, and I could sense by the way my friend was running strongly next to me she had not either. The only minor glitch was at mile 18, when I was struck by the urge to use the toilet. It was not something I could ignore and I had to dive into a portaloo. ‘I will catch you up’ I promised my friend. I knew I would even if it killed me, and I did reach her again. The extra effort I exerted to find my friend boosted me again somehow, just the knowledge my legs clearly weren’t dead yet. Mile 20 was the next marker we then agreed; make it to here and then a new race begins.

​I glanced at my watch at the 20 mile point and saw timewise we were running well, 2 hours 52 mins I think was roughly what it read. I did not get too excited about possible finish times though as six miles is a long way still, but I was happy. Between miles 21 and 23 though the sheer pain of a marathon hit me with a bang, and my friend agreed after that these last five miles was when it struck her too. Almost suddenly my legs hurt, I could not even pinpoint an exact spot of pain, they just really, really hurt. ‘Just a parkrun to go’ I grimaced to my friend – but it was probably about to be the most painful parkrun of my life! Despite the pain and the fact each mile seemed to be an eternity, we somehow managed to keep pace, and I was shocked to see my split at mile 24 was 8.27 min/mile pace. I have one person to thank for this and that is my friend. I was starting to struggle at this point and my friend had actually edged a few yards in front of me. I know her well enough to tell she had gone into her zombie mode, where it simply becomes a case of head down, keep moving. I followed her footsteps with a grimace, the determination to finish together was the only thing keeping me from slowing. At one point I forced some extra speed into my legs to make up the gap and tapped her on the shoulder with the intention of letting her know I was still hanging on in there, but instead all I could manage was a despairing cry of ‘my legs!’ - hopefully she guessed what I meant!
 
The final miles of the Berlin Marathon really are the cruellest. You twist and turn through streets longing for Brandenburg Gate to appear; I knew from last year the mind games it plays with you, but it did not stop it from happening again. As I finally made the last turn to find the spectacle of the gate looming on the horizon, I knew I had to make up those yards to be alongside my friend and pass through the gate together. This hurt a lot, but we were never not going to run through that gateway with each other. The packed streets of Berlin now cost us here, as our watches clocked marathon distance with the finish line not yet visible and before we had even passed Brandenburg Gate. I did not really care at this point though, we were together and I knew now we would finish that way. Emerging from the gate’s arch suddenly all the pain in my legs was forgotten –  I am not sure how emotion can override the discomfort, but it did. We sped up towards the finish line - which is still a long way from the gate - and I grasped my friends hand and we used what energy we had left to raise our arms triumphantly into the sky. We stopped the clock at 3:48:13, which is a a new PB for me, but what I really cared about was we had started and finished together.

I was a mess at the finish line, a mixture of exhaustion, pain and emotion. My friend and I somewhat collapsed into a hug and it felt like I was crying tears of happiness onto her shoulder, although nothing actually came out – I was too knackered even for that. It felt so special to share that exact finishing moment together - even if we were in a bit of a state! After this joyful embrace the pain in my legs reminded me it was still there – ‘My legs!’ I echoed again, grabbing my friend’s hand to almost guide me along. The sight of our medals being held out ready to be hung around both our necks was worth it all though. All we had to do now was drag our bodies back to the same spot we sat post-race in 2016 and again enjoy some well-earned celebratory German beer - this time for two marathon finishers. 
 
It has only really been since arriving back in the UK that I have fully been able to take stock of the Berlin Marathon weekend, and my conclusion is it was simply perfect. I feel so thankful I got the chance to share this marathon with friend as planned, and also create so many memories along the way. The PB has not really sunk in to be honest, it was never the goal and feels like a bonus. I actually felt prouder when my friend pointed out that we had ran the second half of the marathon only 18 seconds slower than the first half; easily my best paced marathon to date. I was also made to realise that our average pace meant that if we had actually ran a true 26.2 miles (and not virtually an extra half a mile!) our finishing time would have been under 3 hours 45 mins. This means that racking up that extra distance virtually cost me a guaranteed London Marathon spot. Initially this might seem disappointing, but to be honest I really do not care.
 
Berlin will forever hold a very special place in my memory now, both the city and the marathon, and I am not sure I will ever get to recreate such a unique marathon feeling. The race also signifies real progress in my running as in 2016 I ran a 4:00:44 time in Berlin, and now in 2017 this is down to 3:48:13. Hanging my medal onto my medal board I also was struck by the fact that this was my fifth marathon – five marathons by the age of 25 might not be significant to some, but it just felt like something I would never have dreamed of achieving some years ago. In keeping with the age ethos, I predict that the 2020 Berlin Marathon will in fact land on the exact day of my 29th birthday. I cannot think of a better way to celebrate can you? ​

Race week. ‘How do you feel?’ my friend messaged me on Monday morning. ‘Excited…Nervous... Scared?’ she asked. ‘All!’ I agreed. As I sit and write this on Wednesday evening (trying to use the extra time I have on my hands during this final taper a bit productively!) my feelings are still the same, and probably will not change now until I take the first step across the start line on Sunday.

