C19 has really shook everything up so I thought I would approach my blog for my X marathon a bit differently and do a daily update on the week leading to the race and on the race itself.
Monday 3rd Aug no work I decided that due to my hernia this week was going be the most relaxing pre race week known to man! I began my day with 15 mins of sun salutations and then a nice easy breakfast before heading out on the mountain bike for a short bike to the shops. In the afternoon I went to my regular guy for a massage, my third in two weeks. I had previously had my legs “done” as due to C19 I had not seen him in over 3 months. I felt that they were in good shape so got my neck and shoulders massaged which felt really great!
Tuesday 4th work was cancelled due to torrential rain. More yoga when I woke up this time 15 mins concentrating on neck and shoulders to see if I could retain the flexibility the massage had given me. After breakfast it was death by laptop as I caught up on social media and mail. I spent the remainder of the day ironing, packing, cleaning and buying Xmas presents! Just before bed time I spent 30 mins doing a yin yoga session then went to bed. Work is off again tomorrow so no alarm and make sure I get at least eight hours sleep.
Wednesday 5th another day without work. I had a great sleep waking at 0700 then dozing again till just after 8, 9 hours in total. First thing upon rising was a 30 min yoga session concentrating on lower back and hamstrings. I went for a short walk and when I got home finished my packing leaving some scribbled reminders about last minute items. In the evening I led a short bike ride for Greener Kirkcaldy.
Thursday 6th no work today so my SOSAD (significant other sharing a diary) and I took our bikes, loaded them on a train and had a little shopping trip to Edinburgh. It was strange being in the city in August and not seeing a show! In the evening I took my running group thru a hill session whilst I watched and shouted at them. Yoga before bed aiming for another 8 hours before travelling down tomorrow.
Friday 7th just under 8hours sleep. Up and straight on the mat for some morning stretches. Breakfast and then out the door to get the first of 3 trains today. Three trains, three different companies and 3 different attitudes to dealing with C19. Got to the hotel. Booked in had food and adjourned to my room for a very fitful night.
Saturday 8th 7 hours disturbed sleep with traffic, geese and the heat all combining to make it a very disturbed night.
The race. It was strange standing in a socially distanced quad for the off. That was how the organisation got the ok to run the race. Thirty runners started in 4s with 10 mins between each quad. One aid station supplying only water with runners supplies to the side each cache 2m distant from the next. In the words of the Headboys Is this the shape of things to come? The forecast was of high temps with no let up at all during the day disapointingly it was correct! My app said 29 degs although there was talk of it being in the low 30’s. The course was a loop around Caldecotte lake approx 3.7 miles, flat and on excellent paths. 
My quad started at 0840 and even then the temp was in the low 20’s by the third lap the temperature was getting hotter than I was comfortable with and my water consumption was rising along with the temperature. As well as drinking a lot of water I used it to soak a buff which I was wearing on my neck and my cap this helped cool me down. The lake was a great place to run and Enigma running have many events there, as well as the marathon there was a half and ultra and the same on Sunday all under the C19 rules. The final one of which meant that there was no prize giving or medal presentations you simply picked up a medal from a bench by the finish!
Finished in 5h40 not a great performance but with the heat and my hernia I was happy to get through relatively unscathed!
My next marathon is in 4 weeks on the Yorkshire Moors with 3000+ ft of climb. I have decided to defer my entry as I do not want to be airlifted off the moors if I get in trouble.
Retired and living it! 