Back to NG with a Degree✨

There’s a classic metaphor that I have found myself turning to a lot throughout my life: “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

• Why haven’t they responded to me yet?
• When will I be thin?
• Where is our food?
• What is taking so long?
• I’m never going to be able to build this website…
• Why haven’t I mastered the piano yet?

All can be answered with the same principle: “You just need to give it time.”

(Though, with the piano, there’s definitely an addition – “You just need to give it time… and realise that that is NEVER going to happen!”)

But, did I ever think that this same phrase would resonate with me about running a marathon… in Rome… in only four and a half months?

No, no I did not.😂

To be honest, if someone had told me only a couple of years ago that I’d enjoy running at all, I would’ve never believed them.

But here we are.

You heard it right – I AM OFFICIALLY RUNNING ROME MARATHON 2026!

(And if Connor – my brother – ever gets his act together and books his ticket, he’ll be running it with me)

So… what’s next?

Although I’m expected to run it in a single day, I definitely can’t train for it in only one. So, after booking a plane ticket and hotel – which seems like a sensible start – we’re onto TRAINING.

I absolutely love running – from following the ‘Couch to 5k’ app, to turning up at park run as often as I could, to Sunday 10ks at home, and now even having a couple of half marathons under my belt – running has become part of my personality at this point.

Yes, the weather is turning truly miserable now, but I’m actually looking forward to pushing myself through, and being proud of the end result I get, in this run of a lifetime.

I’ll be doing a mixture of long and steady runs throughout training – from 5km to 30km distances – on the lead up to the big day, and will also be continuing to go to the gym throughout the week, to keep up my strength and overall fitness.

Luckily, the route seems (somewhat) flat in Rome, which is a thought that I’ll be tightly holding onto through the struggle😂

The aim?

Other than simply finishing… I’m hoping to get sub 4.5hours.

Yes, it’s ambitious – and definitely not something I would’ve ever said back on our 2019 holiday to the Italian capital.

Back then, I was much lazier (and much less fit) 😂

But that’s the hope.

So… without further ado – let’s do it.

I’ll be sharing updates throughout my training, on where I venture, what I’m eating to fuel, the playlist that’s getting me through, and how I’m finding the process as a whole.

I’d love to hear if anyone has any tips or advice on how they’ve trained for their own, also. The running community is like no other – so let’s come together and absolutely smash this.