Running Up Around the Bend

Welcome to the penultimate post about my Edinburgh marathon adventure. This time next week it will all be over. There is one more post to come, hopefully giving a vivid account of the big event. After that, what on earth will I have to write about? Will my life be devoid of purpose and meaning? Will I be yesterday’s new toy, of no interest to anyone? Will I be doomed to ask endless rhetorical questions?

This week I have been gathering my bits and pieces together for the journey north. I have also been trying to finalise my nutrition strategy. The week ahead is when I should be upping my carbohydrate intake. Porridge is a good way to do this  – along with pasta, rice, pulses and wholemeal bread.  However, the other morning it did not feel right eating porridge when the weather is fine – for me, porridge is one of my seasonal markers, more associated with the winter months. And then I discovered overnight oats! I mix rolled oats, milk, natural yogurt and a pinch of salt in a jar, seal it, and then put it in the fridge overnight. Come morning – voila! A creamy cereal to which I add honey and my choice of fresh fruit. You can find many variations on this basic recipe on-line.

Today was probably my last run, at least of any distance, before the marathon proper. It has been a difficult balancing act trying to get in the miles while not aggravating my iliopsoas or risking a twisted ankle – to which I am prone. I decided to do the 6.5 mile circuit of Pitsford Water, a course I have run several times – more so when I was training for the Brighton marathon. It is gently undulating, running along the water’s edge, over a causeway, across a bridge, and through some woodland. While I know the course well, there is a three-mile stretch that curves and undulates like a large snake making its lazy way over rocks. This is the inspiration for my title, taken from the 1970s song by Creedence Clearwater Revival. I always seem to underestimate the number of bends along this stretch, so I think I’m closer to the end than I really am.

It was quite a hot day, so I thought I would treat myself to a lovely Mr Whippy at the end of the run. That’s what I call training!

One week to go until the Edinburgh marathon. You know the score – I’m running to raise money for Kettering Mind, our local mental health charity. If you would like to support me, here is my fundraising page. Thank you!