After a week of sunshine, swimming pools and an all inclusive wristband, I’m not expecting you to get the violins out for me. But when we landed back into Edinburgh in the early hours of Sunday morning to hefty size queues at the Border Force, 18 solo miles – the longest continuous run, not just of the training block, but ever – was weighing heavy on my mind. I’d always planned to run it at night to give me a decent chance to get a bit of sleep but even with the luxury of two rest days before it, my head was not in the game and I spent a good bit of the morning falling out with myself about it. It didn’t help that I hadn’t mapped out a route in advance for this one, so that added to the apathy. The vast majority of this training block I’ve done well to stick to the plan or if I’ve had to move things about, the sessions still get done. But on this occasion there was no plan…so at lunchtime I made a new one and decided to swap this long run with the following week’s distance and opted for a half marathon instead. 

As soon as I decided this, it was like flicking a switch in my head and I went from feeling a bit scunnered to being totally up for it. I quickly decided on doing two of the loops I use for the circa 6 mile sessions and spent the rest of the day looking forward to it. Ask any runner in Dunfermline and they’ll tell you there’s not many places you can run without finding a hill but this loop is probably as good as it gets. Any climbs on it are gradual and/or short but it also has a really generous, long descent through Pittencrieff Park (and you don’t have to do ‘the hill’ that it’s parkrun course is renowned for). In previous training runs, I’d gone for both tempo pace and easy pace and I’ve done it solo and with friends – I’m unofficially calling it ‘Gav’s Loop’ as he was first to propose it. 

Within the first few strides, I was surprised by how good I was feeling and the pace that I was travelling. Whether it was the switch to cooler temps from Turkey or still feeling in a good place after parking the 18, I don’t know but there was no rust to shake off or needing a few miles to wake up. So I thought I’m going to just gun it and see how long I could maintain a quicker pace than previous long runs, knowing that if I did blow up, I could slow it down and not be too far from home to get back. 

I think I clocked sub 52 for the first loop. I was part buzzing about this and part wondering when the wheels were going to come off. They didn’t. Whilst the 2nd loop was slower, I never went above 8.34 for any mile and my long runs will usually have 9s and occasionally 10 minute miles. I spotted a few running pals on the route and my mate lives along one of the main straights and he opened his door to give me a shout and wave (I think the shout was complimentary but I can’t be sure!). But it was the support of a complete stranger that will be the lasting memory of this run, and what turned out to be my quickest half marathon in three and a bit years. Maybe two miles from the finish, an elderly man was out walking with his wife. He waited until l got closer and said, ‘son, you’re doing really well, keep working hard’.

Dear reader, I could’ve hugged him. I was feeling great, I felt like I was running well and had been smiling all the way round. But he’ll have no idea how good it felt to hear those words and it made sure there was no slouching from me as I made my way home. 

I stopped the watch and I was buzzing. It felt like I’d been racing not training and I decided later that night that the 18 mile run would be 3 Gav loops with a bit of adjustment and variation. As much as I love my hometown, and there are a few nice landmarks on the route, continuous loops anywhere can be monotonous…but I think it helps with the mental side of the running too. From a practical point, there’s other benefits over a point to point. I was able to set up a ‘drinks station’ in my mate’s garden (and woke up his dog who in turn woke up their house early on a Saturday morning) and there’s a water tap on the high street so I didn’t have to carry all my nutrition and drinks with me (and thanks to Gav for my wee collapsible Salomon cup for the water stops). Gav also gave me some salt tablets and having encountered the cramp and tightness at a Loch Leven I was determined to make sure I had the electrolytes from the sports drinks but was keen to see if salt tablets would help too (spoiler alert – zero cramp during or after, so now built into the plan for all future long runs and race day). 

Despite the obvious runners high, it’s worth saying that the day after the half was a sore one. Literally. Struggling to get down and up the stairs, fatigued with sore legs all day and even though I only had four miles to do, I was dreading and doubting that I could manage it. The first two miles were awful – stiff, sore, almost comical running (I probably looked like I was needing the toilet). I’d considered sacking it off but it was perfect example of a recovery run..by the end I felt so much better than when I’d started. A friend told me not underestimate the importance of the smaller distance sessions and they’re right, every session plays a part. 

The 18 miles was going to be a solo run. Saturday is parkrun day for many and I miss them but as the distances ramp up, it’s tougher to incorporate them into runs. I’ve committed to the plan but also committed to getting out early so that there’s a decent amount of the Saturday left to enjoy. I also clocked the weather forecast and knew I wanted to get the bulk of the run done by 10am before the sun came out. 

On the second loop I came into Pittencrieff Park a few minutes before the start of parkrun. I spotted the familiar luminous yellow Pitreavie training tops and was nice to see my pals and with a quick row of fist bumps I was away. I got to the bottom of the hill and the marshal for a split second wondered if I was out in front – the only time I’ll ever lead Dunfermline parkrun (I once finished 2nd when I’m assuming everyone else was at the Edinburgh Running Festival). She ended up seeing me as they were clearing up the course when I was on my third lap too! 

The last loop was a slog, mentally as well as physically. The knees weren’t behaving, the form was probably slipping but the pace wasn’t hugely dropping off. I’d made the adjustment to the last loop so that I’d finish right outside the Coop – I wanted instant access to the (still unsponsored) chocolate milk and Lucozade. Having set off thinking I’d be three hours on my feet, it ended up around 2’47 so pace wise good but I definitely went off waaaayyy too fast. Head was clearly still thinking I was picking up where I’d left off with the half, but the first four miles were poorly paced and I need to avoid that come race day and not get caught up in the hype and atmosphere (you know I’m totally going to get caught up in the hype and atmosphere, right?). On the one hand, I’m determined to enjoy the experience of race day but I’m also determined to have a disciplined run…and the former is dependent – or at least influences – the latter. 

So the longest continuous run of the training block and indeed my entire life (sounds more dramatic when you say that) is done…and we will do it all again this Saturday. Chicago Is my first marathon race but it’s not my first marathon distance and loops of Dunfermline and a variation of Gavs loop were part of my ‘accidental marathon’ in 2020. A friend had signed up for an Ironman but the pandemic put paid to that. Having raised money for local children’s health charities he didn’t want to let them down so decided he’d do a solo Ironman with a few friends supporting him on each of the disciplines. People who do Ironman events are next level. People who do them solo with none of the benefits of an organised event with race conditions are legends. I genuinely went out thinking I’d run the first half and then with him in good shape, I’d drop out and he’d enjoy that last lap or so solo and race into his street to the cheers of family and friends (that last bit happened, but it didn’t quite work out like that). But there was no dropping out at halfway and I supported him for the full distance. Walk/jog, walk, walk/run, whatever it took, the plan changed but we were getting that marathon done and I was coming along for the ride. That day wasn’t about me, but I learned a lot that day. From a relatively limited training base, I covered a marathon distance…within the time limit of the Chicago marathon. So as a rookie marathon ‘racer’ I’ve got that experience in the bank and when the tough times kick in (which is a case of when rather than if), I can draw on stuff like that to help carry me through. 

These posts are getting awfully long aren’t they? Not the most catchy content out there. I’m writing this on the train home from London and you lose track of how long the post is when scribbling on a phone. It’s been nice to run in London again, the first time in a long time (and first time since training plan started). Victoria Park was packed with runners all of them seemingly passing me with ease and probably a fair amount of London marathon participants among them. We’ve got a few more new cities to run in over the next few weeks but before then, it’s back to Scotland’s oldest ‘new’ city for those 18 miles – see you on the loop!