I am excited to get to Berlin. I loved the city last year when I took on the marathon for the first time, and it is always an adventure when running takes you somewhere different. I think my excitement levels are heightened this year by the fact I know that this time my friend is going to be running the marathon too. It was difficult last year travelling out there together and experiencing the pre-race hype, but knowing that due to injury, only I was able to run. I am so grateful that I had my friend with me last year though, I could not imagine having been out there alone and not having someone’s support or someone to share that finish line embrace with. This year though, to get to both experience it all just feels extra special.

I am nervous as with any race day. When I think of actually running the marathon I get little bubbles of cautious excitement within me. I just want to get there and run now but at the same time I am guarded. Am I ready? Have I prepped well? Do I have everything I need? Will I get to the start line ok? All these little running related concerns and anxieties are crossing my mind, and maybe the fact it is a marathon means they feel a little stronger than normal.

I am scared. A marathon is such an unknown beast that really anything can happen during those 26.2 miles. Sometimes you cannot control this no matter how prepared you feel. I have been there where a marathon has spat me out and left me to struggle, so I am not oblivious to the fact it could happen. I think this is a risk any marathon runner takes though, and just maybe it adds to the thrill.

Amongst all my emotions I do have to think about how I am actually going to approach the race. So far this week I have completed some very short (maximum four mile) runs. They have not been super relaxed as I can sense the tension in my body; the fear of any niggle or things not feeling quite right is constantly on my mind. Taper week aside though, training has gone very well for me – I literally could not have asked for anything more from myself. I feel strong and fit, and I since my last marathon (the London Marathon in April this year) I have managed PBs at half marathon, 5 mile and 5k distance.

With all this in mind, I would love a new marathon PB, which would have to see me go under the 3:51:03 time I set at London this year, and if I run a perfect race I think my body is capable of doing that. It is no secret of my goal to run qualifying time for others races too, and a sub 3:45 time would guarantee me a spot in other marathons I want to run, and would also be a Good For Age time for the London Marathon - my favourite race of all. However, I really only have one goal for the Berlin Marathon, and that is to run it with my friend. I want to do this not only because it was not possible last year, but because it would mean a lot to share this experience with someone who loves running as much as I do, and equally knows how much of a positive influence running has on life. Running has created a unique friendship between us which I know I will never get with anyone else; my friend has seen the best and worst of me, and our ventures over miles means she probably knows more things about me than most people do. To be able to share one of the world’s best running events together is therefore a memory I want to create and look back on more than I want a specific finishing time. I still believe that together we are capable of challenging a very good marathon time, but if it is not to be then I will not be disappointed in any way, shape or form.
​
So next stop Berlin. An early morning flight (which thankfully Ryanair did not decide to cancel!) will see me in the German capital Friday morning ready for the marathon weekend. Good luck to anyone else running and I hope you will all celebrate your achievements, whatever your goal is, in true German style – with a beer! I hate beer, but after a marathon it somehow taste’s good and also feels somewhat deserved! ​

With two weeks until race day this has been the first week of real noticeable tapering. It has felt odd, as it always does, after weeks of high mileage it suddenly does not feel like I am doing enough and there is a lot more time to overthink things. I just have to manage these feelings though and trust the training that I have already been completed, and focus on the important day which is approaching.

MONDAY: Body Pump class

TUESDAY: a typical 'taper crazy' run where it all just seemed stupidly hard. The run was only five miles but I felt like I had no energy to run any further if I had actually needed to. Needless to say the fact that this was an interval run made it extra tough, and my plan was for 10 x 400m with 100m recoveries. I  may as well have forgotten about the recoveries though as there was no way I actually ran 100m despite programming this into my Garmin - it was more like a few footsteps! This made the 400m reps feel almost one run, which was physically hard and messed with my head too. As you can probably tell, it was a bit of a run to forget!

WEDNESDAY: a much better feeling run today. I had 6 easy miles on my plan, however as I felt so much more energised compared to yesterday, I struggled to rein myself back. I finished with an average pace of 7:48 min/mile - much too fast. Body Pump class after. 

THURSDAY: another run where I really did not exert much self control over my pacing. I ran five miles with the middle three miles supposedly at half marathon pace. My splits were 8.22, 7.36, 7.21, 7.35 and 8.08 min/mile - not my half marathon pace at all! As I sat at home reflecting post run I knew I needed to really focus on taking things easier from now on, I had come too far to risk burning myself out last minute. 

​FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: even before having stern words with myself about slowing down a bit, my friend and I had mutually agreed to run this week's Lincoln parkrun together and at a nice steady pace; as opposed to our usual 'all out' attitude. I was pleased to have my friend's support with this, as even stood chatting before the 9am start I could feel I was beginning to itch to bolt off that start line and forget any plans to be careful.

