Running changes the way you count. Runners work to a different numerical system to the rest of their country. For example a marathon becomes not 26.2 miles but four five-milers and a 10k. That’s how I break up the distance.

Non-running-related activities too can be measures in running terms. My four hour bus journey the other day was (for me) a quick marathon. And my trip will last four months in total, or as any marathon runner will tell you, as long as it takes to train for the 26.2 mile race.

So with three weeks done, the long runs would be getting longer from here on. But as I’m in Alice Springs where the temperature today is 40 degrees C, I’m glad that these 16 weeks aren’t part of a marathon training plan and put April’s race to the back of my mind for now.