Happily Ever After

Life in The Rural Retreat with a beautiful wife, three cats, garden wildlife, a camera, a computer – and increasing amounts about running

Earlier posts can be found on Adventures of a Lone Bass Player, where this blog began life. Recent entries can be found here.

I Am The One In Ten

by Russell Turner - 19:54 on 05 October 2017

There’s been no mistake – today I received an email confirming that from 386,050 applicants I was one of the chosen few (around 40,000) to win a place in the London Marathon. That means almost one in ten were lucky – pretty good odds – but no consolation if you’re a keen runner who’s been trying for years to get in. Many have.

As a non-runner, who entered on a whim and hit the spot first time, I should feel guilty. I don’t; it’s an opportunity and I’ll make the most of it. I completed my second brisk walk today – longer than the first – and will do my third on Sunday, by which time Matchgirl the Trainer will have drawn up the couch to 5k schedule, having been assured I’m not at risk of myocardial infarction.

However, before the training proper begins there’s the small matter of some running gear. Whether Matchgirl plans to march me into the Inverness running store and supervise my kitting out remains to be seen but she’s already uttered the magic word ‘Lycra’, which is a worry.

Shorts may be a contentious issue, for I’m not sure that the world is ready for my unadorned legs. Some tasteful jogging bottoms may be called for. We’ll see.

Sadly, it’s not all good news. Matchgirl received her official bad luck email today, and presumably Cathy the Runner did too or we’d have heard from her by now. Matchgirl consoled herself with a gaudy new pair of running shoes. Any excuse.

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