And so it begins

Two runs to report today. Yesterday my marathon training proper started. I attended a workshop given by my running coach Mary Jennings on Thursday evening. Improvers marathon. So I’m officially an improver. Too right. The running plan is along the lines of last year. What I have to improve is myself.

My two main objectives this year are to (i) improve my core strength, and (ii) not put on weight. The running will be fine; I would like to improve my time and the way to do it is to improve my core strength because that’s what slowed me down last year. The weight thing is totally down to me. Running long distance is no excuse to stuff your face. Putting on weight makes me miserable in lots of ways, so I am determined to avoid it. It’s on the record now.

It was 17 degrees by 9.30 am yesterday so I changed my route to avoid running into the direct sun. I have learned that running in sun is a massive drain on my energy, so I ran around the streets looking for the shady ones. The run itself was fine. I was struggling with the heat early on, but I slowed down and relaxed and stayed in the shade so I enjoyed it.

We had a family do down in my parents’ house yesterday afternoon so I drove down there and left the car. I ran down today to collect it and got my recovery run in for tomorrow. It was a nice evening and everything felt ok. So long may that last. I feel I am off to a good start. Another summer of running underway.  Bring it on.