A WEEK can be a long time in marathon training, some wise man probably once said. It has certainly proved the case for me. Things began well last Wednesday lunchtime, when I broke the 13-minute barrier for two laps of Christchurch Meadow. This 1.125-mile course is the regular setting for a 'handicap' run organised by the dogged Oxford City AC veteran Paul Grimsdale. By handicap, we mean the slowest runners starting first and the fastest at the back, so an exciting finish should result. That doesn't always happen, but it is always a good session and where my marathon odyssey began in January 2006. My cold had cleared up nicely and a light Thursday lunchtime run saw me all set up for a 21-miler on Friday, which was to be my longest distance yet. Conditions were slightly chilled when I began, but pleasantly warm by the time I finished 2 hours 50 minutes later. Apart from a little stiffness, I didn't appear to have suffered any adverse reaction and that evening I was encouraging a friend and fellow marathon debutant to venture out with me on Sunday afternoon. Before I 'clock on' for rugby reporting at lunchtime, Saturday morning sees me turn out as a 'ringer' for the Wolfson/St Cross College football team in the Oxford University league. Despite a recent poor run of results, my enthusiasm was undimmed and I took the field despite a little soreness in my shins. The match couldn't have gone any better for us with a 6-3 victory, but by the time I left the field the pain was rather more noticeable. In hindsight, I should have 'rested up' after Friday. The injury may well be a case of shin splints and is my first real setback. I don't know whether it is coincidence, but as a right-footed player, the pain is has persisted far longer in my right shin. I took a couple of days off and attempted a comeback on Tuesday (Feb 6). That didn't get far as I could only manage a slow jog. Looks like it's more rest for me...

Don't forget, you can log on to https://www.bmycharity.com/edmezz to support my London Marathon run for Oxfam