When Priorities Shift: Weeks 14–15: Sub-3 on 3 Runs

I’m currently writing this, sat waiting for an X-ray on my ankle, hoping to rule out a stress fracture ahead of London.

Which probably tells you everything you need to know about how the last couple of weeks have gone.

They haven’t been great.

Not in terms of how I’ve felt, and not in terms of how the training’s gone.

And it didn’t take long for things to get a bit weird.

Early last week, just doing the usual morning routine, getting the kids' lunches sorted for school, and feeding the cat, I bent down and then just fainted onto the kitchen floor. Not something I’m in the habit of doing. It was a bit unnerving, to be honest.

The youngest was also off school most of the week with a viral infection, so there’s every chance I picked something up there. Wednesday I felt lightheaded pretty much all day, with a few spells where I genuinely thought I might go again. That’s when your head starts to wander. You start overthinking it, jumping to worst-case scenarios, and suddenly something that might be relatively minor feels a lot bigger.

With everything else going on, it did make me pause and think...is this London thing a bit silly? You hear enough stories about things going wrong, and when you’re not feeling right, it’s hard not to let that creep in.

Thankfully, as I’m writing this, things feel a bit more normal again. But it was another layer on top of everything else, another reminder that things aren’t quite aligned.

Because physically, things haven’t been straightforward either.

The ankle issue hasn’t improved. If anything, it’s become more confusing. A trip to see Ben & Jake at RMA didn't give a clear answer; it could be nerve-related, something trapped, or potentially a stress-related issue. Hence, sitting here waiting for an X-ray.

What makes it frustrating is how inconsistent it is.

Running on it? Manageable — maybe a 4 out of 10, sometimes a 5. Sitting still, foot in the wrong position? Suddenly it spikes to an 8 or 9.

That’s the kind of pain that messes with your head. Not clear enough to stop. Not comfortable enough to ignore.

I’ve managed to get a couple of longer runs done, around the two-hour mark, but they haven’t felt great. Not necessarily from a fitness perspective, more from how the body is holding together. The ankle gets sore, things tighten up, and you’re constantly aware you’re not moving freely.

It’s not the place you want to be this close to London.

And then there’s the perception side of things.

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve had a lot of people say, "You'll be fine; you’ll jog round in 3:30.”

And I get it; it’s not meant badly.

But it highlights something important.

Last year I ran 2:50. I’ve had a run of solid performances over a number of years. And none of that came from just turning up. It came from me really working my butt off – real graft. Real structure. Real commitment.

There’s no such thing as just “jogging round” a marathon well.

That’s the bit people don’t always see.

Nothing about this has ever been about natural talent. It’s always been about work capacity, the ability to keep showing up and stacking weeks together.

That hasn’t gone.

What’s changed is where that effort is going.

Over the last year, a lot of that energy has been directed elsewhere. Renovating the house, trying to ease financial pressure, late nights rebuilding the coaching business, working on the website, coaching, teaching – just life moving in a slightly different direction.

The work is still there.

It’s just not all going into running.

And that’s the reality for a lot of people.

There’s only so much you can carry before something gives. And for me, over this period, running has had to give a little.

That was the whole point of this project in the first place.

At the start, I didn’t have the love for running like I used to. The routine had slipped. The consistency wasn’t appealing. Trying to force high-volume training just wasn’t realistic.

Three runs a week was something I could commit to.

And in many ways, it’s done exactly what it needed to do.

Because now?

I actually want to run again.

Not because it’s on a plan. Not because I have to. But because I enjoy it.

The weather’s improving, it’s social, and it feels like something I want to do again rather than something I have to tick off.

That’s probably the biggest win from this whole block.

Yes, injuries haven’t helped. Yes, time has been limited. Yes, the build hasn’t been perfect. And yes, fainting on the kitchen floor definitely wasn’t part of the plan either.

But the motivation is better.

And that matters more long-term than any single marathon time.

Looking ahead, there’s about a week to go.

London is going to be what it’s going to be.

The plan now is simple: HOPEFULLY be able to get round, enjoy it, and actually experience it.

I’m not sure I’ve ever really done that in a marathon before.

I’ve been lucky enough to run some great races – Manchester, New York, Chicago – chasing times, chasing performance, always looking at the watch.

This time, I want something different.

I want it to be fun.

Because at the end of the day, this is still a hobby. A passion. Something I’m lucky to be able to do.

And in ten years’ time, I’ll probably look back and wish I could still be out there doing exactly this.

So for now, that’s the focus.

Get to the start line. Get round. Enjoy it.

Si