Janathon run done and VLM news
It’s only taken me until day 4 but today I got dressed in my running gear, took my Garmin outside to get a signal and waited for the accuracy thing to get under 40ft while I stood there with The Cure’s ‘Accuracy’ in my head.
When it was ready, I switched my iPod on and appropriately enough, the first track to come on was the Audiofuel Juneathon mix (I think a Juneathon mix is appropriate enough for Janathon, don’t you?) and so I started off on my run and dragged myself slowly round my usual 1.5 mile route and got home and thought yes, I really must defer my Virgin London Marathon place.
This is something I’ve been thinking about for a while. The initial europhoria of getting the happy face magazine landing on the doormat wore off quicker than half a Junior Disprin when I thought about the crappy times I’d done for my recent two half-marathons and the amount of training it would entail. But I had six months to train and it wasn’t like I was a complete newbie and after getting some encouraging comments from people, felt inspired again to train for it, especially when I won a wonderful prize from Sole UK, which consisted of them adopting me and providing me with running gear, a personal trainer, nutritionist, gym membership and loads of other stuff to get me ready for 22nd April.
As assignment deadlines loomed and I caught three colds in two months, my training slacked off. Then it was my birthday which was spent in Paris, then Christmas, then New Year and my training ground to a halt as I spent more time in the pub than in the gym and so today I decided that there was no way I would be able to train properly and do the marathon and Sole UK justice and I would be deferring my place.
Still, this gives me over a year to get my training back to how it should be and have already thought about maybe training for the Paddock Wood Half instead (warning: clicking on the link will transport you back to the 90s).
Stats
Distance: 1.55 miles
Time: 18:08
Pace: 11:44 m/m
Calories: 162
Juneathon mixes: 1
VLM places deferred: 1
Gutsy decision and we will do a fun half marathon and go to the pub.
-Team Jog Blog.
Yay, I like that idea.
It is a big decision, and you need everything to be in place: your head, your body and your training. I’ll be cheering you on whenever you do it.
It’s a big thing to take on. Sensible decision, I think.
I am already signed up to run the Paddock Wood Half (I was a tad confused with their 90’s style website – maybe they are waiting for it to become cool again). Much closer to home and much less faffing around involved.
Steve.
Sorry to see you are having to defer VLM but it sounds like the right decision. Paddock Wood Half looks interesting, once I have regained the use of my eyes, and can even use it as an excuse to visit family afterwards. Keep up the good with Janathon!
Very brave to defer VLM, but am sure you’ll feel happier knowing it’s not hanging over you. Keep up with your running.. PS: perhaps you could offer to redo Paddock Wood’s site for them!!
Tough decision to be made, but I guess everything needs to be right for marathon training, so sounds like you’ve made the right decision.
My eyes are still hurting from that website.
Good Luck for next year, with a whole year to train you’ll be able to rock it on the day.
I am loving that website, there are some seriously funky graphics and colour schemes!
Brave decision.
I’m sure you’ll do well at your next half m.
X
Shame about VLM, but hey there no point doing it if you dont want to, so though not an easy one, its probably the right one.
Steve @copy7t Stockwell has talked me into doing the PW 1/2 as my first so maybe see you there
There is absolutely no point in doing it if you do not feel right about it.
You have plenty else going on with uni and getting more stories published so it is understandable if this isn’t your top priority at the moment.
Its time will come however and you will be able to approach it feeling strong.
Good luck
I missed this post and decision.
I was ready to quit last week, my times have been so slow recently that it feels like any marathon would be a day long affair – not really what I had planned.
I don’t think I can defer for a second time so I’m going to knuckle down to the training plan and re-asses nearer the time.
I think it eminently sensible to delay until you feel you can do the event justice, you might never bother again.