Date: January 26, 2024

Distance: 9 miles

Listened to: O2 Inside Line podcast

The last time I updated this blog, running had come to a stop due to a bout of thyroiditis. I was under enforced rest while my thyroid gland sorted itself out. Thankfully, there does not seem to be an long-lasting effects…aside from a large pinch of lack of fitness.

I returned to running in September trying to do little and often, before December and the inevitable cold put the brakes on. Meanwhile, I had continued with the yoga I had started in August to give me something to focus on. Abs and I checked in with each other every day (where possible) with a cheery (usually) “Namaste” via WhatsApp to make sure we were staying true to our yoga goal. We got to 100 days and decided to push on. We are now heading towards six months of yoga with Adriene Mishler’s latest Flow edition our current goal.

The last time I did yoga for a prolonged time it was during lockdown and it made my feet hurt. All good so far and I like the discipline of doing something every day. I feel it has improved my posture and my breathing even if the crow pose feels like a faraway impossibility!

All in all, 2023 was a bit of a write-off for running. I walked more miles than I ran. Did more yoga sessions than run sessions. I was determined 2024 would be different so signed myself up for Doddie Aid for a third year and set my heart on RED January.

Honestly, it’s like my nose knows when I have an activity plan. Bam, a cold arrives almost as soon as the activity starts. Doddie Aid is still achievable as it requires some of activity every day, so I could log my yoga and dog walks, but Run Every Day January, was a slightly tougher.

Possibly not the best idea, but I soldiered on. Continuous running was also challenged by my newest role as media manager for Exeter Chiefs Women (see action shot of me below!) On one match day, I ran everywhere I needed to go at Sandy Park and did a few loops of the pitch to log 0.82 miles! Despite all the nose blowing and sticky lungs, I have made it through with just a few days to go.

I am hoping that by going out every day, this will give me a resilient platform to build from. I am definitely not the gal I was a year ago, but I need to try to find some form as John and I ARE DOING THE LONDON MARATHON this year!

After multiple failed attempts to get in through the ballot, I had almost given up hope of ever doing it. Then John decided he would like to celebrate his 50th by running London. However, by the time he decided this, all the charity places had been snapped up. I sent out some hopeless messages to a few charities but to no avail. We waited a while longer, but admitted defeat and signed up for the Manchester Marathon instead. Cue, slight panic, as Manchester is a week before London so had to accelerate my training plan amid the last throes of my cold.

So, we were Manchester bound…and then we weren’t. John had been emailing one of the charities, the RFU Injured Players Foundation, to check if any of their runners had pulled out. It seemed like this was also a fruitless exercise, until it wasn’t anymore. Two people had pulled out. We were in. The Moores were doing the London Marathon.

Aaaaaarrrrggghhhhhh!

I am excited and terrified in equal measure. I really want to do London and know I can get over the line before the eight-hour cut-off but would like to do it well. I know John will be amazing, but it will take me a tad more effort. I wish I was in 2021 shape but I have time to improve on where I am now.

Without grossing anyone out, I am also calling this my menopause marathon, Catchy, huh? I think I am slap bang in the middle of it, so do not imagine I will reach the fitness I had in 2021 but I will give it a good go, enjoy the experience, possibly cry all the way round, but will hopefully cope with all that menopausal nonsense better than a non-runner.

Wish me luck folks. Twelve weeks to go!

If you also able to help us with a sponsorship donation, that would be amazing. You can find the details of the work the IRF does and the link to the donation page here: https://2024tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/caroline-moore