Road to Sydney: Marathon Diaries 13 wks to go

Keeping the Miles Ticking Over

Well… safe to say I have neglected the running diary slightly 😅

The last update was back at the start of April and somehow we are now flying towards June with only 13 weeks to go until Sydney Marathon. Slight panic. Slight excitement. Mostly both.

Since the Reading Half Marathon, training has actually been going really well. Nothing dramatic or wildly heroic, just consistent miles week after week which, let’s be honest, is where marathon training is really built. I’ve been averaging around 40km a week and quietly building the base before the bigger sessions start creeping in over the next few weeks.

There has been one tiny hiccup along the way — a swollen knee. Thankfully nothing serious, just a bit of fluid hanging around causing some puffiness and making me spiral into Google searches for approximately 24 hours before calming down. Typical runner behaviour. Luckily it settled quickly and I’ve been able to continue training without any major issues.

One of my favourite moments over the last few weeks was getting the whole family involved for a fun 5K. I ran the first part with Iyla before heading back out solo to add on a few extra kilometres. Honestly, these are the moments I love most. Running has become such a huge part of my life over the last few years and seeing the people around me joining in too makes me ridiculously happy.

The warmer weather has definitely helped motivation as well. Getting out the door is a lot easier when you’re not pulling on five layers and mentally preparing yourself for sideways rain and muddy country lanes. Spring running really does hit differently. The sunglasses are back, the daffodils have been cheering from the sidelines and suddenly every run feels slightly more cinematic.

At the end of April, the London Marathon took place and watching it brought back so many memories from last year. I still can’t quite believe I ran it. Seeing everyone take on those famous streets reminded me exactly why I signed up for Sydney in the first place — there really is nothing quite like marathon season.

I also squeezed in a trip to Prague for my sister’s 50th birthday which was honestly such a gorgeous weekend. Beautiful city, lovely food, cocktails, sunshine… and of course I packed my trainers. There was absolutely no chance I was missing runs with scenery like that. Running through Prague in the early morning was stunning and by complete coincidence we also got to cheer on runners taking part in the Prague Marathon while we were there, which felt pretty special.

Back home, May also included celebrating my best friend Emma turning 50 with a gorgeous lunch in Covent Garden. Naturally, no trip to London is complete without a “quick look” in the Hoka store which somehow ended with me leaving with a pair of Cielo X1 3.0 super shoes. Completely necessary purchase obviously.

And honestly? I LOVE them.

Do they actually make me faster? Potentially.
Do I feel faster wearing them? Absolutely.
And sometimes that is enough.

Run club has continued every week too which has been such a highlight. Getting out after work with colleagues, chatting nonsense while ticking off kilometres, has become one of my favourite parts of training. It keeps running social and fun, especially during the weeks where motivation dips a little.

Last weekend I also took part in the Newbury 10K. It was an absolute scorcher — around 30 degrees — so this definitely wasn’t the day for chasing anything outrageous. The goal was simply to run smart, stay controlled and survive the heat.

I paced it well, kept things sensible and crossed the line in 53:36 which I was really happy with considering the conditions. Even better, I finished 3rd female in my age category which I will very happily take thank you very much 🥉

And finally… probably the biggest surprise of all…

I found out I’ve been offered a place in the New York City Marathon this November.

Honestly, I am completely buzzing.

To go from one marathon major to potentially ticking off another so soon feels incredibly special. London started this whole journey for me and now Sydney is around the corner, with New York waiting later in the year. It honestly feels a little surreal writing that down.

But first — Sydney.

13 weeks to go.
The real hard work starts now.