So with the Paris marathon now just a month away, we are getting down to the business end of it! I am doing one long training run a week which I have been doing on my Saturdays, increasing the distance in small increments each time.

Today I completed an 18 mile training run. Couldn't think of anything much better to be doing than running round  a spring-like West Sussex on a Saturday afternoon! Although I have to say I did find it tough, definitely harder than my 15 miler last weekend.

My time today was 2:19 so of course I am really happy with that as my target was 2:20, even though it felt a lot harder than the time would suggest. It was a tough course with a fair amount of hills so obviously that will have added to my time, but of course will help with it being a flat marathon in Paris.

I also ran my quickest half marathon to date as well at 1:39. It's a funny thing all this running, I could have sworn I was running a slower pace than last weekend (with a lot more aches and pains), but still was able to increase my half marathon time and come in on target...not that I am complaining!

With next weekend off away in North Wales mountain biking and the like, I have one training run left to do. I want to get 21 miles under my belt and then rely on the training/atmosphere/adrenalin of the day to carry me over for the real thing. That run I am going to do then 2 weeks today, 26th March, leaving 2 weeks to pull off the training and get eating. The 26th is also my 22nd Birthday, lucky me...