I DID IT!

So, here I am then - back from the big smoke, (battered) feet up on the coffee table watching the marathon highlights on the telly box!

My legs are a bit sore (not looking forward to the next couple of day - stairs are already something of an issue), I have some hard core chaffing on my side from my waist bag and I managed to bleed through my lovely white trainers, but other than that - not too bad.

But, how was it?

Well, Tom & I were up at 5am and out of the house and on route to Farnborough station for 6am to catch the coach to London with a load of other marathon nutters. The coach was great - very stress free, and a great option especially because the trains from Farnborough (and pretty much everywhere in the country it seemed) were all screwed up with 'works' of one sort or another. Anyway, the coach was blissful.

We arrived at the start area at about 8:15 and headed off to our starting areas - Tom on Blue, me on Red.

So we said goodbye, and I went off.......

Put my bag on the baggage lorry (they take the bags from start to finish) and sat in the shade and waited. (Picture of me waiting - note my lovely green hair!)

At 9:30 I headed into my 'pen' - pen 4 - and tried to get quite near to the front so I could see the 8 min/mile pacing chap in the pen in front of me.

At about 9:40 they moved us out to the start area, and at 9:45 exactly we set off!

I guess I was reasonably close to the front, so it only took me a minute or so to cross the line, but not so close that I had the opportunity to run off like a whippet (a good thing)

I managed to catch the pacer, and ran with him and his posse for about 3 miles, and then got a bit fed up with tripping over people so I went ahead a bit (only a bit, I was very conservative).

I was a bit worried from the start though - I just never felt good at all. Usually you get a bit of time where you feel fantastic - fresh legs, excitement of the race, etc. - but not today. Not sure what the problem was (something very similar happened when I did the Paris Marathon) - could have been the heat, eating too much/too little, too much/ too little tapering, or something completely different - but I know that I was finding it hard running 8 min/miles even in the early miles, and that is 45 seconds a mile slower than I ran the Reading half a few weeks ago!

Anyway, it was incredible - the crowds, the noise, the party atmosphere - all exactly as I was expecting. And wearing your name on your shirt - like having your own supporters all the way round, amazing!

The first real landmark for me was tower bridge - just after that is 13 miles and the half way point, also just after that was my support team - Jon, Helen, Andrew, Nic, Archie & Tish. Helen had made a banner - which was great because it meant that I spotted them. That was the problem with so many people shouting your name - you just couldn't tell when it might be someone you knew, and when it was people just cheering you because your name was on your shirt!

Anyway, going past the support group was great, and just a bit further down that road was a massive Macmillan supporters group who gave me a huge cheer as well - much appreciated.

From the half way point I just started to get slower - it was so hot, and so hard - I was taking water at every station, and taking an energy gel every 4 miles (rather than having lucozade drink), but it wasn't helping. I managed to talk myself round canary wharf without walking - although I was REALLY tempted by that point - but when I hit mile 20, I admit that I did walk through the water station - necking the whole 330ml bottle before setting off again, I pretty much did the same at every water station (1 mile apart) after that.

I was a bit sorry for myself - disappointed that I didn't run all the way round - but when I did get running again I was moving pretty quickly, so overall I don't think my time suffered any more than it would if I had just run more slowly for the whole time - and it meant that I could have a proper drink.

I really didn't want to get outside the 3:45 target I had set myself, I didn't want to let down all the people who have sponsored me, or myself I suppose - although you can't tell what is going to happen on the day, I wanted to do well.

Part of the problem with a marathon is that there is a lot of training involved for one event - and if doesn't go right, it's not like a half or a 10k, you can't really have another go at it in a couple of weeks, so it feels like you have wasted your time almost if you don't do as well as you hoped (if you see what I mean). I think all these things prey on your mind, and sometimes you talk yourself into slowing down or walking or whatever, when really you could have kept going and would have been fine - once you start thinking "I can't do this", you find that you act accordingly.

Anyway, saw the supporters again at the 22mile point, and then it was just the final push for home.

Another thing about having your name on your shirt - when you have a little walk, EVERYONE is shouting for you to start going again - in one way, a little annoying, in another a definite spur to get going again - and a big cheer from the crowd when you do!

So, I ran the final 2 miles without stopping (although it wasn't pretty) and I started thinking to myself "this is it, I'm going to finish the London Marathon - I'M GOING TO DO IT" and the crowd get bigger and bigger, and more noisy and then it was "800m to go" and we can see Buckingham Palace, and then we are in front of Buckingham Palace and it is only 300m to go as you turn into Birdcage walk and you can see the massive finish gantry with the photographers across the top, the clocks, the people - the end!!

My time? 3:39:23 - easily under my 3:45 target - and making me 5,091st out of 35669 total runners, and 665th out of 10,851 ladies - which isn't bad.

I reckon on a different day, I should get much closer to 3:30, but I am trying not to feel disappointed that I didn't do it this time.

