It’s October 8th, and technically, London Marathon training hasn’t really taken off yet. Week 20 is when the real plan kicks in, so we’ve got time. Time to panic later. Time to pretend we’re organised now.
We’re still running, don’t get me wrong. Every Tuesday evening, Paula and I can be seen trotting around Bude with the other Rats—head torches blazing, reflective tops glowing like budget superheroes.
🏋️♂️ The “Pre-Training” Training
- Gym twice a week: classes, leg torture on the cycles, rowing machine arguments
- Parkrun every Saturday (except when I’m working—someone’s got to fund Wilko’s upgrades)
- Sunday runs: usually 4 miles, or “as far as I fancy before brunch”
We’ve got a couple of races booked in November:
- A 10-mile race
- A 19K mixed trail/road run (unless I downgrade to the 10K version because… sanity)
By then, marathon training will begin properly. Apparently. We’ve also got:
- A half marathon in February
- London Landmarks two weeks before the big one
- Another half in March (I think—I didn’t realise we’d booked so many. Eek.)
🌴 Egypt Training & Fundraising Goals
We’re away in Egypt for Christmas and New Year, but training will continue. Sand, sun, and sweaty runs. Hopefully by then, fundraising will be close to target. Fingers crossed. Toes crossed. Everything crossed.
I’ll be working with our Marathon coach and training advisor from Sense, who tailors everything to our schedule. A day-by-day plan is coming. If you’re running next year and want to train with us—follow our plan. I’ll do write-ups. Maybe videos. Possibly dramatic slow-motion montages.
In the end, we’re all in it together. It’s not about speed. It’s about getting to the finish line. Whether it’s 3 hours or 6—it’s still 26.2 miles. And still hurts.
🎉 Fundraising: Bingo, Bands & Buckets
This Frayday (yes, Fish Fryday), we’ve got our second Bingo Night at the local golf course. They’ve been a delight to work with—fish and chips, happy hour from 5–7, and bingo chaos from 7 onwards.
We’ve booked one night every month through to February to keep the regulars coming back. Prizes include:
- Baskets of smellies
- Chocs
- Pamper night themes
- Raffle goodies from generous local stores
Our first bingo night (on a Thursday) went well—lots of friends, lots of laughs. This Friday’s looking even bigger. If everyone turns up, we’ll double the crowd. Fingers crossed. Again.
🎃 Halloween Hype
On October 31st, we’ve got a music evening at our local pub. Three bands booked. All giving up their time for charity. Legends.
There’ll be:
- Live music
- Raffle
- Collection buckets
- Possibly spooky snacks and questionable costumes
We’re running, we’re fundraising, we’re bingo-ing, and we’re doing it all with head torches, leftover Chinese, and a van that now glows like a spaceship. Stay tuned for training updates, fundraising chaos, and more Wilko upgrades. It’s all happening.