The Marathon Entry

So I talk a lot about my running to pretty much everyone who’ll listen (and those unwise enough to ask). I haven’t really talked about it much on here, and I think I should probably have a record of it so I can look back in 2019 and go “oh yeah, that was what it was like to be fit and healthy.” :)) Nooo, of course I’ll now be fit and healthy foreverrrr! Well, we’ll see.

At any rate, I can say this: this past year-and-a-bit, where I turned from obese (not just overweight) couch potato to athlete (yeah, that’s what I am now, my GP said so!), has been quite a revelation. It wasn’t always a straight trajectory – I struggled with my hip for a bit and with my knee (I still do, on and off), and in true Wam fashion any small niggle turns into a big “I’ll never run again” disaster – until it invariably improves again. :))

But that’s what’s mostly been amazing – how my body (mostly the lower half of it *lol*) has proven able to do all these things! All these things I never would’ve dreamed of doing, of being capable of, of actually enjoying!!! Most of you may know of how I used to always rail against running, how boring and pointless it was, how I’d never be a runner yada yada. Yet here I am. I was running along the seafront just yesterday, and truly felt the joy of just… being there, doing this, and being capable of doing it. Me, my legs, my muscles, who I’d neglected and mistreated for decades of my (and their) life, and they’d played along, sitting idly on chairs and sofas, not exercising. What choice did they have, they had to do what my head told them to. And so when my head suddenly decided at 35 that it would be a good idea to start running around, my legs were like “Oh. OK then,” and came running with me. And when I ran further and further, they were happy to follow suit. Again, they had little choice, but they did it so well and so uncomplainingly, it is really amazing to me.

I remember when I was still miserable and I went to that Qi Gong type thing and they were talking about disconnect between mind and body… how if you are uncomfortable in your body, your mind “wanders” and is not present. That definitely resonated with me (I mean, I am ridiculously “absent-minded”). I never liked my body – I wasn’t necessarily actively “fighting” it, I just wanted nothing to do with it. That has definitely changed – not so much in terms of looks (I still wish I had bigger boobs and smaller thighs), but in terms of common goals. I have these things I want to do, I need my body to accomplish, and so I’ll do what I can to help it (nutrition, gym, stretching, the loathsome foam roller…), and it thanks me by doing those things for me. It’s fucking awesome. :))

Two and a half weeks to go until the marathon. I ran 38km (24 miles) on Sunday, I felt like I could easily have done another 5km at the end, so basically I feel as ready as I’m ever gonna be to finish a marathon. I am looking forward to the stupid thing! (just a tiny bit scared the weather will be awful.) And after I’m done I’m going to London the next day to see Bitter Ruin live. :)) Might have to do it sitting down but I’ll damn well be there! 😀

This Marathon Entry would be incomplete without a link to my fundraising page which has less than £99 to go until I reach my target. And did you know there are perks too, Kickstarter style? In addition to those you will of course have my eternal gratitude! 😀