Progress

Three weeks into the start of my marathon training and progress is definitely being made. A series of small achievements culminated to make this morning's 'run' pretty chuffing good. Firstly, I actually overtook another runner today. Up until this point I've just about managed to outpace a few ambling walkers but mostly been eating the dust of every other runner I've encountered out and about. This particular individual was probably having a really bad day or harbouring some kind of major injury but the satisfaction of closing the gap, passing and then carrying on my merry way gave me encouragement.

The second little milestone was that I didn't look at my watch once during my outing today. During these first few weeks I've been aiming to gradually increase my time pounding the pavements and so have been furiously clock watching willing every second to tick by before I can stop, collapsing in a sweaty heap. Today I picked a starting point, chose a route I thought would be about the right distance and then just ran. I'm finally getting into a bit of a rhythm. During the first weeks I felt awkward, slow, out of puff, in pain and stiff but having consulted friends and the internet I realised that this is quite normal and that if I just persevered then things would get better. Well they have and by the time I reached my chosen 'finish line' the clock informed me I'd run continuously, without slowing to a walk or wishing seconds didn't feel like hours, for 31 minutes and 52 seconds. Result. No idea how far I went, probably about 800 metres but I'm not going to worry about that yet. That's over 10 minutes more spent non stop jogging than I've managed on any other outing.

I could have carried on but wanted to end on a high (and preferably without the need of paramedic assistance) so I stopped where I told myself I would. Then came the happy happy time. I broke into a grin and it didn't subside for a good five minutes. I had actually enjoyed myself and felt like I could do it all again tomorrow... which is just a well because I do, and at least four times a week for the next five and a half months. I know it sounds ridiculous... it was only 31 minutes and 52 seconds but I think that might be the longest period of time I've jogged continuously in my entire life. And it felt great.

Signing my life away...

I don't really enjoy running, I never have. At school I used to whinge about having to do 800 meters round the athletics track. 100 meters I could manage - a short sharp burst of energy and then a long period of recouperation.

Friends and colleagues bang on about how running relieves stress, improves fitness, helps weightloss, gets you out and about and generally lifts the mood. I've always found that it's dull, monotonous and gives me a stitch.

So I'm not quite sure what possessed me to enlist the companionship of one of my best friends, slap down the credit card and sign up to running one of the biggest and more challenging city marathons in the world... New York.

Here I am with six months to go. I've bought a book called The Non Runner's Marathon Trainer, been out for my first 'jog', which consisted mostly of walking, and am oscillating wildly between delirious excitement and utter fear. I'm scared that i'm never going to like running, that i'll never be able to go further or faster and that i'll end up regretting my decision. But just taking the lead is the genuine desire to really enjoy running and the incentives that it will make me stronger, healthier and happier.

Only time will tell...