Last 8 miles done pre marathon. I ran up to Finsbury Park along the Parkland Walk then over to Highgate, one lap around Highgate Woods, up to Muswell Hill, and onto Ally Pally. Honestly it was a pretty perfect run - time wise, nothing special. But the weather was that gorgeous early Spring warm sun we've so been lacking recently - which makes all the more special when it does come out. The sight of the sun filtering through the trees along a straight stretch of the Parkland Walk is so uplifting. On top of that is the luxury of running through the lovely Highgate Woods early morning plus feeling like I'm on top of the world in Ally Pally with London's skyline sprawling out in front of me, also bathing in the sunlight. Gorgeous.

Running early in the morning is generally preferable for me. I feel less tired. More positive. More up for giving it my best.  I like running along the Thames Path in the morning with all the London workers. Women in suits – also in trainers, but for comfort not speed. Men lycra-ed up, curled over their racers and weaving in and out of the traffic to get to work first. Running over one of London’s bridges always fills me with inspiration. It’s an iconic site.

Running is like moulding yourself out of plasticine. At first, you are all hard and unflexible. Then as you warm up you become more fluid, easy to shape, bouncy even. The first three or four miles always feel hard. Then as these pass running becomes easier, my joints are looser, my muscles more flexible and light. It’s as if I’ve melted the ice off the engine and the car is running smoothly again. I wonder if it is this reason that I dislike 5km races as I’ve only just warmed up by the time the race has finished. But other runners must feel like this as well so I don’t suppose I can use this excuse!

I joined the gym again. I did this for a couple of reasons. I decided after Edinburgh that when I ran another marathon I would do more speedwork sessions and more core stability training. Both I think are easier to do in the gym. Which works on the assumption that you can access a treadmill. Which actually isn’t very easy to do at 6pm on a Monday night when everyone else under the sum has the same idea. So perhaps interval training in London on a Monday evening is not a good idea – it will have to be another item to go on the “early bird” agenda. The other problem I found was actually running on the treadmill. I had visions of Bridget Jones flying off the end of it which didn’t help my cause. I realised I hadn’t run on a treadmill for a good two years and it is very different from running outside on varied terrain. I felt like I was running faster – perhaps because it was flat and smooth ground. I also didn’t know where to look. I felt I had to keep my eyes on the ground to check my feet would land in the correct place but then this isn’t good for running posture and also makes your eyes feel a little strange after a while as well.

The other thing I couldn’t stop thinking about was how strange it all was. A bunch of people running endlessly on a rotating bit of rubber, getting nowhere. Why? Surely treadmill runners can’t have the same motivations as outdoor runners? In a way treadmill running seems even more depressing than not running as you are trying to get somewhere but failing. And you are surrounded by other people also doing the same thing. With real running, you are exploring the great outdoors and interacting with the environment and everyone in it at least. Plus you are getting somewhere in distance terms, no matter how slow you are.

There is no real pleasure for me in treadmill running. My head can’t switch off from what I’m doing. I look at the distance and time all the time. I see others around me grimacing and sweating. It’s all a bit offputting and to be honest a bit of a turn-off I think for would-be runners. Which leads me to wonder what it is about outdoor running that appeals so much to me. I think part of its appeal lies in the ability to just put on trainers and go – no one dictates where, you decide. London is your playground. You don’t know what you will see or what feelings you’ll have but London is on your doorstep to go and explore. The beauty of London is in its size. There will always be somewhere you have not run before, or a new variation on a route to try. The types of environment to run in are also endless – the tarmac pavements of the city, bouncy undergrowth of Highgate woods, gravelly paths of Richmond Park, knee-long grass in Hampstead Heath, gripped surface of Tooting Bec Athletics Track or the canalside path by Regent’s Canal. 

I ran the same 10 mile loop as this post. I was pleased that it felt much easier, though I’m still not so confident with the long mileage at present. I decided how lovely Highgate village was and how nice it would be to live there, then discovered you had to be a millionaire to be able to but a decent property there! So that’s out the window – I can still dream though! Highgate is one of the few places in London that still feels like a village. It has a square, a church, independent shops, gorgeous period houses and a pond.

Running up Parliament Hill I reflected on an article I read in the evening papers about things that made people feel good – the top ones being “climbing into bed made up with freshly washed sheets” or “sitting by an open fire when there’s a blizzard outside”. One for runners could be “stopping at the top of Parliament Hill to admire the view after sprinting up there and feeling smug and fit compared to all the walkers”. Or perhaps they think you are mad. Whatever. It felt great anyway. And the view is always amazing. 

8x400m. Speedwork. Horrible! Why does it hurt so much? It hurts so much at the time then disappears as soon as you stop. Towards the end of the session I started to think about the psychology of pain and thought about GI Jane’s “pain is your friend!” When you break down pain of running, what is it exactly? The work of breathing so hard, the pain in the leg muscles? For me it is more my mind saying stop, it hurts, it hurts! Once you push past that, ignore your head, running becomes marginally easier. That or the fact I only had one leg of the last 400m to go, I sped up rather than slowed down. 

Second marathon training run. Done! 10 miles at 10k pace plus 60 seconds. Ran along the parkland walk through Highgate village, down to Hampstead Heath, up to Parliament Hill and loop round Hampstead before returning home. The view from the top of Parliament Hill is amazing. The sun broke through the clouds over the city so diagonal shafts of light filtered through. Still pretty cold! One of the underground station attendants at Hampstead came and chatted with us. She was very friendly. She said that sometimes marathon runners come and run up and down the stairs at Hampstead station! Think I’d rather be running up and down Parliament Hill! The run back was brutal up Highgate West Hill. I was overtaken by two people which was slightly demoralising but I managed to run all of it which is one thing to be pleased of I guess!