After returning from Tanzania it still took a few days before I started marathon training again and at the end of week 17 I did an easy-ish 3 mile run before the final 4 week countdown to the Dublin Marathon! Thankfully during this final stint of training I was staying in Dubai with no work trips planned.

Week 18 was when I set my new longest run distance of 18 miles!! And I ran it on the treadmill! I ran the 18 miler in 3:04 with an average pace of 10:14/mile. I also ran 6 miles earlier in the week on the treadmill and Friday morning I set out for my long run outside at 5am but it was already so hot and humid and I only managed 7 miles at 9:52/mile. That meant the long run had to be completed on Saturday instead on the treadmill.

Week 19 and 20 it was time to taper but I don’t think it should’ve been only two 4 mile runs that I completed, followed by a sunset boat trip (where I managed to avoid alcohol) for a friend’s birthday. Then I ran 4 miles in week 21 before travelling to the Dublin Marathon. And so it was time to doubt my ambition to run a marathon and regret all the work that hadn’t been put in during training, thankfully I have Rhys to give me a pep talk and reality check and we set off to Dublin with butterflies!