You might wonder why anyone would train in secret for a marathon. You might not wonder at all, but here's a bit about why I am.
I'm female, in my mid thirties and I've been running on and off for a few years now, not taking it or myself too seriously. I was more than happy to stick with 5k distance, not really taking much notice of form or pace and had taken part in two races (a long time ago) with only the goal of getting round.
This changed at the end of 2011 when I suffered an unexpected health issue that, but for the grace of goodness knows who or what, could have left me unable to walk. Recovery was slow, my motivation was at an all time low and my weight was at an all time high. Not really knowing what to do with myself I came across a book in an online ad called Run Fat Bitch, Run by Ruth Field, aka The Grit Doctor. I could not put it down. Ruth's no nonsense writing style coupled with her own tales of becoming a better runner really put a boot up my now considerable bum to stop feeling sorry for myself and get on with things.
The next push for me was plumping for a six month subscription to the magazine Women's Running for the princely sum of £8. As well as some sound advice, there were stories in there by other women who'd had some really tough times and gone on to achieve some truly amazing things which made me wonder if, with the same enormous effort put in by these people, I could do the same.
Long story short(ish) I spent 2012 weening myself off of the treadmill at the gym and building up some confidence and speed on the road. I devoured every single piece of information anyone had for me about running, some good, some not so great and in 2013 started to feel that my efforts were paying off. I got quicker, my body shape changed dramatically and my endurance built nicely.
All the while my other half has encouraged me relentlessly. He's come along to races and waited for me to do my thing. He's told me that he's proud of the things that I've achieved. He's even come on one or two runs but has steadfastly maintained that he doesn't understand why I run (he finds it boring) and that he wouldn't ever take it up as a hobby. Some things have changed over the past few months (I won't go into them as it's his story to tell if he wants to) and he told me one evening in the pub (where all the best ideas come from) that he needs something to focus on to take his mind off of other things in his life. Only partly joking I suggested signing up for a marathon in 2015 and spending 2014 building up base fitness. "That could be an idea" he said, "only I can't see me keeping up with this running lark for that long. Let's do one in 2014".
This was at the start of December 2013.
A few pulled strings later and we are both signed up to the Brighton Marathon with an additional bonus of the Reading Half the month before. We're both excited and utterly terrified. Sometimes he'll look at me and say very quietly "26 miles is really long way, isn't it?" before giggling like a mad man. And he's right. I hadn't planned to run a marathon this year and I'm not sure I'll be ready but I'll be darned if I won't be by his side on the start line and in the pub comparing medals with him when we're done.
So here were go...
