The Paris marathon is looming.

For non-runners who may not be in the know, it’s this Sunday 6 April.

I’m officially taking part – my name is firmly on the list of competitors and there’s no going back. It’s the first time I’ve set my sights on the big 42 despite being a seasoned runner and I have to admit that I’m more than a little nervous and excited.

Between gentle final preparation runs and pasta gobbling, I started thinking about the relationship between my two big passions, writing and running.

The two words even sound right together like fish ‘n’ chips or black and white.

My writing seems to have a great influence on my running. And vice versa.

Running clears my head. Without regular outings, the endless hours I spend in front of the computer would drive me crazy. I feel fresher and more energetic after an invigorating morning run. And, I feel a warm cosy tiredness after an evening session, which lulls me and my hyperactive thoughts to sleep. I also come up with some of my most creative ideas as I power round the track or trot through the Bois de Vincennes on a leisurely Sunday morning.

But how does writing help my running?

The link may be less obvious, but I’m convinced that the long hours alone ploughing through pages of translation or wracking my brain for the perfect title prepare me for the long haul. They help me go the distance, fighting the temptation to stop when the ends seems so far from sight! This discipline is essential for distance running, which also requires you to invest huge amounts of time and energy to achieve your goal.

And, I’m not the only one to praise the running-writing combo:

“Most of what I know about writing fiction I learned by running every day.” – Haruki Murakami

http://www.fuelyourwriting.com/running-and-writing-focus-endurance-and-more/

Let’s just hope it all pays off on Sunday!