Reading Half Marathon or Not?

So its a few days before the Reading Half Marathon, I originally signed up for Reading back last October before I entered London. Back in January I spent over an hour with Ellie Barnes of Barnes Fitness (www.barnesfitness.co.uk), why you ask? I am a personal trainer and I am seeking advice from another Personal Trainer?

I was in a state of confusion, I had put my 4 hour plan together but couldn’t seem to fit in any more than 3 runs a week, surely the many classes I teach must count as training somewhere? I also knew that really one of my sessions needed to be speed/interval training but when was best to fit it in, what would help me achieve my sub 4 hour dream?

I was recommended to speak to Ellie, an international triathlete and an Elite marathon runner – she really put everything into perspective, sometimes even though you know what you need to do hearing it from someone else like Ellie helps you believe in yourself, set realistic goals and make the dream become a reality.

I have continued to seek Ellie’s advice and she really advised me to either run reading at slower than marathon pace and add extra miles on or to drop out and run 22 miles as per my plan … it took me the last 8 weeks to make my mind up. I never wanted to run reading at a slower pace, it was all or nothing but after a great run last weekend and the realism that my sub 4 hour dream might just be becoming a reality I knew that what I was doing was working, I needed to continue on the same path. We already know what I can run a half marathon in so it really is now about getting those last few long runs in before I start my taper.

I am so pleased I have made this decision and will continue to seek Ellie’s advice, we have now set a new target for the marathon, something I never believed would happen and for now I will, for one of the first times ever, continue to DO WHAT I AM TOLD. This is new territory for me in many ways and I am so excited about the next few weeks.