Rod Smith
What's this all about? Three marathons under my increasingly pinching belt, so why another?
Well it's a rum old cocktail:-
1. Charity (one large measure)
2,500 calls a day are made to the NSPCC's Child Line by children in the UK looking for comfort, advice and protection where they may be the subject of physical assault, sexual abuse or neglect.
This is just one of an array of invaluable services provided by the charity and we aim to raise as much cash as possible.
2. Topped up with the tonic of sharing a momentous challenge with workmates
Team Florence is a solid unit sharing the highs and lows of the arduous physical training regimes we are following and supporting each other through what is also an emotionally and mentally challenging time.
3. Add a sprig of exercising when otherwise I wouldn't
I'll be 38 by the time we hit the streets of Florence and I was pushing 15 stone in the New Year. I don't exercise apart from when I sign up to a challenge, and I won't lie it's a b to begin with, but I have discarded in sweat, tears and expletives, mostly expletives, nigh on 1 1/2 stones and I feel alright, alright enough that I could, dare I say it, get used to this exercise lark.
We are now entering the last intense 16 weeks of the training and I feel like a coiled spring. No, I'd like to feel like a coiled spring but the bottom line is that this is all damn tiring and a coiled cat on a rug (nursing a twinge in his back) is closer to the mark.
and lastly, a dash (groan) of the dream of achieving hallowed sub 4 hour status
Sub 4, why does everyone bleat on about it? If it was sub 4 20 then I could have hung up my running jocky for good 3 years ago (I know too much, but at least you're still reading.) A marathon is a silly distance. To complete 9 minute miles for 26.2 miles to just dip under the 4 hour mark is bordering on the preposterous for someone like me but that's just it, I can't help thinking that it needs to be done as a life affirming event and this time I am doing all that I can to give it my best shot.
Salute (That's cheers in Italian rather than a command!)