Last Suppers

Today has been a mishmash, part recovery from last nights boxing match, result a draw, that was a fair result given the battering that we both took, part preparation for tomorrows first day of fasting, including an easy run of a couple of miles and part normal Sunday.


I know that the first few days of the fast will be the hardest, before ketosis kicks in you have hunger pangs and habits to contend with, my brain will be telling me that I normally have a cup of coffee around this time, or why aren't I stopping for lunch.


My coping mechanisms will include a bit of yoga during lunch and of course burying my head into books and blogs of others who have fasted before me, a great source of encouragement.


Supper tonight was roast chicken with lemon and garlic, with roasted potatoes, parsnips and carrots, followed by home-made apple tarts, a rare treat and hopefully something to remember fondly in the weeks to come!

On my run this morning I was chatting to a friend (Peter Head director of the Guernsey Marathon http://www.guernseymarathon.gg/) regarding my thoughts on the 40 days ahead and the fact that thereafter I plan to start my 16 week training for Guernsey. We got talking about coincidences and the way that we (people in general) are capable of attaching symbolism to them as suits our requirements, my bit of symbolism being the way the timings of the fast have coincided perfectly (and accidentally) around my marathon trainings, I have been thinking about the 40 day fast since August last year and had originally planned to do it around Lent, Paris marathon on April 7th put paid to that idea and then the start was delayed a further two weeks as I prepared for last nights boxing match. My starting date of April 22nd (assuming I make 40 days) will take me perfectly up to 16 weeks before Guernsey on the 22nd September, which of course is the "prescribed" training period for a marathon, a nice co-incidence that I am happy to attach some symbolism to if it gives me a little more resolve to see this through.



Anyway I think that will do for pre fast blogs, tomorrow the adventure begins and this will start to become a more meaningful diary of how it is going for me, you will excuse the early video blogs when they start to arrive, current black eye and swollen nose do nothing to add to my screen appeal!