One down, three to go

Quarters that is - I am now officially over a quarter of the way through my marathon training. I am onto the second sheet of A4 of my training plan. I am celebrating with a homemade sausage roll.

What an exciting life I lead now. My whole life revolves round my training plan. When I can eat, when I can drink, when I can socialise, when I can lie down with my legs elevated and watch a DVD... it's all ruled by the training programme. But I definitely feel like I've achieved something 4 weeks in.

I did have an interim goal for this first quarter - to run a 10k in less than 55 mins. Just in case you are wondering, I failed. But only just. I ran a 10k in 56mins this morning, so close but no cigar (which is just as well because cigars are not generally recommended as part of a training regime). I'm actually very chuffed with that because I felt pretty rubbish while running this morning - very sluggish and unfit. And it's a PB! Tick.

I've conducted a mini review of my progress so far and I'm giving me an 7 out of 10. I've put the runs in, even with the odd hangover but I didn't do so good on two of the interval sessions, nor did I make a sub 55 10k. So I can't give full marks but definitely a gold star for trying.

I've learnt some important lessons in these first four weeks too - that it's wise to keep your mouth closed (flies taste rubbish), that toddlers can heckle too, that I should remember to breathe and most importantly, that rest day means rest. I've acquired a new pair of trainers, 3 new pairs of socks and a taste for vanilla flavoured For Goodness Shakes. I wonder if they sell those in New York?

Now I'm looking forward to part deux, and the next set of trials. I think the main challenge for this week is to force myself to run while I'm on holiday in Spain - high temperatures and cold San Miguels are huge disincentives and I feel a real test of discipline coming on.

Here goes...

LON