Lost: Running Mojo. If found please return to 12-Months 12-Marathons...

Mojo, where did you go?
Was it because of the Edinburgh Marathon?
Was it because my knee hurt this week?
Was it because I had my prized Garmin stolen?
Surely you're not getting tired of running marathons already? We're not even half way through the year!

Whatever the reason I'm pleased you're making a return - I've missed you! This week has felt stressful without you.
Perhaps all you needed was a 9 miler around a sunny Hampstead Heath this weekend. Perhaps you just needed an early night? I know the incredible kindness of Peter, who bought me a replacement Garmin, helped a lot. He's an incredibly selfless individual.
Maybe I just realised that the only way to find you again is to go for a run?

In any case, I have a treat for you. A Chi running session with Gray Caws tomorrow evening, and perhaps a session at the track on Thursday (watching, not running) while some fasties leg it around at breakneck speed.
Then, on Saturday I have marathon number 6 for you. So soon you ask? Edinburgh was only a week ago?! Yes, but the South Downs Marathon is a trail marathon - you like trail marathons.
Then, as if that wasn't enough, the day after you've got a City Trail event run by Salomon, featuring on hand help from Mark Hines - the explorer you're going to see on the 17th June.

If that doesn't bring you back, we're screwed.

Hampstead Heath in the sunshine this weekend. Can't not love it.

Edinburgh

5 down!
(7 to go...)
This weekend was the Edinburgh Marathon. It was my slowest time so far this year, with 3 hours 51 minutes 31 seconds - a full 31 minutes slower than I ran my PB in Paris, but one of the most scenic. The route followed the coast for the majority of the run, looping through a small wood at 18 miles before heading back to the finish. It is very similar to the Brighton marathon route actually, which I ran 2 years ago.
On the downside I didn't feel too prepared for this marathon. While I'd told myself I should go easy on this run anyway (considering I'm almost halfway through the year and have the South Downs Marathon a fortnight later), an aching right knee and tender feet meant this was enforced. Because accomodation was so expensive we (Kate and I) also decided to get an overnight coach to Edinburgh. Running a marathon can be hard, but after a bad nights very interrupted sleep sitting upright on a coach, it can be a little tougher!
I'm not overly concerned by this - I was very aware that some marathons would be quick, and some would be slow. If I take anything from Edinburgh, it's that I need to sleep well, and prepare well (mentally and physically) before a marathon.
I'm much more excited about my next marathon, being that it's a trail run along the South Downs, and imagine I'll bounce back well from this weekend.


As an afterthought; I've been watching a lot of Barefoot Ted YouTube videos this week. If you've read Born to Run this will mean something to you, and if not, in a nutshell, he's one of the most prolific barefoot runners in the world. He's worth checking out, and if you like what you see then you could always head out to the Barefoot Connections Conference in late June.
And despite not wanting to make this post unnecessarily long - if you don't know who Kilian Journet is, then please search his name in YouTube too! He's an incredibly talented ultra runner, winning the Zegama Skyrunner marathon in Northern Spain this weekend. He's a real inspiration to watch running.