Last Sunday, I ran 14 miles, my longest distance to date while training for this challenge. It was a beautiful, sunny, almost spring-like day. By the time I drove from Hammersmith along the river to Twickenham, my cheeks must have been burning. “It’s windburn,” said her husband, who had decided to leave her alone this time.
I really love training for big challenges. Every week I feel like I’m getting a little stronger and making a little bit more progress. Within a month or so, you should be able to run about 30 miles. 19 miles!
However, it is not without its difficulties. I am just beginning to realize that the obstacles I encounter are more mental than physical. Often, it’s not the legs that you want to give up, but the brain. This is the truth about endurance challenges. Not only physical strength but also mental strength is important, and it is the ability to overcome situations that seem like “I can’t do it anymore!”. A voice that will watch over me until the end.
At worst, I’ve found it’s best to channel one of the many plus-size fitness influencers I’ve started following on Instagram. These are a refreshing antidote to the “stretch your legs” crowd and a reminder that exercise is beneficial for absolutely everyone.
The people I follow can add a little more inspiration to your feed and help you focus on what you can do rather than what you can’t do.