3 Weeks to Sydney: The Hard Work Is Done… Now I Just Have to Trust It

Three weeks.

That’s it.

In three weeks’ time, I’ll be in Sydney getting ready to stand on the start line of my second marathon. And somehow, after months of talking about it, planning it, training for it and thinking about it, it suddenly feels very, very real.

On Sunday, I completed my final long run of this training block. Just a small 31K !

And I’d love to tell you that I floated through it feeling strong, effortless and completely marathon-ready.

I did not. 😂

It was hard.

We are now on what feels like our 600th heatwave of the summer — apparently it’s actually the sixth — and training through week after week of hot weather has been brutal at times.

Sunday was 28 degrees and I definitely should have got myself out of the door earlier. My legs felt tired, I had to walk a few times and there were moments when 31km felt like a VERY long way.

But I finished it.

And actually, that’s probably a much better representation of marathon training than some perfect final long run would have been.

The work is done

There’s something quite strange about reaching this point in a marathon block.

For months, everything has been about building.

More kilometres. Longer runs. Hillier routes. Practising fuelling. Working out what my body can cope with and, occasionally, discovering what it absolutely cannot. 😂

Now I’ve reached the point where I can’t really gain much more fitness.

The work is done.

And I think the next three weeks are going to require a completely different kind of discipline: doing less.

Resting. Recovering. Sleeping. Eating properly. Keeping the legs moving without trying to prove anything.

And most importantly, trusting that everything I’ve done over the last few months is enough.

If there’s one thing I’ve tested, it’s my kit

One thing I am NOT leaving to chance is race-day kit.

Everything has now been tested on long runs — trainers, socks, shorts, sports bra, top, gels, hydration and all the random little things that suddenly become extremely important when you’re planning to run 42.2km.

There will be absolutely nothing new on race day.

I’ve done enough long runs now to know exactly what I want to wear, what I want to carry and what I want to eat.

And weirdly, having those decisions made makes me feel much calmer.

Now I just have to hope Sydney doesn’t decide to throw four seasons at me on race morning. 😂

Training through this summer

I don’t think I’ll forget this particular marathon training block in a hurry.

Training for an August marathon sounded like a lovely idea when Sydney was months away.

What I hadn’t quite factored in was spending the summer running through heatwave after heatwave.

The heat has slowed me down. It’s made some easy runs feel hard. It’s meant changing plans, getting out earlier and carrying more water. And there have definitely been days when I’ve questioned why on earth I voluntarily signed up to run another marathon.

But perhaps that’s been part of the training too.

Not every run has gone perfectly.

I’ve had tired legs. I’ve moved sessions around. I’ve missed runs when life got in the way. I’ve had little niggles that made me nervous. I’ve had runs where I’ve felt brilliant and others where I’ve wondered how I’m ever going to run another kilometre.

And yet here I am.

Three weeks to go.

So what happens now?

Taper time.

Words I have been looking forward to writing for quite a while. 😂

Over the next three weeks, my focus isn’t going to be on getting fitter. It’s going to be on arriving in Sydney healthy, rested and excited to run.

I’m going to keep running, but the distances will come down. I’ll keep some movement and a little bit of intensity in my legs, but there are no more heroic long runs required.

And mentally, I’m going to start thinking less about training for Sydney and more about actually running Sydney.

How I want the morning to feel.

How I want to pace it.

How I’m going to handle the inevitable difficult patch.

And how bloody lucky I am that I get to travel halfway around the world and run another World Marathon Major.

Three weeks ago, Sydney still felt like something I was training for.

Now it feels like somewhere I’m going.

And I cannot wait. ❤️🏃‍♀️🇦🇺

THREE WEEKS TO GO 🇦🇺

31KM
Final long run ✔️

6
Heatwaves survived 🥵

KIT
Tested ✔️

FUELLING
Sorted ✔️

MOOD
Excited + nervous

SYDNEY
Here we come 🏃‍♀️

✨ Things I’m Loving This Week

Marathon training might be taking up a lot of space in my head right now, but there are still a few non-running things making me very happy this week. So, in the spirit of Things I Love For You, here’s what I’m currently loving…

💄 BEAUTY
[Hydra Tint - Sculpted By Aimee]
This is a tinted serum, with SPF20 it makes your skin looks amazing so light and glowing with just enough coverage, sits beautifully all day, a truly incredible product.

✨ SKIN
[Ultra Violette]
This SPF is a little pricey but it is so beautiful it has a lovely glowing luminous finish so even if you are having a non makeup day it makes your skin look fresh and glowly = perfect.

💇‍♀️ HAIR
[Hair Food]
With all the hot weather it is essential to keep your strands hydrated, this hair mask is 10/10, I pop it on before I go for a run or just in the morning and slick my hair back in a pony and leave it on all day, smells incredible and such good value for money.

☀️ SUMMER ESSENTIAL
[Coola Scalp & Hair Mist]
Why I love it: This might feel a bit niche but being as fair as I am I do get burnt on my hair parting, this hair mist is excellent you just spray it on your hair parting and you are good to go, and yes it is cooling just as the brand suggets.