We’re building endurance again. 

With the Berlin Marathon starting to come into view at the end of September we’re getting to the training phase that I can’t wait for when I’m not marathon training. 

However, when I’m in this period I suddenly remember the discipline you must show; long, slow runs, early mornings, being more mindful of what I eat to fuel runs, making friends with the foam roller, longer, grinding efforts to find marathon pace. I think I like it all just a little bit more than I loathe it. 

I knew after the Wroxham 5K that it’s time to park racing for PBs; any training now needs to serve a purpose to getting to the Berlin start line in the best shape possible, something I failed to do earlier this year when missing out on Manchester. 

It means a lot less of the shorter training work and getting miles in.  

It means not letting myself get distracted by a shiny new pair of trainers that I want to try.  

It means being disciplined, and dare I say, a little selfish at times to get the training in that I want to, that I need to. 

I know I won’t be able to run marathons forever and I feel like I’m in a window where I can achieve times that I can truly be proud of. I’m 42 and I’d like to think there’s plenty of years of running to be had, but none of us know that for sure. 

Getting faster times over the marathon distance could open doors to experiences I want to have; I’d love to run the marathons in Boston and London one day and it would be an awesome feeling to be on the start lines of either and saying: ‘I earned this’. 

There are lots of people who have done just that amongst the Norfolk running community; not least plenty in my friendship group at Wymondham AC. I’m hoping by surrounding myself with these runners that a little of their stardust will rub off on me... we’ll see. 

We will be struck with Olympics fever soon and marveling at many superhuman performances. But to quote former Ireland and Manchester United footballer Roy Keane... ‘it’s their job’. 

It’s the everyday man or woman that inspires me – people with families that juggle demanding circumstances and still produce some amazing running. 

No-one that reads my column is a professional athlete – in this community we're all spinning plates to get our runs in. Sometimes it’s about working out which plates you can let wobble a little... sometimes cutting the grass just isn’t a priority in the Armstrong household. 

With the schools breaking up this week myself and wife, Alison, have been trying to map out the next six weeks. Keeping them entertained and stimulated is uppermost in our minds whilst juggling demanding jobs and running, of course.  

We’re thinking it will be much like a marathon – good phases, bad phases, plenty of energy replenishment... and a euphoric feeling at the end thinking ‘we did it!’ 

So too anyone that’s training for an autumn marathon, it’s time to fix up. Get your plan together and navigate your way to that start line in Berlin, Amsterdam, Yorkshire, or wherever you might be running. 

Fail to prepare...