Antony Tyzack

If you’re looking for a calm, uneventful week of marathon training content… this is not that.

This week has had everything:

• Long runs in sub-zero temperatures

• Running in sideways rain

• A surprise near-death experience

• And the continued discovery that I voluntarily signed up for this

Let’s begin.

The -6°C “Character Builder”

Nothing says “I love running” quite like setting an alarm for a long run and discovering it’s -6°C outside.

At -6°C, your options are:

1. Go back to bed and accept you are soft.

2. Put on every item of clothing you own and waddle out like an overdressed penguin.

Naturally, I chose option 2.

The first mile is always a lie.
You think: “Oh this isn’t too bad.”
By mile three your eyelashes have frozen together and your fingers are negotiating their resignation.

But weirdly? There’s something quite heroic about it. You feel like you’re training for an Arctic expedition instead of a marathon. A very slow Arctic expedition.

The Rain Run (Sponsored by Regret)

Then came the rain.

Not gentle drizzle. Not refreshing mist.
Proper British, sideways, “why do I live here?” rain.

Within 400 metres I was fully soaked. Shoes squelching. Shorts clinging. Questionable life decisions echoing in my head.

There is a special mental state you enter when you’re 8 miles into a rain run:
You stop caring.

You’re not wet.
You are water.

Honestly, by the end I felt like I deserved to be wrung out over a bucket.

The Car Incident (0/10 Would Not Recommend)

Now for the headline act.

Mid-run. Feeling strong. In the zone. Heart rate steady. Thinking about absolutely nothing… when suddenly

BANG.

A car crashes right near me.

Not a gentle bump. Not a “whoopsie wing mirror” moment.

A proper, loud, metal-on-metal, “this is how documentaries start” crash.

For a split second I thought:

• Is this part of the workout?

• Is this a new high-intensity drill?

• Am I about to feature on the local news?

Adrenaline kicked in and I think I ran my fastest split of the year immediately afterwards. Who needs interval training when you can nearly be taken out mid-long run?

On the plus side:

• I’m fine.

• I hit a new top speed.

• I now have excellent road awareness.

Marathon training: building fitness and survival instincts.

Why Do We Do This?

Because somehow despite the cold, the rain, and the unexpected stunt-driving it’s still brilliant.

There’s something addictive about pushing through awful conditions and finishing thinking:
“Yeah. That was hard. I loved it.”

Stockholm syndrome? Possibly.
Marathon mindset? Definitely.

A Huge Thank You

On a more serious note, I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has supported me with a donation so far. Your generosity genuinely means a lot and makes the frozen toes, soaked trainers and near-misses feel worthwhile.

Knowing you’re backing me and the cause makes every mile that little bit easier (even at -6°C).

If the weather, traffic and general chaos could calm down for the next few weeks, that would be appreciated.

Until next week’s episode of:
“What Could Possibly Go Wrong on a Long Run?” 🏃‍♂️