Marathon training requires a huge amount of commitment - and I don't just mean in terms of the time involved in actually running - more like the little things that you don't consider when you commit to running a marathon - things like the fact that you will be constantly hungry and probably constantly tired.
One thing I never factor in is the fact that after a long run in the cold I hardly have the energy to hold my own head up but if our 19 month old cockerpoo hasn't been out running with me she requires a lengthy walk on my return!! Try reasoning with a bouncy fluffball that Mummy can't walk very fast today!! On one such occasion I bumped into a very dreamy looking chap also walking a bouncy fluffball, he attempted to strike up a conversation with me - I could hardly speak I was so tired - in my head I was actually wondering how I was going to be able to make it home. I managed to mumble something in response, needless to say he gave me a weird look and excused himself with a "well have a great day then..." as I shuffled off (literally) in the other direction - another one bites the dust. (It is a constant source of amazement to me that I am still single btw!)
It would be nice to be completely selfish and focus solely on marathon training - eat, sleep and recover right all the time right? But I am a single mum of three little pickles and I work full time and my life simply isn't like that - I don't think life is like that for most people and if I am honest I don't think I would want it to be.
Last week I took my Mum to my uncle's funeral - he died right after Christmas, he was very old and suffering with dementia and had a stroke before Christmas. Mum and I managed to visit him in hospital, he was so frail and I think it was hard for Mum to see her brother like that. I think there are times in life when you realise you are the adult now instead of your parents and this was one of those times I guess - another was when I realised I was the designated driver whenever we went somewhere instead of my Mum!!! It was lovely to be able to reconnect with some family we hadn’t seen for ages but did serve as an all too stark reminder of how short life is.
What I am trying to say is that with the best will in the world and no matter how selfish you are about sticking to your plan and never deviating, life will get in the way and throw you some curveballs. And I think the point is that life should get in the way, marathon training requires dedication and hard work but it also requires you to be flexible and to juggle and be creative with your use of time to get it all done. But along the way it is important to remember that you have a life outside of running and that life itself is all too short. So no beating myself up over one missed session, just get out there and live it.
Much love xx