I am pleased to say I stuck to our plan though, and my friend and I slotted in a few rows back in the mass huddle at the start. As we started running I instantly began enjoying myself and forgot any desire to be racing around the course (see images). Our first loop was a gentle 8:42 min/mile, and whilst we did gradually speed up for the second two laps at 7.56 and 7.32 min/mile, it still felt comfortable and it was probably the first time ever I have run negative splits at parkrun! I will admit I could not resist a little sprint finish at the end, and even my friend encouraged me on, probably seeing the childish enthusiasm on my face! I finished in a steady 24:11 - just what I knew I needed to do.

SUNDAY: the last long (ish) run before race day. It did not feel long at all and it was almost a run completed on autopilot. As has been tradition throughout all my training, I ran with my friend at my side, and we checked off the paths which form one of our old favourite ten mile routes without much conscious thought or real effort. Before I knew it the run was ending and I was faced with the prospect of actually have a Sunday left to appreciate for the first time in a long while! Today's run felt comfortable at 8.21 min/mile pace; with one week to go until race day this last long run can sometimes feel awful and cause doubts to creep in, so I was happy not to experience this. I feel marathon ready, not over confident as marathons are such an unknown entity, but I know I have done all I can and now just need to use the next six days to taper as well as I have trained...

Week fourteen - aka the week it all started to feel a bit real! I always have mixed feelings when the marathon starts to near; nerves, excitement, anxiety and also a little bit of sadness. I feel sad as suddenly the big event I have been building up to and focusing on for so long feels like it will soon be over; I even start to miss the thought of a 20 miler on a Sunday morning believe it or not!

MONDAY: Body Pump class

TUESDAY: a slight deviation from my plan, as after starting a new job at work I simply did not have the physical or mental energy for 9 miles of intervals! Instead I switched for Thursday's tempo run. This was a landmark run as for once I actually ran what I planned out in Biro pen on my hand before I left the door (yes I do this!), which was a warm up and cool down mile, with the four middle miles at 7.40 min/mile pace. The result was splits of 8.21, 7.42, 7.44, 7.44, 7.40 and 8.11 min/mile - almost perfect! 

WEDNESDAY: a comfortably hard 8 miles before my Body Pump class. I pushed this run a little as my plan stated it should be 'steady' as opposed to 'easy' and so I used my judgement to make it roughly 8 min/mile pace throughout. 

THURSDAY: the delayed 9 mile interval run. Even after putting it back to later in the week, I still really did not feel like doing this run. I pulled on my running gear though and faced the rather dismal weather conditions. Despite my reluctance I actually really enjoyed the run, the intervals were 10 x 400m with 200m recoveries, and whilst there were a lot of reps to complete, it really made the overall distance pass by quickly. My interval pacing was also good, between 5-10k pace, and left me with a pleasing overall average pace of 7.47 min/mile.

A bit of a muddly week for me with a Bank Holiday, family visiting, some annual leave days and the virtually unheard occurrence of a race on a Saturday!

MONDAY: Rest Day

TUESDAY: I had family staying with me today and to avoid disrupting the visit with my desire to fit in a training run, I rose early for my interval run - 8 miles with 5 x 1 mile repeats and 400m recoveries. I really struggle with intervals first thing in the morning and as usual it did seem to take my body a while to feel awake; the first interval mile felt like it simply went on forever! Mile reps are hard, and whilst I found the next two intervals more manageable, the final two were completed with a 'I just have to get this done' mentality. Pace-wise I ranged between 7.25 min/mile and 7.58 min/mile on the intervals - guess which was the mainly uphill mile!

WEDNESDAY: another early run; it was actually dark when I left the house, which prompted a quick route change in my head and the realisation that the joys of summer running would soon be ending. As this was a steadier paced run it did not feel such an effort as interval at the crack of dawn did, and I weaved my way around the streets of Lincoln, gradually ticking the 9 miles off at a comfortable 8.29 min/mile average pace. 

THURSDAY: back to my normal routine of evening running, which felt much more natural. In fact I seemingly flew through the 7 miles I had on my plan, with the 5 middle miles at tempo pace. I aimed for 8 min/mile pace for the tempo miles, and comfortably kept well under this marker without feeling stretched. 

FRIDAY: Rest Day

This week has been the most challenging of my training yet, and not just because I have logged 52 miles of running and three exercise classes! Last week during Sunday's long run I had a sore big toe on my left foot (sounds pathetic I know!); it was run-able but slightly uncomfortable. After running it felt no worse so I assumed it was just a little weary from all my training. My big toe however has plagued me for most of this week, which understandably unnerved and worried me a little...

