Like a deer in headlights

I made contact with a friend in Beijing who is super excited that I will be in town (after the race). Everything about this plan is just coming together. I was worried about wandering around Beijing on my own for four days after the race, now I have a visit to plan! Amazing. I still wish I could share the sightseeing with someone, but maybe this whole adventure is meant to be a solo. Things are certainly coming together so much easier than I ever expected.

Day 2: Feeling excited and scared at the same time today. Last night's training was swimming. Keeping swimming in my training program; after Midmar the hard work is already done. Just this morning the Women's Health newsletter headlined the benefits of swimming. So I swam 40 lengths in the gym pool which makes this 2.6km for the week. Still doing mostly breaststroke (good for quads) but adding in a few lengths of crawl.

I counted it as a rest day because I cheated with a slice of carrot cake. I can feel the juices starting to focus - having a goal is nice. On the fridge, my training plan is making me feel twitchy and just thinking about what I am trying to do makes my stomach turn.

Am I crazy?

Women's Health on benefits of swimming

Nothing profound

Just another day? Maybe not. I am "Jane Soap", ex-couch potato and non-practising chocolate addict.

Yesterday I started on a journey far beyond anything I thought ever possible. I am going to run the Great Wall Marathon on the 19th of May 2012. Synchronicity got me to this point, now I have to do the rest.

Here I plan to write about my journey and my dream. Here I will splutter, doodle, cry, laugh and hope as I get myself fit (and nuts). I have never run a marathon and I am not a natural athlete. This is my Everest. My journey of towards five thousand one hundred and sixty four steps is about to begin. To the ones I love: Bear with me.

Week 1, Training Day 1: Ran a 6k yesterday as part of the first of an 8 week training plan, somehow it feels like a drop in the ocean. I worked out on my loyal calculator that if I manage 7km per hour, I will need 6 hours to finish the race. Phew, the cut-off is 8 hours...

I can do this...

Great Wall Marathon