The Runner | Sore legs, second thoughts and lonely nights on the road to the 2020 Hong Kong Marathon
- Six weeks into his training programme, sport reporter Patrick Blennerhassett reflects on his journey
- Without alcohol, the journalist has found new fitness heights and a renewed sense of vigour
Eight months of hard labour counting down to one climactic morning, and I can say the changes have already morphed my body, mind and psyche. The initial support from friends and family was almost completely positive, my decision reverberating through the people in my life as I navigated numerous conversations that ranged from unmitigated backing to questions of personal sanity.
“You crazy, I hope you know what you’re getting into. Do you know what city we live in?” wrote one friend on WhatsApp.
Regardless, here I stand, wavering on sore legs after a gruelling 10km trek this morning along Bowen Road, sweating profusely and dropping weight by the second. Truth be told, the impact of cutting out alcohol is undeniable. After a few weeks of mild detox, everything started to clear up: my mind, my sleeps, my skin, my vision and my entire constitution. Alcohol, an elixir of epic proportions, gives as much as it takes. Inebriation, a temporary life and social lubricant, followed by a day of mild to moderate pain so remarkably unique it has its own name: a hangover.
But, sans toxins swimming through my veins, I have new life. I’ve started running in the morning, and a few times a week also squeeze in a workout at night. My off days have been drastically cut in half, and it must be noted my wallet also feels a bit heavier these days too.
My training regime for the first two to three months is simple. Before I start on a legitimate running plan, tracking my kilometres specifically and building up to longer mileage, I have an immediate goal: get in tip-top shape.