MONDAY: after Sunday's toe niggle I thought over night rest would clear things up - no. My toe was painful today, probably more so than I was letting on to people. I adopted a slightly modified walk on the outside of my foot, as it seemed pain came from pushing off the joint, However, keeping the joint still whilst I was sat at work also seemed to make it stiff and more painful! With this in mind I gingerly headed to Body Pump hoping it would be ok. I had to avoid lunging on that leg but otherwise I made it through. Walking back from the gym my toe was noticeably more painful though, and I couldn't hide my slightly adapted walk now.

TUESDAY: having googled toe injuries to my absolute limit (not ever advised I know!) I strapped my toe/foot today and rubbed lots of Ibuprofen gel into the area; I must add I have no idea if this was actually worthwhile but it made me feel better to be actually consciously trying to do something to fix it! I decided to try and run later on; I had 8 miles on my plan with 15 x 400m reps and 200m recoveries - a nice easy session then..! I started very tentatively, my toe was uncomfortable and the first 3 miles felt very uneasy. As I passed this mileage marker though movement in my toe gradually became easier. I felt I could not push off from the ground as well, and thus my intervals were a little slower than I would have liked, but I managed the run, which was a much better outcome than I had feared! Abs class after. 

WEDNESDAY: an early morning 10 mile run at easy pace. I was very happy this was a steady run, not only because I was still very anxious about my toe (which whilst seeming to have improved slightly, was definitely not better), but my legs also felt heavy as soon as I started running. I dragged my legs around it seemed, finishing with an average pace of 8.38 min/mile, which was fine for an easy run but just felt hard! I went to my Body Pump class in the evening, and on reflection I probably should have ran in the evening too and given my legs a bit longer recovery after Tuesday night's run.

At this point in training the weeks suddenly seem to be going by very quickly, especially with September - race month - nearing. I have allowed myself to start to think a little more about the prospect of Berlin and consequently it has begun to build my excitement levels already...

MONDAY: Body Pump class

TUESDAY: today my plan read - '6 miles of relaxed fartlek'; which was not suggesting a very structured run and also offered very little pace guidance. I like structure (can you tell?!) so instead I planned some intervals for my 6 miles - setting myself 5 x 1000m reps, with 200m recoveries. I flew through the first three intervals with splits of around 7 min/mile pace each, but the final two were a bit of a struggle and it literally felt like I had used all the energy in my legs on the previous reps. Abs class at the gym after.

WEDNESDAY: a pleasant and steady 6 mile loop before my Body Pump class, averaging 8.12 min/mile pace.

THURSDAY: today's plan was for a progression run - not something I find easy. My first mile is always much too quick, no matter how hard I try to slow down, and this then leaves me with some fast miles ahead in order to get progressively quicker across the entire run. Before leaving the house I diligently planned out the 7 miles I had to do and wrote down target paces on my  hand to try and give me a balanced run. Did it help? No. My first mile was a quicker than planned 8.30 min/mile which then led to splits of 8.13, 8.02, 7.51, 7.37 and 7.09 min/mile. It was fun to push myself to keep getting quicker, but hard work too!

FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: a slightly alternative Lincoln parkrun, with a forced route change due to works being undertaken on one of our usual pathways. The route amendment saw us go through much more of a woodland section and I am not sure if my Garmin lost signal during this, but I made the route a little short of 5k. This meant that as I sprinted over the line and saw the time on my watch, 20:46, I was a little bittersweet. This was a massive PB for me and the first time I have ever gone under 21 minutes, but if the course was short then I am not sure if I can count it - despite it now being on my parkrun record! Regardless, I felt I ran strong and now have some serious work to do to ever challenge my PB again, especially when we return to our usual route!

SUNDAY: the second 20 miler of my training plan. I ran with my friend (see image) and I think we both wanted to make this one a little quicker than our previous 20 miles a few weeks ago. It turned out to be such a good run, which could be told by the fact we both simply did not know where the miles had gone. The mileage milestones and the ground we covered passed by ridiculously quick and it was not until about the 18 mile point I started to feel things get a bit tough. I think I used the phrase - my legs now need to be told to move rather than just running freely! As I slammed the stop button on Garmin when 20 miles flashed on my screen, I was delighted by our average overall pace of 8.30 min/mile. Once I stopped I realised how knackered I was, but I was also so happy and proud of us both for that pace. 20 miles at 8.30 min/mile - never did think I would be capable of that. ​Perhaps this training lark is paying off..!

A bit of a cut back week this week, with a few less miles logged but the addition of a race day - which is always fun!

MONDAY: my usual Body Pump class was cancelled so I completed the 'stand in' option. It was very heavy on deadlift exercises, which for someone with generally poor hamstring flexibility, was not a good omen...

TUESDAY: a 9 mile interval run - I was not looking forward to this from the minute I read it on my plan. I just kept thinking it seemed so far to be running with the added joy of intervals. It was however a definite case of overthinking a run before actually doing it. Once I got going and the tightness in my hamstrings and calves (yesterday's class already biting me back!) had subsided a little, I was alright. I ran 8 x 800m reps with 200m recoveries, which actually left me with a couple of miles to cool down at the end. Abs class after. 

