It’s been quite some time since I’ve posted a blog. Apologies for that. Life got insanely busy again.
I’ve mainly been keeping quiet because I’d planned to run Athens Marathon. I didn’t want to spend the summer worrying about my training on the net. I have chronic fatigue, an undiagnosed bowel condition, a slipped disc that flares into my sciatic nerve, two broken toes and arthritis in my right foot fracture that I gained in 2016. Instead I simply got down to it and knuckled in after the family triathlon in June.
I used my MoveGB membership to do at least two different fitness classes a week. Mostly Zumba which I totally love now. Tried out some different forms of Yoga. I even gave Pole Dancing a go, Tai Chi and Spin Class. I tried all sorts of things I wouldn’t have bothered with with a standard gym membership. It’s important to find your groove for when it’s not okay to run as we all need a break and to cross train other things. I ran two or three times a week and focused on a weekend long run. My longest training run was half marathon distance.
It seemed logical that my return to racing start at Athens Marathon, having been twice before there is something about that race that keeps me coming back. I travelled to Athens with my partner Jack. I managed the race in just over 6 hours which isn’t my worst time or my best but is still a middling time and an achievement to having done my 10th marathon. It feels pretty great to have finally got to 10 after having had to cancel Portsmouth Marathon last year. I was ripe with anxiety and doubt!
I also raised £290 for the Wallace and Gromit’s Grand Appeal charity for the Bristol Children’s Hospital. 
Now I have done 10 marathons the question is what next? I’m not sure I’m built to be a fast marathon runner no matter how much training I do. I might switch up to trying to become a faster 5k or 10k runner and make HM’s my focus for 2019. I can’t bring myself to say the words ‘no more marathons’ and I still like the idea of an ultra. I’d defo need to get my marathon time to a more comfortable place before I tried even the shortest ultra-distance. But who knows … maybe one day.
Happy running
Xxx
Eleanor
Eleanor's Endeavour 