During the walk on Sunday, I managed to first convince myself to run another marathon, and then convince myself not to.
The walk took just over 3 hours and gave me ample time for vacillating. Just over 7.5 miles (12.25 km), so it was leisurely, with a couple of stops for using the facilities, or opening a coffee flask. Our group gets together periodically, and there is often a little venture out sometime around the New Year.
I actually got into this walking for pleasure lark with these very people, or some of them, when they decided to embark upon the challenge of doing the Coast to Coast walk in 2015. We did about 200 miles (as we got lost a couple of times) over two weeks, from St Bees in the North West to Robin Hood’s Bay in the North East. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, when I wasn’t knackered, but it’s still something that I don’t do much of, except when someone asks ‘shall we do a walk?’. More often than not, it’s these guys.
This Sunday, we took in a chunk of West Wirral, starting at Thurstaston, along the beach towards West Kirby, and then back along the Wirral Way taking in the Dungeon (not actually a prison cell). The weather was cool but brilliantly sunny and dry; a perfect walking day.
Some of the group are runners, so I wasn’t fully boring them with my contemplations. I think Brian was the main recipient. He has done a number of marathons in the past, and, having required the assistance of a medical tent at the end of his last two, he has knocked it on the head, at least for a while. I have no idea why I suddenly felt like I wanted to try one again, given that my only previous two attempts were back in 2015 (they sandwiched the walk – it was a busy year).
Reflecting on the good second experience in Athens (November), as opposed to the bad first one in London (April), I know that I enjoyed it because I was, for me, extremely fit. I had bagged a Half Marathon that September in just under 2 hours. So with all my London training, and with all that walking under my belt, Athens felt like fun. I ended up doing them both in about five and a half hours, but I was running with a friend for the second one, and we ran at her pace.
Perhaps there is a part of me that wants to get under five hours, because I know I could have done in Athens. Perhaps the pain of training is so far away that I’ve forgotten that I hated it (not at all like childbirth – but you get my drift). At a couple points, during our perambulations, I was seriously close to going home and signing up for something this September.
But, as the walk progressed, and we climbed up a hill, and my right hip started to twinge a bit, I realised that, before I even start contemplating crazy things like that, I need to get myself to a level of fitness that hasn’t been in my body in over six years. It’s not unachievable, but I’m going to give it more than a few months.
Still, September 2023 in Berlin, around my 50th birthday, may be calling to me?
theleadlesspencil 
If it calls, it would be impolite not to listen and say yes (but there must be easier ones to get an entry for?).
I thought it wasn’t a lottery. Maybe that’s changed. Hmmm, I’ll have to check it out
I would love to do Berlin also **
Just found out it’s a lottery based one. I may have a go at putting my hat in this October. Will let you know when the lottery opens. If not that, then I’m seriously thinking of finding one for around that time. Good enough time for you to get physio-ing and training up with me!!
Since I’ve heard only good things about Berlin, I hope to run it one day. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for London’s Marathon.
Fingers crossed for London. I’ve tried the ballot unsuccessfully a few times. My one attempt there was a club place. I’ve realised that Berlin is also a ballot, so it may not transpire, but again, fingers crossed.
I hope you achieve your desire to run another marathon. Hats off to you for already running one, twice. I have always wanted to run one but never got around to making the committment to train for one. The longest race I’ve ever run was the Crescent City Classic in New Orleans, which I ran several times in my younger days. It’s a 10K. I think I have always liked the idea of running a marathon more than actually running it. LOL. At this point, I’m lucky I get to do my daily walk. Hopefully, that will change in a couple of months when we go back to Daylight Saving Time and warmer weather.
I won’t even contemplate a marathon until I build my stamina back up. I have nearly two years til my 50th so I will have time to explore whether I have the discipline or not!
I love that you are honest with yourself.