“Is It Number One or Number Two? I Just Want To Know How Much Time I Have.”

Ace Ventura, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

I realised this week that I was going to need to take my daughter out of school to come with us for the Marathon. Well, that’s not completely true. My wife gave me a gentle kick about it as I’d completely forgotten. Whoops.

So I needed to fill in a form for two days off. For those not in the UK, schools have the power to fine you for what they see as ‘unauthorised’ absence. It can be £60 a day, for each parent. So potentially, £240.

So here’s a moral maze. Do we just pretend she’s ‘sick’ and at home, and not on a plane to Belfast. Do we play the dead granny/pet card? Or do we just tell the truth?

Honesty is the best policy I’ve always been taught. I write on the form that I’m running the Marathon and taking her with me for support. I realise that this might sound a bit wanky humble brag to the school, but that’s not the intention. It’s the old joke – how can you tell someone is doing a Marathon? Don’t worry, they’ll let you know..

In the end, the honesty pays off. Not only do we not get fined, the Headteacher writes back on the Form that he wishes me good luck in the Marathon. Winner.

It’s still Easter. Technically. Jesus has risen or something, so we get Monday off as a Public Holiday. Today is also the first day I’m able to look ahead at the long range weather for the Marathon.

In 24 hours, it changes 4 times. Light cloud with sunny spells on first check, then it predicts thick cloud, then it changes to sunny all day, to then predicted light rain. All of this at around 14-16 degrees. The only consistent part is light wind.

There’s an old cliche in running, in life really, that you can’t control the uncontrollable. So whatever it decides to do, fuck it. If it’s warm and sunny, I just go out slower. That’s life. I’m not a masochist.

Tuesday is a track night, and it’s the last Tuesday I need to do a big warm up. Again, I’m meeting up with others, except now there are only the three of us. Everyone else has their Marathon this weekend, so they are on a low mileage week.

The mood is once again pretty good. We’re nearly there, we can feel it, and we know we’ve put the graft in. The session itself is called Pace-2-Pace. It’s basically 800m at a certain pace, immediately followed by 200m at a faster pace, then a rest. Repeat with various amounts, but always go into the 200m fast.

As usual, despite high spirits, the warm up is leggy and the thought of now sprinting round the track doesn’t fill me with confidence. Once I get going though, I find something, and I’m flying. Sub 7 min pace flying. Another tough but good speed session done.

This week I don’t have to be up early for my Easy 6 miles on the Wednesday, I’ve got time in the evening. I’ve noticed a tiny bit of soreness in my knee all day, but nothing more than a slight awareness.

When I start to run though, it is sore. In fact, for the first mile, it does bother me more than it ever has done. Interesting. I plod on, but if it’s no better by 2 miles, I’ll call it quits and stop.

It does clear up, and I get through the 6. Something very much to keep an eye on. It can fuck right off at this point. I haven’t got in this deep for my bastard knee to fall apart at this late stage of the game. Still, it’s another good night on my shuffle..

Now completely paranoid (or maranoid as I’ve learnt) about my knee, I’m feel a slight trepidation about Thursdays nights Intervals. To add to my problems, the Met Office announce that the UK is to get a mini-heatwave next week. Ffs.

Thursdays Intervals are very much a case of de ja vue. Same drill as last week, pretty much the same weather. 3 x 3km at Threshold Pace, followed by 1km at Marathon Pace. It’s sunny, with a slight chill in the air.

I’m tired. I can’t tell if I’n physically tired, or mentally tired, I just know I’m tired. This is the last intense session I will do before the big day. Everything from now on is ‘easy’ pace. This is a slog, everything on my left side hurts, but I battle through it. Again, my playlist has to take some credit. I mean, who doesn’t love this classic?

Can I then be arsed to get up on Friday morning for hills? Can I shite. But up I am. My knee, rather surprisingly, feels absolutely fine. I was expecting to wake up feeling like Marathon training had finally broken me. I don’t feel any niggles at all on my run, and even a bit less tired. Weird.

Which is just as well, as I’m doing this week’s long run on Saturday morning rather than Sunday. Match and pub on Saturday = me no likey Sunday mornings. Plus, I want to watch the London Marathon on the tele on Sunday. For inspiration, allegedly.

Even though it’s only 14 miles this week, I’m still up and away early. I just want it out the way to be honest. Unfortunately, that mindset carries over into the run. I can’t be arsed, I just want it over.

I don’t feel tired in the legs or physically, it’s all in my head. I thought this would be an easy and enjoyable finish to the long runs, but in the end it feels like a chore.

Rather than take this as a negative, I see this as a positive. I’m ready, in my legs and in my head. Both know the training is complete and I can do no more, so let’s just get this done. I complete 14.21 miles in 2:11:49, at a 9:17 pace.

One week left to go, and the last week involves very little. Three easy runs, very little mileage, mo intensity. I would look forward to it if there wasn’t that Marathon at the end of it..

Mood: Ready