WEDNESDAY: my plan suggested that today's 7 miler should be a 'steady' run, with the pace approximately 8.30 min/mile. As this tends to be more my easier pace I tried to push it a little further. It was a bit of an effort at times as my leg DOMS had developed further leaving me feeling tight, combined with the addition of some gusty winds, but I managed an average pace of 8.09 min/mile. Body Pump class after. 

THURSDAY: an early morning 5 miler at marathon pace. My legs still did not feel back to normal, so I was pleased this was a relatively short run and at an easier pace.

This week started with a bit of a struggle and ended with a bit of success...

MONDAY: Body Pump class - I was so tired today this was a real struggle; my body ached and I just felt totally drained of energy. Not a good start to the week!

TUESDAY: shock - an interval session I actually enjoyed! My plan was for 7 miles with 6 x 1000m reps and 200m recoveries; I found the reps were long enough to be a challenge, but not so long I wanted to crumble to a heap at the end of each one! I aimed for each interval to be around my 10k pace and was very pleased when reviewing my final splits to see all but the final rep (still registering at a very acceptable 7.20 min/mile pace) was on target. A good run. 

WEDNESDAY: although I enjoyed yesterday's run, it was intense, and I also was aware of how tired I had been on Monday. With this in mind, I tried really hard to keep the 10 miles I had on my plan at a steady pace. Consciously keeping my pace down made the run feel a little 'ploddy' but it did work and I averaged 8.33 min/mile and felt much more rejuvenated for my second Body Pump class of the week. 

THURSDAY: 7 miles alternating the pace for each mile from 'easy' to 'hard'. It was very windy when I chose to run which made some of the miles feel a bit tougher than normal, but otherwise I found this quite pleasant, and not as demanding as say a tempo run. I alternated my paces at 8.35, 7.32, 8.12, 7.50, 8.35, 7.52 and 8.23 min/mile.

FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: a morning of double success at Lincoln parkrun. The past few weeks have seen thoughts of a new PB cross my mind as I have edged nearer to my existing marker. After slight disappointment last week, I bounced back today to run not only a new PB of 21:16, but I also managed to finish as First Female for the first ever time at my home Lincoln event. A First Female finish at Lincoln had been a goal of mine to achieve one day, so needless to say I was a very happy runner!

SUNDAY: continuing on with a weekend of success, today I mastered the first of the big training runs - 20 miles. I chose to run with my friend who had lunchtime plans, so this meant an early start time of 7am; which we all know actually means waking up a lot earlier to fuel and get ready. When my alarm went off at 5am I snoozed briefly for a few minutes, but soon got myself out of bed, there was no way I was going to contemplate 20 miles alone and the option to run with my friend was all the motivation I needed. I felt surprisingly relaxed about the prospect of running 20 miles, and even as we ran I felt comfortable for a good majority. I was perhaps a little too comfortable in fact, as the miles and time ticked by I was shocked to see when we had been running for over 90 mins already and I hastily took on a gel before I could dip. Miles 15-16 were a little sticky until we managed to get some water on board, but once refueled we tackled the final miles with determination, finishing in 2.54.36 with a pleasing average pace of 8.43 min/mile. This was the best I have felt after a 20 miler; I was not in bits, my legs did not feel wrecked and I was not totally exhausted. Berlin I am coming for you. ​

The half way point - eight weeks until race day. 

MONDAY: Body Pump class

TUESDAY: usually I prefer longer intervals as opposed to lots of short reps, but today's 7 miles with 4 x 1 mile intervals I found very hard. My legs did not feel the freshest and each mile seemed a lot longer. I stopped for a few seconds after a couple of the reps simply to try gather myself and convince myself I could do it. My paces were not quite what I was aiming for but were a lot better (7.30, 7.25, 7.21 and 7.32 min/mile) than how awful they felt running in practice! Abs class after. 

WEDNESDAY: I was very grateful to see today's run was to be at 'easy' pace after yesterday's struggle. Having said that, it seemed my easy pace was an average of 8.19 min/mile, which is not where I would normally consider my 'easy' pace to be, but it did feel comfortable. Body Pump class after. 

THURSDAY: ten miles, which mentally seemed like a long distance to cover towards the end of the working week. I therefore tried to switch off from my watch and not focus on pace or how far I had covered. This did help make the run more manageable, but also meant my pace was literally all over the place, and in the final few miles I really felt I was dragging my legs home! I made it though, with an 8.21 min/mile average. 

FRIDAY: Rest Day

​SATURDAY: after a couple of weeks edging increasingly closer to my 5k PB I had hoped to continue the trend this week at Lincoln parkrun. It was not to be though; I simply did not have the extra push needed in my legs and also paid the price slightly for a very quick first mile as I darted around the many runners who were enjoying a Saturday morning 5k - definitely not a complaint, as I love to see Boultham Park full! I still ran a 21.41 time, which I cannot grumble about in week eight of marathon training!

