Yesterday was my last long training run before the Taunton marathon. Twenty miles round a not-particularly-inspiring circular road route, keeping within a few miles of home.

Marathon training’s always a little odd.

Just under five weeks to go until the Taunton marathon, and the long runs are getting…. well…long.

Last year’s Edinburgh marathon was my first for 12 years, and it was really a test of faith. I’d long ago accepted that my marathon days were over, and I didn’t quite believe I could still do it. Until I did.

Edinburgh taught me a lot about my running. Just being able to complete each new milestone in training seemed like an achievement, even though my form had a habit of deteriorating as the distances got longer.