A nasty cold puts a dent in Zest's deputy chief sub editor Katie Teehan's half marathon preparation
Dreaming of the Reading Half Marathon finish line
I have a confession to make. It's been a week since I trained for the *Mizuno Reading Half Marathon, which is less than three weeks away. Not because the lure of nights out with friends or cosy nights in front of the telly overcame my motivation to head out running in the cold and dark, but because I've had a pretty rotten cold – the kind that I'd complain of as man flu if I was male. But after seven days and (eek) three missed sessions from Zest's half marathon training plan, last night I got back on track.
I was looking forward to it about as much as an overdue dentist appointment, so I used every trick I've learned over five years of running to get myself out the door. Absolutely no sitting down once I get home from work – straight into my running gear and out again within 15 minutes. Make sure my iPod playlist 100% matches my mood. Right now I'm loving Muse, and Florence & The Machine's Dog Days Are Over never fails to make me pick up the pace. Wear my 'lucky' race-day top. (Having a superstition makes me more like an athlete, right?!) And finally, flat-out lie to myself. Before leaving the house I tell myself I'll only run for 20 minutes. After the first mile, I convince myself I can take that shortcut home after two. And so on.
What do celebs listen to when they work out?
Turns out, I'm a pretty good liar and once I'd wheezed through the first ten minutes, every step wasn't the struggle I'd expected. OK, so my energy levels weren't quite what they usually are, but I managed 5.2 miles in a very respectable time of 46 minutes. Best of all? The frustration of an enforced break in training has given my motivation a serious boost and I'm focused on the finish line again. The next big test of my dedication is a trip to Brussels this weekend to see my sister. My trainers are definitely going in the suitcase – but will I pull them out on Sunday morning for a 12-mile run around a strange city? Watch this space....
*Normal entries are closed, but there are still charity places available here