SUNDAY: I was completing my long run alone today, the prospect of which did not really fill me with too much joy. I enjoy company and I also find it helps distract me from focusing on pace, distance etc. too much. Running on my own felt more like I was in 'training mode' rather than pure 'running for enjoyment mode'. I aimed to run around 8.30 min/mile and actually finished with an 8.24 min/mile average, which is easily my best pace ever for a longer run. It was not easy by any means and certain miles were really tough, but mentally being in that 'training mode' meant I refused to slow down even when it got hard. I am proud of the progress I have made over the years, I would never have managed anything like today's run even a year ago, but I am also realistic. Today's pace did not feel sustainable for another 10 miles and I know I will need to rein it back a bit for the big day in Berlin. ​

This week has felt so out of routine I do not know how I have kept track of what I have ran or how it went - but somehow I have! I spent the majority of this week away with work in Nottingham supporting a residential programme with over 150 teenagers. Needless to say there has been some long hours and minimal sleep logged, but despite this I have still got my running in...

MONDAY: Rest Day - I was exhausted today after a very early Sunday long run last week and then working an event into the late evening. My legs ached like I had ran a marathon!

TUESDAY: the first of a series of early morning runs in Nottingham following a night of very little sleep. Intervals I can find tough and early morning intervals I tend to avoid at all costs; but with a positive mindset I attempted them. The plan was the same as last week, 6 miles with 16 x 200m reps and 200m recoveries, however this week it simply flew by. I think being in totally new surroundings meant I was distracted by how many reps I had completed and I even hit the majority of my paces despite feeling a little lethargic still. 

WEDNESDAY: early run number two and only a very small window to get some miles logged in. With this in mind I opted for a steady 3 miles, throwing some hills repeats in at the end just to wake the legs up a little. I definitely was not willing to get up any earlier and have even fewer hours in bed to run the 10 miles my plan suggested for today, but I allowed myself to be flexible and not worry about going off plan. 

THURSDAY: early run number three. Today I simply had to bolt out of bed as soon as my alarm went off or else I could have quite easily talked myself out of running. I was so quick to throw my running gear on I did not even notice it was absolutely torrential rain outside. I was committed now though and ran my 7 miles including 5 miles at tempo pace. I was a drowned rat by the time I had finished but a happy one nevertheless!

Last week running felt a bit of an effort with life, which is quite an unusual feeling for me. This week running returned to being just what I needed to get me through the week... 

MONDAY: Body Pump class

TUESDAY: lots of little intervals today, which normally I do not tend to enjoy. The thought of running 6 miles with 16 x 200m reps and only 200m recoveries definitely did not fill me with too much happiness as I programmed them into my Garmin pre-run. Once I got into the running rhythm though I really took to the session; my pace was pleasing too, with exactly half of my intervals at sub 7 min/mile pace and the other eight only just over 7 min/mile pace. The only downside was the miserable wet weather which left me soaked to the skin when I arrived at the gym for an abs class (see image!)

WEDNESDAY: a ten mile mid-week run is always a bit of a test; a test to fit it in with life, and a test on your body. During my last marathon training cycle I gradually got used to them, but this run was still a bit of a shock again. It seemed like I was out forever time wise, although my legs coped well and my pace was much quicker than my plan suggested, averaging 8.29 min/miles rather than 9 min/miles - probably too fast, but it felt like I was plodding quite easily at the time. Body Pump after was the bigger challenge, once I stopped running I was tired and an hour of weights was not really what I wanted. I find it good training though to demand more of my endurance when I am already tired, both mentally and physically, so I stuck with it. 

THURSDAY: my body was weary today from yesterday's efforts and again looking at my plan and seeing a 7 mile tempo run with the 5 middle miles at half marathon pace was not too joyful! I pushed out my doubts though, and just went for it, with the middle miles logging at 8.08 (including over half a mile of uphill running!), 7,48, 7.34, 7.42, 7.53 min/mile pace. The last tempo mile required sheer grit not to just give up and let myself slow down, and I think one of my strengths is being able to override this feeling and simply just not give in! It was a hard run, but it felt good. 

FRIDAY: Rest Day

Away from pounding the pavements, this week has been a bit draining and stressful, so much so that at times I did not even feel like I had the energy left to run. I have managed all my training though, and can honestly say that despite at times really not having the desire to log my miles, I have always felt better after running.  

MONDAY: my usual Body Pump class was cancelled so I opted for a steady cycle on the bike at the gym to try and ease some soreness form my post Clumber Park Half Marathon legs, then totally undid any good I probably gained from this by doing a 30 min high intensity Body Attack class!

