Diary of Wannabe Marathon Runner
Week Three
I have continued with the midweek run this week, 6 miles, at an average pace of 9:14 per mile. I am beginning to think that I might have to look at a running schedule or training regime for a marathon.
If you have one, please email it to me. The routine is beginning to feel like a faintly comforting ritual. The initial excitement and apprehension of Weeks 1 and 2 had given way to a sense of rhythm. My legs, while still occasionally grumbling, seemed more willing participants in the process. Running was starting to feel less like a negotiation and more like a conversation with my body—sometimes polite, sometimes stubborn, but increasingly productive.
Sunday’s long run was 15 miles, and it felt like a turning point. I broke the distance into segments—which had become my mental formula for keeping long runs manageable. The first three miles were calm, almost meditative, letting my mind wander while my legs found their rhythm. By mile 5, subtle protests from my calves reminded me that consistency still requires attention to stretching and form. Mile 6 was time for a familiar energy gel, a small but meaningful ritual that signals commitment to the miles ahead.
Miles 7 - 9, predictably, brought the familiar negotiation: “We’ve done a lot already. Can we pause?” My response was a mixture of encouragement and gentle coercion. Miles 10 - 12 introduced a curious combination of fatigue and observation—pain in the muscles, but amusement at the world around me. Another energy gel. The wet weather did not help, the drivers of cars seemingly wanting to splash water over me when they could. Mile 13 was reflective; I realized that this week, running had become more about endurance, rhythm, and awareness than raw exertion. I also got to the half-marathon. By mile 14, a quiet satisfaction settled in: I had completed the distance without major struggle, and my legs felt loose for it – although I knew that I would be aching a lot by Sunday evening.
The diet continues to be challenging; berries and apples just do not have the same appeal as chocolate and crisps. I guess if they did, there would be more greengrocers! Alcohol intake has been restricted, from next week it will be lime and soda and/or coke zero, if you have any other ideas for a low sugar non-alcoholic drink let me know.
It has been a busy week with a lease completion, updating an overage deed, together with moving forward other sale and purchase transactions. Next week will involve updating various documents on a challenging purchase including overage deeds, pre-emption agreement, transfer deeds as well as potential leasebacks.
Next run is Wednesday, have a good week.
Week Two
The training this week has been difficult due to weather conditions. The week began with a 6-mile midweek run. My legs felt slightly more cooperative than the previous week, though they still had their quirks.
It’s funny how familiar surroundings suddenly become a source of amusement during training: the way a dog always appears just as I pass, the oddly specific squirrel path across the park, and the jogger whose arms seem to flail in a rhythm completely independent of their stride. Running becomes an observant practice, where the brain, in between breaths, catalogues the tiny absurdities of the world.
Sunday’s long run of 14 miles was the highlight and the true test of the week. This involved travelling to Warwick, as there were ice and snow on the pavements in the Solihull area. The first few miles were almost meditative. By mile 4, however, my legs began sending polite but persistent reminders of the distance ahead. Mile 6 required a small energy gel, which felt less like a snack and more like a pact with my future self: “Keep going, you’ll thank me later.” Breaking the run into segments—3 miles then the final 2 miles —made the mental load manageable. Today (Monday) the legs are sore and walking like a cowboy, but hopefully this will disappear soon.
There has also been a change in diet, all the nice foods such as chocolate and crisps are now off limits, to add to the misery, alcohol will be next!
What else has happened this week. It has been a mixed bag of dealing with a development agreement, leases, purchases and sales of commercial units and reviewing an overage agreement. There are a few completions now taking place which did not get to completion prior to Christmas.
Next run is Wednesday. Have a good week!
Week One
I did it. I signed up for the London Marathon. One impulsive click and now my inbox holds a confirmation email that feels less like an achievement and more like a legally binding mistake.
“Congratulations!” it says cheerfully, as if congratulating someone for jumping out of a plane without checking for a parachute.
No, it is not that dramatic, I hope. I have been wanting to try and complete the London Marathon for several years, each time the ballot email has arrived in noting – “save yourself!” As this is a big birthday year, and I have more padding than I really should have, or need, when the opportunity arose, I immediately I said yes.
For the opportunity, many thanks to Sarah McLean (who has many franchised McDonald Restaurants) for giving me this opportunity to run the London Marathon – I am running the London Marathon to raise funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities.
My first thoughts at the time were, what do Ronald McDonald House Charities do. I have put money in the box on McDonalds counters for years but never knew what they do. Here is a link to their website: https://rmhc.org.uk/about-rmhcuk/
In summary, they help families when a family member must go into hospital, and this may not always be close to where the family live, and normally it is in an emergency. When my son Josh was about three years old this happened to my family, he had pneumonia and was in hospital for a week. I was lucky and had a great family network and we managed, but not everyone is lucky enough to have a good family network. After talking to others, I have learnt a lot of contacts have gone through similar difficult times.
Therefore, having experience difficulties myself, I thought what a great charity to help, which will help others, whilst inflicting a great deal of pain on myself.
So, as well as running for a great charity, I also want to get fitter, lose some padding. Given the job is stressful the running also gives me a release from the stress and gives me clarity to think how to overcome challenges some transactions present, running does clear your mind.
Up until the big run on 26 April 2026 I will be writing a diary (or blog) recording what running I have undertaken, note what food I have had to give up and a little about what I have being doing in work that week. I will try and make it light. I will be writing it on a Sunday afternoon, so if I have a tough run it will be clear I have had a tough run. I may also be asking for tips as well from you!
There are a couple of ways to read the diary, you can read it on LinkedIn, or by following the link below or if you really keen please email me at the email address below and I will email a copy to you (there are likely to be some GDPR issues with this so I will only email you the diary each week, no more, and once the run is completed your email address will be deleted – so I do not get into bother with anyone).
Oh, and click here for sponsorship, please be kind, you will be putting me through a great deal of discomfort by sponsoring me – what more could you ask for!!
Thanks
Daniel - DCB@bandhattonbutton.com