Picture the scene: it’s April 2019, and I’ve been training for four months (give or take) to run my first marathon. I’m confident in my ability to run for around four and a half hours without stopping – I’ve put in the miles, fuelled my body and tapered effectively. Job done – a lovely soak in the bath afterwards followed by eating my bodyweight in roast chicken and macaroni cheese, and three days later I’m ready to lace up my trainers again for a (albeit short) trot.
Fast forward five years, and so much has changed. While I’m still (IMHO) strong, fit and healthy – after all, it is my job to talk about health and fitness – it’s safe to say that my stamina and endurance, in running terms, have nose-dived. I still run regularly, but it’s more of a run-walk-run – not helped by the fact that I happen to live in a particularly hilly part of the country (whoever said what goes up must come down has clearly never run in my local area).
