Beyond 100 Marathons

It was all looking touch and go by Wednesday.   Kuwait Airport was closed and the event organizers were circulating notices saying that runners’ safety was paramount, which all implied that a cancellation may be on the cards…(I omitted to pass this information to Gill, on the basis that she was already fairly skeptical about the entire trip).   However, the rain subsided on Friday morning and there had been no messages from Emirates Airlines suggesting any issues with the flights so after a quick morning jog (which actually turned into 10 kilometre run), Gill and I were off to Dubai Airport for our flights to Kuwait.   (In reality, thanks to our elevated status as Silver members of the Emirates Airlines’ loyalty scheme, there was a strong chance that an hour in the Business Class lounge would be the highlight of the trip and more than pay for a return taxi even if we decided not to proceed with the flights to Kuwait).   With bellies full of excellent buffet food...

Firstly, a confession.   It has been over eight months since my last marathon.   This is the longest break I have taken between marathons since 2011. In fairness, I have not completely idled during this sabbatical period.   I have maintained a moderate weekly training regime, averaging around 50 kilometres per week throughout the year, although my middle aged body has shown signs of wear and tear which has forced a few periods without running.   I am also labouring with a perpetually injured left heel, an injury which first struck during the summer of 2017.   I did go so far as visiting a physio in Dubai in early August 2017, who explained that I had damaged the tendons in my heel, most likely as a result of my flat footed running technique and bulky frame.   He recommended various stretching exercises and a period of rest from running, to which I responded by running the 12 kilometres home from the physio session and running five further marathons...

Welcome to my blog.   In April 2017 I ran my 100 th marathon in Zurich, Switzerland.   At least I thought I had.   It subsequently transpired that I had actually run my 100 th marathon in Marseille, France nearly one month earlier, meaning that I had messed up one of the more notable achievements in my life to date.   This does not bode well for my wedding day…   The minor cock up described above is indicative of how a number of the 100 marathons unfolded and persuaded me that it would be worthwhile recording the journey to the 100, at least as far as I could remember it.   The book, “ How Not to Run 100 Marathons and Other Stories ” ( https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Not-Run-100-Marathons/dp/0244412073/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1538561380&sr=8-2&keywords=nicholas+turner+how+not+to+run ), was published in September 2018 and has done reasonably well, although certain of the stories may result in me being ostracized by my family.   My ...