This summer has been a transformational time for me as I have been going from not being up to running a marathon to getting myself as ready as possible to run another marathon.
Learning on the go
I have been keeping a weekly journal with my progress and thoughts along the way and making notes of key things that I have learnt. These tips aren’t just applicable to running, but to many other different aspects of life too.

10 key things
Here are these 10 key things I have learnt so far this summer:
1 – Break down perceptions that something or part of a course is too hard. Invariably it isn’t, you just need to work harder!
2 – Rocky Balboa never settled for being on the ropes, he launched himself into the next attack!
3 – Rest is an investment if used properly.
4 – If it wasn’t nice or pretty but you got the job done, tick the box and move on.
5 – Making mistakes, if indeed they are mistakes, is one thing, but learning from them is what turns them into better experiences in the future.
6 – If you can’t look back and review the lows in your performance, then you shouldn’t enjoy the highs when you review those also.
7 – It is key to get the most useful bit of analysis out of a run – perspective!
8 – Learning to break down a course into sections is essential so not to get mindblown by the enormity of the task in hand!
9 – No one has all the answers, most of us are just doing the best we can along the way.
10 – Stretch often, hydrate sensibly, don’t forget to believe in yourself.