Greece. Home of Ouzo, Feta, fried cheese and running. I’m happy to report that all but one of those things featured in my recent 9 day trip to Kefalonia – and it was the Ouzo that I passed on. Mythos was my drink of choice.

The marathon, as we all know, began in Greece. So where better to start my marathon training and campaign for sub-4 stardom than the country that gave it to the world? Well quite a few places really. For one it was really hot, and sunny, and hot. It’s fair to say the conditions were sub-optimal for running.

One one evening I ran at 7pm and it was still scorchio. The sun burned down and the heat from the road came up at me. 5 miles including a sizeable hill felt like a slog. There was no shade and no breeze. But there were amazing sea views.

The Greek people I saw on my runs gave me a smile and a wave. They invented (marathon) running after all. Back home in the UK it’s a relief to see an overcast sky and reassuring to know that there isn’t a massive hill round every corner.

Juneathon Day 5
8 miles round a rainy Wimbledon Common.