Chapter 4 - How beautiful are the feet?

My good friend Helen, who has forgotten more about marathons than I’ll ever know, tells me I should take a photograph of my feet now, at the start of training.  I can’t imagine why.  Surely these pink little piggies are safe.  I mean, I’ve seen Chris’s feet, and they are not nice to behold, but I can’t imagine mine will ever be mashed up in that way.  After all, it’s only 26.2 miles.

It’s all about balance.  Time on the feet (not enough) coupled with siz of feet (way too big) and enormity of feat (don’t even go there).  Add this to the fact that my so-called best friend once told me that my feet were ugly (not her exact words, but it’s what she meant) and I’m starting to worry.

So here they are – my lovely feet.  They are going to take a hell of a bashing in the next few months.

On the training side, I’m pleased with what I’ve done so far, even though it hasn’t been much.  I’m pushing myself harder at runclub, I’ve put in a few extra races, and I’ve gone out running when I didn’t need to.  My Achilles (Achilleses?) are quietening down, and I’m feeling motivated.  Nicky and I devised a great hill circuit last night, and by Christmas I intend to be able to run it all the way without stopping. (I did manage most of it last night, but only the most sunny of dispositions would have called what I was doing “running”).

I’m still scared of the fund-raising, but Jaz is helping keep me sane.  This week, she’s parkrunning with no makeup, so I’m going to return the compliment.  I can’t help thinking that she’ll look rather better than me!  I’m determined not to overegg the charity pudding, but I am truly grateful for all the help I’m getting.  Thanks, Folks!





Chapter Three - Theme from The A-Team

First week of marathon training over, and I’m feeling OK.  Achilles still painful, but I shall soldier on.

I’ve been amazed at how generous people have been.  I always said I’d never do a charity race, because it seems a bit of a cheek to ask people to give me money to do something I wanted to do anyway.  Sponsoring me to tidy the house, or wash the car; now that would be a challenge – but as you can see, I’ve very carefully not taken that route.

One person was clever (and generous) enough to sign onto my justgiving page (http://www.justgiving.com/LizJones1) when I wasn’t even sure I’d managed to set it up (thank you Dr Fox!), and I’ve been genuinely humbled by how many others have pledged their support. My hairdresser (Roberto, from the excellent RMUK on Eastgate) has even offered to donate a haircut, so that not only do I get to put a nice wodge of cash into my account in his name, I also get to start the race looking sleek and well-groomed.

But top of the leader-board – as expected – is Jaz.  It’s been a bit like having a tornado on your side, as the ideas for fund-raising have poured out.  Favourite so far – she’s running parkrun with no make-up.  Might not sound much if you don’t know her, but this is serious stuff.  I am already feeling better about making my target.  Now all I have to do is build on my introductory week with a few more miles, and Bingo!

Chapter Two - Once in a Lifetime

Ever since I got my VLM place, Talking Heads’ “Once in a Lifetime” has been playing on a continuous loop in my brain.  This is not quite as positive as it might seem, as the only line on the tape is the one that goes “..and you may say to yourself, My God, what have I done?”

So I’ve done something – I’ve come up with a Plan.  It starts in January, and in 16 short weeks takes me from jelly-belly run-walker, to finely-honed athlete and (I hope) marathon runner.  Till then, I’ve got a SubPlan, during which I aim to:

• Get control of my asthma
• Shed a few more pounds
• Run faster over shorter distances
• Conquer my fear of hills

The SubPlan plan is to run all the races I like (especially the cross-country ones); to stop whining and start working at run-club; to do at least one decent hill or interval session a week; and to keep the long-runs to a reasonable distance.  No more than 10 miles at a pop, and only 15 or so miles per week (except when I have a longer race).  Loads of off-road stuff to make up for the four months of road-slog to come, and (whisper it) a PB for Chevin Chase and Brass Monkey.

Is it enough?  Can I do it?  More to the point – can I do that and raise money at the same time?  I fear I may need to call on the A-Team. 

Hope I get old before I die

Chapter One - The Story Begins

Something very strange has happened.  I have a place in the London Marathon.  I’m not sure how it came to pass, and I’m wavering between elation and terror.  I’m also wondering what happened to the old Liz Jones, who thought running was what water did, and whose personal commitment to exercise was strictly spectating only.

One thing I know – a blog is obligatory (oblogatory?).  If I work really hard at it, then a blog is the only training I need to do.  It’s like gardening – if you watch enough gardening programmes, you don’t actually have to go outside and mow the lawn yourself.  So here we are – Chapter One – the story begins…

April 2010

Watch Chris run the VLM, and think, “Yeah, I’d quite like a go, but not yet”.  Enter the ballot with no expectation of success, and little concern either way.  Get on with my life.

October 2010

Chris gets in – I don’t.  Am seriously disappointed – and shock myself by realising that I really, really want to do it.  Decide to go for a club place, and plan all sorts of horrible ways of fixing the result (if necessary, kill people).

Look up charity places as a backstop in case I don’t bump off enough Hyde Park Harriers.  Realise that most of them have already allocated their places and start to panic.  Dash off an application to Age UK on the basis that a) I’ve supported them for years via Payroll Giving, so I’ve got previous, and b) I intend to be old one day.

Less than 24 hours later – I’m in.  I have to raise £1,500 (on top of the £100 I’ve paid as a bond) and I have to train as well.  I need a plan…