Yorkshire Marathon 2016 - a change of plan!

The focus as regular readers will know has been to put in a massive block of training for the Yorkshire Marathon on October 9th 2016 in the hope of getting into the shape of my life for an attempt at a PB. Training has been going very well and I feel I am 'getting there' in terms of fitness and in terms my overall condition. There is a slight change of plan however and it's quite an exciting one! I have taken the decision to withdraw from this year's Yorkshire marathon and whilst I will miss the opportunity to race in the 'Yorkshire Championships' I have had an offer I simply cannot refuse. Due to the unfortunate situation of a couple of runners having to withdraw I have been called up to represent England at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on 16th October!

I am so excited it is difficult to put into words. When I started running as an unhealthy, overweight mess after such a long hiatus on March 5th 2008 with a goal of trying to shed some of the weight I had inexplicably put on during my 20s never did I imagine I would get the opportunity to run for my country. Nevermind in the event that had always inspired me so much, the marathon! I simply wanted to look in the mirror and not be ashamed of how I had let myself go. I didn't foresee how much I would fall in love with running and how much I simply cant live without it now. Yes I'm obsessive, and have a severe running problem. It pretty much takes up most of my 'free' thinking space much to my darling wife Hania's annoyance.

 
Over the years that followed I gradually got quicker and set myself incremental target by incremental target until a couple of years ago when I thought that a 'vest' might just be possible. And so it turned out. I will feel so honoured to travel with my England teammates to Canada and try to do the vest justice. I know I will never be a World or Olympic Champion, but I know I can continue to get better and faster. Thank you Running for what you have given me, the friends I have met along the way and experiences I have had so far. Where I end up I don't know but I can't wait to find out what's in store.