TUESDAY: lots of short intervals today - 6 miles with 12 x 400m reps and 200m recoveries. I aimed to keep my intervals at around 7 min/mile pace, and whilst at the halfway point I felt like I would never make it through another 6 reps, I did it, sticking almost perfectly to pace. Abs class at the gym after. 

WEDNESDAY: an early morning 8 miles which required some serious mental grit to get out the door. I woke up and I was hungry; not a good sign when I needed to get out quickly and certainty had no time to digest a substantial breakfast. I lay and debated momentarily if I had the energy to get through 8 miles, but in the end I just grabbed a banana, overrode the doubts and went for it, managing a steady 8.25 min/mile pace. Later in the evening I headed to the gym for another weights based class, again replacing my usual Body Pump. 

THURSDAY:  I felt really drained today; perhaps luckily I seemed more mentally exhausted than physically though. The thought of running hence seemed an effort, so I bargained with myself to ease off the pacing pressure and just do what I felt I could. I had a 6 mile tempo run on the plan, with the four middle miles at 8 min/mile pace. Without pushing myself too much I actually nearly succeeded in meeting this exactly and it felt good to know that I could somewhat naturally run at this pace without feeling I was going all out. 

FRIDAY: Rest Day

Week Four = a quarter of the way through my sixteen week marathon training programme - time is absolutely flying! This week has certainly started to feel like marathon training though...

MONDAY: following Sunday's Round Sheffield Run event my legs were sore today and I generally felt physically tired. I went to Body Pump but could feel it was more effort than normal.

TUESDAY: interval day, and despite my Garmin seeming unable to register a correct pace (I was definitely not running 4 min/mile pace and hopefully not running 11 min/mile pace!) I enjoyed the workout.  6 miles of 5 x 1000m with 200m recoveries was on the plan and I managed to keep all reps between 6.57 and 7.11 min/mile pace. Abs class after. 

WEDNESDAY: after a physically demanding day at work I was not very inspired to get home and lace up my trainers for 7 miles in the persistent heavy rain. I did though; and after a bit of a mental battle during mile one in which my head was trying to convince myself this was pointless, I slotted into a really nice rhythm. I was supposed to run an easy 9 min/mile pace, but finished with an average of 8.21 min/mile. Perhaps I was not as knackered as I felt after all!? Body Pump class straight after soon dispelled that thought though - that was a struggle!

THURSDAY: one of those runs which was just really horrible. I was working late so had the morning to get my run in. I set an early alarm and drew back the curtains with great intention. It was still pouring with rain. I could not face getting soaked to the skin again, so decided to give it an hour to clear and also try bank a bit longer recovery from my evening workout yesterday. Of course it did not stop raining,  which did not put me in a great mood to begin with. ​As I started running I instantly felt like I had no energy, each step seemed an extra effort - not a great feeling with 7 miles ahead!

I spent this week not just successfully ticking off my planned training sessions, but also counting down the days until the weekend - which promised to be an even more running inspired couple of days than normal (if that's even possible!)

MONDAY: Body Pump class - being inside a relative cool, air conditioned studio was welcomed to the intense heat outside!

TUESDAY: this week's intervals were much better than last week. Mother Nature was kind to me and it was not as hot as predicted (although still warm!) and I successfully managed my 6 miles with 3 x 1 mile reps without keeling over. I was pleased with my interval splits; 6.59, 7.01 and 7.20 min/mile respectively, and I tried to keep my recoveries in between slower and more like actual recovery!

WEDNESDAY: in an attempt to beat further hot conditions I rose for an early morning run. My plan was for a steady 6 miles, and after a long hill climb at the start which helped wake both me and my legs up, I accomplished it. Body Pump later. 

THURSDAY: a progression run was on the plan today, something which I find I have to be very disciplined to complete successfully. As is usually the case when I attempt these type of runs my first split was much quicker than I would have preferred - 8.28 min/mile - which then meant I had to be even more considerate with my pacing to ensure I did not end up sprinting the final miles! I gradually increased my pace though, finishing with splits of 8.28, 8.17, 8.10, 7.57, 7.45 and 7.19. 

FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: a special parkrun to start a wonderful running weekend. Today was my 50th parkrun, and I was lucky to be able to also share reaching this milestone with my friend and running buddy (see image). We ran Lincoln, our home event and where we have completed the vast majority of our runs, and we also brought some special treats to share our celebration with our fellow parkunners and thank the volunteers for continuing to making parkrun happen - full blog to follow!

