Well, I made my flight connection to Strasbourg. Although I was one of the few British MEPs to make it to Strasbourg for the Monday as the snow closed most airports in the south of England but our little Humberside ‘International” Airport got us off on time with no problems, despite the adverse weather.
The Strasbourg session allows me no time for running or indeed any moment to myself. Anyway I hate gyms so all my running is more or less confined to weekends which theoretically is not the best preparation for a marathon. The best I can do is a walk to the Parliament on the Monday as I arrive early.
The highlight of the weekend is a special session with the Palestinian leader Mohammed Abbas and, as a Vice President, I am chairing the votes either side of his speech. The chamber is fuller than normal for such a speech, then I am one of a few invited to a lunch with him. I visited the West Bank last year and the plight of the Palestinians made a huge impression on me, especially the so-called ‘wall’. I still cannot comprehend that we have allowed such a construction to take place when one sees the effect on people’s daily lives. It certainly goes against all basic European values; most fundamentally that of freedom of movement.
I return home late on Thursday evening, very tired, to a cold and snowy Yorkshire - not good conditions for running. Friday I manage a quick run around my village about 4 - 5 miles but felt too tired. Then Saturday I drive to the Humber Bridge and opt for a fast run over and back, again about 4 miles plus - it goes quite well. I don’t feel I’ve done enough this week, but the programme I’m sort of following says you are allowed some down time! I console myself with the fact that everything has gone well so far and as yet no injuries or colds!
Sunday I am off to Iceland, leading a fact finding mission for my political group to that sad but independent country that has had more of a credit crunch that most. Again, not much running in prospect, but who knows? It has always been one of my ambitions to run their special cross country race in the summer - more than a marathon but across incredible terrain and beautiful landscape called the Laugavegur Ultra Marathon. Maybe when I’m no longer an MEP and have more time to train properly…
Diana Wallis
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Tags: diana wallis, endometriosis, european parliament, london marathon, werf, world endometriosis research foundation