The SL Marathon Diaries: Daisy Reed
Week 11: The Love-Hate Phase
Eleven weeks in, I have thoughts. On the one hand, I’m feeling fitter than ever, legs ticking over like clockwork. On the other hand, I am tired. Very tired. Juggling a full-time job managing socials and training for a marathon is a logistical nightmare. My brain is at full capacity, my washing machine is constantly running, and my foam roller and Puresport CBD roll-on are seeing more action than my social life. But we push on.
Never Miss A Monday…
This is my mantra. Even when my alarm goes off at 5:45am and I momentarily question all my life choices, I remind myself – just get out the door. I actually now count down from five. Try it, it will change your life. Today’s session is a spicy one…
11k Repeats
2.5km warm-up at ‘conversational pace’
90 seconds of walking rest
1km at 4:35 pace
90 seconds of walking rest
Repeat 6 times
In Battersea Park, I see a few familiar faces grinding out their own sessions, with the occasional nod of solidarity exchanged. Afterwards, I headed straight to Pret for my porridge reward. The jam, honey and seeds combo is so good – it tastes like something my granny would make.
@DaisReed
Then A Rest Day…
Rest day. Two of the greatest words in the English language.
After dragging myself out of bed at an ungodly hour on Monday, today is all about the lie-in. My Garmin Forerunner 245 is absolutely thriving off my current sleep stats – a rare moment of validation from a watch that usually just tells me I’m ‘overreaching’.
Of course, I like to pretend my newfound sleep quality is purely down to training but, let’s be real, my night-time routine is now a slick operation. Free Soul magnesium and turmeric supplement with my Puresport Unwind Nootropic is a winning combo.
I’m also loving my morning smoothie: one banana, vanilla protein, honey and lots of ice – crucial for that thick, almost milkshakey texture – plus Dirtea cordyceps powder. Science says mushrooms can boost physical performance and energy levels, and at this point I’m willing to believe anything.
@DaisReed
A Midweek Social Run…
If there’s one thing that makes running easier, it’s doing it with a friend. Solo runs have their place, but nothing beats a midweek yap-around-the-common session. Because we’re all about balance, we followed up our chatty 9k with a crisp, ice-cold cider.
For lunch I had leftover chilli con carne on a sweet potato instead of rice. Let’s quickly talk about hunger levels. I am constantly ravenous. My afternoon snack is Eleat’s chocolate protein cereal.
Another Rest Day…
One of the true joys of WFH on a Friday is a slow morning. No alarms, no running kit, just me, my coffee and Netflix in bed before I log on. When marathon training turns you into a human vacuum, it’s time for a bagel loaded with banana and honey for breakfast.
Today is all about keeping my legs happy, which means foam rolling and Weleda arnica massage oil. The main event, however, is dinner: a mountain of pesto pasta and electrolytes. Luckily, I’m not suffering through this alone – my boyfriend is running the Paris marathon two weeks before I run London, so we are in it together.
The Weekend’s Big 30k…
This was a test – physically and mentally. The first 10k felt controlled, the middle section required focus, and the final stretch was pure grit. I had to remind myself that my body can do hard things – and thankfully, it did.
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