SUNDAY: day two of the running weekend and a return trip to Round Sheffield Run, a multi stage trail race, with my fellow 50th parkrun friend. We took on the event last year and absolutely loved it, it was one of the surprise standouts from 2016. This year’s event was just as wonderful; and running as a female pair again meant we really got to share the race together. It is a lovely concept the whole event - and an added bonus was we knocked 11 minutes off our time from 2016. Full blog to follow - seems I have a lot of writing as well as running to do next week! ​

This week's aim was to get my mind focused more on the fact I am marathon training again. Obviously following a training plan means I am not totally oblivious to it all! However I wanted to work on other areas of my life; improving my diet, getting back to better sleep habits, and also actually using my foam roller again! These are small things but I find they do help. I have managed a few added foam roller slots; forcing myself to get to the gym earlier than usual before classes and using the 'dead time' to release my muscles. My diet has been better (less chocolate!) and I am trying to get back into a routine of getting at least eight hours sleep a night. These good habits were however slightly thrown as I attended a very exciting conference at the weekend...

MONDAY: Body Pump class 

TUESDAY: an interval session which reduced me to a complete mess. Following a mile warm up I had 12 x 200m at 5k pace, with 200m recoveries in between. I have completed the session before and remembered finding it not too bad, just very stop-start. Today it felt awful though. I ran the intervals hard, and although at the time it felt like I was getting slower with each rep, I surprisingly actually managed to stick to roughly my 5k pace. Reviewing my splits afterwards though I noticed I ran the recovery periods too quickly, which is probably why I felt like death at the end; they were less like recovery and more just a continuation of running. I arrived at the gym for my abs class and must have looked as equally as rough as I felt since a few people asked if I was ok! Answer - er, not really!

WEDNESDAY: an early morning run, not something I usually do, but I was working later and still wanted to make it to my usual Body Pump class in the evening. My plan said five miles, but I planned a route knowing it wold be a little more; if was running early I wanted to make the most of the morning tranquility and enjoy something slightly more rural, rather than plodding the desolate streets. I finished with 7 miles, averaging 8.17 min/mile pace, which for an early run, without breakfast and incorporating some hills, I was pleased with. I made it to Body Pump later and feeling fresher having not ran directly before the class, I upped my weights on some exercises, totally killing my arms off in the process! 

THURSDAY: another hard run thanks to a lovely combination of summer warmth and a gusty and equally as warm wind. It felt more of a challenge than it should to hit my target paces, but I kept on track, running 5 miles with the middle three under 8 min/mile pace. 

​FRIDAY: Rest Day and travel to my weekend conference - the parkrun Annual Conference. I had been fortunate to be invited after recently taking on some volunteer work associated to a new project they are delivering. A conference based around running – perfection!  

SATURDAY: a parkrun conference would not be complete without an actual parkrun! The plan was for us all to take part in Tring parkrun (massively boosting their usual weekly attendance by about 150 in the process!), and I also joined a number of fellow delegates in running the 6 miles down to Tring from our base in Berkhamstead before the 9am start. As you come to expect with parkrun, it was wonderful morning and very memorable course to experience - full blog to follow.

SUNDAY: a conference which allocates time during the morning agenda for a Sunday run is simply the best conference! After breakfast we split into various groups to enjoy some group runs around the local area. It was a joy to explore; I didn’t really have a time or distance in mind, and simply took pleasure from chatting to new faces and discovering new routes which I would probably never get the chance to run again. In the end we completed an 8 mile out and back run, mainly trail based with some testing inclines thrown in for good measure. It was the perfect start to the final day. Whilst the conference did not help too much with my aim to improve my lifestyle (very little sleep and much more wine consumed than I am used to!), it was certainly worth it. ​

So here I go again; the journey to Berlin has begun. To be honest I expected this week to feel different; the start of marathon training usually fills me with real excitement and a new extra level of drive. I have of course been committed to training this week, and have loved the structure of having a training plan already, but I just did not get that extra special feeling. I have also already spectacularly failed in my vow to eat less chocolate this training cycle - I am human and it is my absolute weakness! There are many weeks to come of course, and the realisation of full marathon training will undoubtedly hit me, and right now I am just happy to be on this journey back to Berlin.

MONDAY: I started my marathon training with a quick 3 mile run on the treadmill at the gym; a decision made purely so I could take my friend’s birthday present to give to her at our Body Pump class! I absolutely hate the treadmill, so this is good sign of our friendship that I was willing to withstand the dreaded machine to ensure she had her birthday gift!

TUESDAY: back on the road and back to intervals. I enjoyed this run a lot; 5 miles with 4 x 800m reps, and felt like I was running with real passion, which was also demonstrated in my interval pace splits which were all 7 min/mile or below. Abs class at the gym after, which I am going to try and keep up throughout my training. 

WEDNESDAY: 4 steady miles averaging 8.11 min/mile pace - too quick compared to what my plan recommended, but I always struggled to put the brakes on in these early stages of marathon training so have come to expect this now. Body Pump class after. 

THURSDAY: incorporating my run with going to vote in the General Election (by the look on peoples’ faces in the Polling Station I was probably the only one to do this in my area!), I ran another 4 tempo miles. I planned to run a 9 min/mile warm up and cool down, with two 8.30 min/miles in the middle. In reality I ran splits of 8.39, 7.54, 7.54 and 8.02 - see above re rubbish pacing!