The aftermath

It's all a memory now. Everything I experienced - the sights, sounds, smells, and laughter - are all in the past. It feels like the strangest, most vivid dream I've ever had. All the work and stress and pressure it took to get ready and feel confident going into that day - it's behind me now. I have nothing left to worry about. It's a weird sensation. One the one hand, I'm elated every time I think about it. On the other, I'm sad that there's nothing else to work towards.

Nothing except stand in ankle-deep water and gaze whistfully into the distance.

So I took the first week off. Once the marathon was done, I promised that I wouldn't do anything active for a full seven days. Seven months of hard grind, seven days of unfettered laziness. You know what happened? I was bored after three days.

I ate everything I wanted - curry; pizza; chocolate; those Easter Eggs I'd been so good in saving for over a week; burgers; everything. You name it, I ate it. My gut was a bottomless pit for the entire week. Usually I eat like a starving man for a full day after a long run, but this was a new record (or a new low, depending on how you want to view it).

What surprised me the most was how little pain and discomfort I experienced. No lasting aches. No throbbing muscles or agonised joints. Not even that unpleasant shifting and grinding of tendons and muscles in my feet. The only sensation I felt was a tightness in my upper thighs that lasted for two days. By Wednesday, it was gone. I could walk around and do everything like normal. Nothing to stop me. It was like I hadn't spent five hours running twenty six miles.

After a full day of doing absolutely nothing (except catching up on videogames and eating all the sweet in the house), I returned to work and received a wonderful welcome. Banners, balloons, champagne - even a rapturous applause. The best start to a work day that anyone could ask for. I work with some really amazing people.
 

Cake and booze? You know me so well!

The only physical activity I allowed myself was the usual lap of the park at lunchtimes. Other than that, I remained on my arse for the whole week. At first, it was blissful. But after just three days, it was so boring. I wanted to get back out there, to stretch my legs again and feel the wind on my face. The last few days dragged past, almost tormenting me with repeated sights of people running and training for next year's London Marathon. It really is fantastic to see so many people pounding the pavements. I'd like to think that I'm part of the reason for the new wave of eager runners getting into shape for the first time. It feels almost as good as running the Marathon itself.

My weight has bounced all over the place recently. I weighed 12.12 stone the day before the marathon and 12.8 the day after. Once my lazy week was at an end, I weighed 13.4. It's so easy to pile on the pounds and so difficult to shift them again! I've started back at the gym now, with a new goal in mind - picking up the pace. I know I can run long distances. My new challenge is to try and see how quickly I can hit the old targets. I usually average around 30 minutes per 5K, can I do it quicker? Of course I can!

There's been plenty of other excitement besides getting my trainers back on. My brother has taken up running, now that his football season is over. He messages me every now and then with his progress. I love knowing that other people are getting into this hobby with me. It's great to see so many other runners out there, testing the waters and finding out their limits. That's the best part about running - your limits are not set and get pushed back further every single day.

But it's not just my brother who has gotten the bug. My fiance and her best friend have signed up to take part in the Race for Life 5K in June, a muddy obstacle course! They're already hitting the treadmill and getting ready to take on a fantastic new challenge. I can't wait to get out there and cheer them on! I'm so proud of them both.

So what's next for me? I've done the Big One, the most popular Marathon in the world. Where else do you go from that? I don't want to stop training or try my hand at something else - I'm addicted to running at this stage - so what can I do? Well... I've already signed up for my next challenge. Nothing quite as extreme as twenty six miles, but this time I won't be running alone. My fiance and her best friend will be running with me! March 15th 2020 is a long way off - but I already know how quickly time moves when you have something to achieve.

Can't stop, won't stop.

Thirteen miles through the beautiful city of Bath! Can't wait.