I've decided to run the Shakespeare marathon in Stratford next April. Training for this will start on the week of Christmas! That's about 7 weeks away so until then I'll keep ticking over with four or five runs per week including a double figure long run on the weekend.
I'm going to give the Hansons marathon method another go as this time I should be a lot fitter and more prepared for it. Hopefully running a spring marathon will mean fewer interruptions such as holidays so I might be able to go for a PB, and even try for the ever elusive sub 3:30.
This Sunday I'm going to head down to the canal for my long run for the first time in a long time. This is because over the summer a teenage girl was found murdered down there and apart from not being allowed to run along the canal due to the police investigation it just didn't seem right to do so anyway. I unwittingly ran past the spot where her body was eventually found just two days after she had gone missing (although was not aware since it had not been made public at that point). They always say it's runners and dog walkers who discover these things. Just thinking about it made me feel queasy. The fact that anyone could be attacked let alone murdered on the canal is shocking enough. It's a very popular route for runners, cyclists, walkers and people live in houseboats along it so for anyone to be attacked there is very unusual. The prime suspect was found to have taken his own life not too far away in a wooded park. All very unsavoury and a complete shock to the area. I've lived here for sixteen years and this is the first time anything like this has happened.
So, I'm going to get back down to the canal and see how it feels. I've always loved running there and really shouldn't let these things put me off. They are the exception not the norm. Life goes on regardless.
