Driving force

I'm currently feeling a real itch to train, well aware that a simple cold or injury could force me out of action for an extended period of time. Whilst I'm fit and healthy, why not up the ante? I'm certainly feeling motivated enough and am genuinely enjoying the increased workload. I'm committing 2 sessions on most days, with the occasional reprieve. This weekend represented perhaps my most active weekend of training yet. A 1km swim and intense 30min bike session on Saturday, followed by another 1km swim and 10k run on Sunday. My fitness seems to be returning and perhaps even improving; I completed the last 5k in 23 minutes, although I was almost at full pelt.

My left foot is causing some problems; it feels like a bruising and won't budge, but I'm hopeful it's nothing too serious. I'm seeing a physio for the first time on Wednesday which will hopefully give me a clearer sense of how to protect myself from the rigours of training.

What is certain is that I have no intention of letting up any time soon. With aspirations to run a full marathon in April, laziness or complacency just aren't in my vocabulary right now. If I had the time and strength, I'd train even harder but I appreciate the value of a measured approach and it is prudent to slowly build up momentum.

It still baffles me to think that only 6 months ago, I had never done any serious fitness training. Naturally, I wonder where my motivation is derived from. Sure, I enjoy training but it is almost an obsession; just going a day without a workout seems like a waste. It seems then, that I've experienced a transformation in my mentality.

Except, upon deeper reflection there may be more to it. On Saturday I had dinner with a whole host of former college friends who were visiting for the day. In particular, it was a great pleasure to catch up with Hiten Patel, a former Maths colleague of mine at St Anne's and one of the best students of our time. This is a guy whose endless supply of positive energy will sweep you back to your youth, who fills the room with joy upon entering with his glimmering smile but who possesses a profound sense of intellect and intelligence that can benefit just about anyone. A winning combination. We discussed my running progress (Hiten himself recently completed a 10k run) and he pinpointed the reason for my success so far. I don't take on challenges lightly. When I commit to something, it is with the uncompromising aim of performing to the best of my ability.

Take Countdown, Pool and Mathematics; the three biggest challenges I've undertaken in recent years (although hopefully not in that order). As an undergrad mathmo, I saw every exam as a competition and relished the days where I could go one-on-one and make good of all the hard work I'd done. I left no stone uncovered in my revision, a perfectionist approach, aiming for top marks every time. Whilst I didn't achieve this every time (in fact, hardly ever), I certainly surpassed even my wildest expectations. Same for Countdown; hours of seemingly futile training paid off immeasurably, although I am eager to point out that I have much to owe to good fortune there too. Pool: seemingly trivial, yet I convinced myself it was the most important game in the world and over a few years went from a one shot wonder to university level player.

There is a pattern: I only take on something if I am passionate enough about it to take it as far as it can go. Our time in this life is finite; why waste it with half-baked efforts? Either do something as well as you're capable of doing it, or don't even bother unpacking. You'll find that when you do, you can learn lessons you never knew were out there. I owe so much to my experiences in these various pursuits, but only because I took them so seriously and opened the door to a whole new world of possibilities.

Running is no different and represents what is current. It is the latest and perhaps most significant challenge I've taken on so far. I intend and hope for it to stay with me for a long time yet, although I expect that it is in these early days that I really reach for the sky: a sub 3hr 30 marathon was inconceivable a year ago and still is, but as long as I have the belief and passion, and a bit of luck, there's no reason I can't continue to push the envelope.