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.

H+H+H=W

by Russell Turner - 15:03 on 17 April 2018

Weather prospects could be worse. The temperature forecast for The Big Day in London remains stuck at 20ºC, with little wind. Last weekend the Boston Marathon was run in 3ºC and torrential rain resulting in several cases of hypothermia and even some of the elite runners dropping out because they couldn’t cope with the conditions.

Given a choice between possible sunstroke or freezing to death I’d choose the heat every time; at least you can slow down, find shade and have a drink.

I’ve now definitely set aside my sub five-hour target. If it happens I’ll be delighted but more important is to enjoy the day and the atmosphere and finish happy, rather than a wreck, or not at all. As Matchgirl reminded me this morning, you only run your first marathon once so make the most of it.

My penultimate taper run – a mere 30 minutes – took place this morning when towards the end I faced the three Hs at the same time: hill, heat and headwind. It’s not a good combination. Take it easy is the rule for the final week, so I walked for a minute before trotting to the end of the half-hour, just to prove that I could.

One run and five days left.

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