Laura marathon blog  2

Laura's London Marathon Blog #2

Hello! Welcome to blog number two! Sorry in advance that I’m actually going to have to talk about running in this one. So since my previous blog I have learnt that RUNNING IS HARD. To get the ball rolling here’s a few things that have happened to me since training: dodged a duck and fell down a pot hole, got blown by the wind into an ice cream van and threw up an entire pack of strawberry laces. I never thought I’d be the type of person to become obsessed with running but I completely have. Not necessarily loving running, but it’s constantly on my brain. 

There’s no way I’d be motivated without a training plan, and my plan is pretty bulletproof. There is one person to thank for me actually coming close to being a runner and that’s Hogarth gym manager Vojin. He has been completely selfless and picked me up and dusted me off every single time. He even tracks my progress from my watch (don’t let him sync to your watch he’ll never leave you alone). He’s the best, and it turns out that doing the marathon on your own is a completely terrifying and lonely experience so having him as the little voice in my head has been beyond wonderful.

My training is basically three runs a week, two gym sessions for strength and one set of intervals. My weeks go a little bit like this-

Monday rest/die/cry Tuesday 5 miles Wednesday strength (legs, calves- who knew calves were a thing?) Thursday intervals/hills Friday 7 miles and strength Saturday rest/eat/sleep Sunday long run. Last week I ran 15 miles, this weekend 17- please pray for me. It’s bizarre how obsessed with the plan I’ve become. I’m finding it pretty hard to balance running with working two jobs/being a full time eater/in a long term relationship with Netflix, but if I don’t stick to it I really beat myself up, maybe I’m actually secretly enjoying having a training plan? Some weeks I feel like Mo Farah and others I feel like I’m getting nowhere with nothing to show for it but a constant pang of hunger, pollution spots on my face and slowly disappearing toes. But today is a good day and I think I’m going to be fine.

Fundraising is going well! People have been so generous which just makes me more ambitious to raise as much as I can. It’s also reminding me that maybe I am doing something a tiny bit amazing which is very humbling. The Children’s Society have an awesome team running this year, one of the guys has run 10 MARATHONS!! I think I’ll stick with him, he’ll probably really struggle so need me to pull him along. My open mic night fundraiser is here at the Hogarth on Thursday 22nd of March, lots of the Hogarth staff will be performing with also an open invite to anyone who wants to give it a go! I’ve also asked (forced) a lot of my ArtsEd pals to perform, and they are seriously talented people. There will be a raffle which is currently shaping up to be EPIC. Prizes include a free months membership, treatments, free PT’s, theatre tickets etc. All donations will go to my charity and it would be really lovely to see lots of familiar faces there to support. Please don’t hesitate to contact me or ask at reception for more details. Running this thing will be a whole lot easier knowing I’ve given absolutely every bit I can to this charity and these girls who didn’t deserve to get left with nothing.

Race day is 2 months away and I feel nervous, hysterical, elated and terrified all at the same time. HOW EXCITING IS THAT?

Laura

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