Once you get through the finish line you get your medal (a marvellous feeling), and then I had a bit of an 'episode' - suddenly discovered I couldn't breath and was quickly hustled into a waiting wheelchair by the lovely St John's people while I regained myself. Met up with Alison (3:28 - well done!) and crazy Alan who was marshalling between the medals and the baggage lorries.

Got my bag, headed into the Macmillan recovery centre for a massage and a cup of tea, met up with the cheering squad outside, Tom joined us looking a bit sorry for himself (4:30 - not a good day!), we got some lunch and came home.

Did I enjoy it? Hmm. Well, it was tough - so in that sense, no - but, it was amazing in terms of the event: well organised (brilliant in fact), incredible support (practically the whole 26 mile route is lined with supporters, in some places 5+ people deep), the bands, the people in costumes, the sense of achievement, being part of something so well known......... definately something I am glad I did.

Would I do it again? My first reaction is definately NO - but having secured my good for age time today (sub 3:45) that does mean that I will get a guaranteed entry for next year - if I want one! Will I be able to resist? We will have to wait and see :)

For now though, it is bed time - time to crawl up the stairs and rest - can't wait.

And that's it - another blog draws quietly to a close.

Thankyou to everyone that has supported me, both financially, in terms of charitable donations, and with moral support - so many texts & emails with good wishes, made me feel quite emotional at times (it's been a funny week!) - and it's all hugely appreciated.

Speak soon
Trish
x

The night before.......

So, in just less than 10 hours time, Tom and I will be catching the coach from Farnborough to London and the start of the London Marathon!

Yesterday we went up to the London Excel centre to collect our numbers, chips and goody bags - enjoyed a bit of a sit about in the sunshine (see the photo - Tom is 'hiding' behind my hair!), had a look at the huge number of stalls selling 'stuff', enjoyed our £5 pasta meal (see Tom tucking into his on the left there), and came home again.

Lots of water drinking and carb eating and sitting down last night - resting the legs.

Today we didn't do much - a trip to Sainsburys for last minute snacks, picking up Tom's girlfriend Tish from the station, the two little girls from next door brought me some 'good luck' cards they had made for me (so cute), crazy Alan came by to wish me luck, and we a quick tour into Cambo to purchase some green colour hairspray!

Since then it has been water drinking and carb eating, resting and feeling a bit sleepy, bag packing, bimbling, and general preparations.

Have trialled the green hairspray - it's pretty good and should help me stand out in the crowds - so watch out for it!

Am feeling oddly calm, which is interesting considering the ups and downs I've had this week.

Fingers crossed though - it's all going to be good.

If you are reading this and going to be looking out for me - I will be wearing my Macmillan green running vest, with "TRISH" on it (see the photo in an earlier post), my hair will be in bunches & sprayed green and i will have my sunnies with the orange lenses on - surely that should be enough to go on?

I am race number 52359.

Will let you know how I get on!

A bit more like it

Just back from my last run before Sunday - a nice brisk 3 miler. Was supposed to be done at my planned marathon pace (which is 8 min/ mile - and yes, that is 3:30 pace), but I just felt so GREAT that I might have gone a little bit faster at times.

Very relieved - all of my recent runs seem to have been terrible for one reason or another, but just now I felt like a runner again :)

Hope this is a good sign for Sunday.

In other fascinating news - I just worked out that I have run 443 miles and spent 58 hours doing so since the training programme started on 1 January. Doesn't seem that much really!

Stuff

Got a 3 mile run to do later - but already there is stuff to talk about.

I received a 'care package' this morning from my lovely friends Julie & Robin in Sweden. It had all the essentials - vaseline, blister patches, chocolate, lucky knickers - and was a really lovely thought, so thanks for that guys :)

Also, I have just ironed my name onto my running vest - discovering that if you get the iron too close to the existing words, they melt! Silly me. Never had my name on a running top though, so that is something else that is new and exciting.

Tom is arriving in the morning and we are going to the expo tomorrow afternoon to collect our race numbers, timing chips & hopefully lots of freebies. Am going to try and resist spending a fortune on running kit (especially NO trainers!), but you know how it is........

Tapering of an alcoholic kind....

Ok, so I have singularly failed to go on the wagon at any point in my training - but you should be impressed, I am at least tapering my drinking!

Went up to London last night to meet a couple of friends of mine - Jon, who I met and lived with while we were both trainee accountants in Nottingham and his 'suprise' wife, Shern. I say 'suprise' wife as they got married in Vegas earlier this month (it was planned) but nobody knew it was going to happen! Amazing.

Anyway, they live in Australia, so we get to see them only when they are over for a visit - and yesterday they were in London, so Jon & I went to meet up with them.

I had lager shandy. See how restrained I am?

I feel a bit ropey this morning - am trying to convince self that it is because it was very smokey in the pub last night and it IS NOT a cold - but am increasingly paranoid about getting ill.

:(

Was a fun evening though - and glad I made the effort to go (it's so easy not to bother) - saw this on the way back to Waterloo though - on the outside of the London Marathon shop - it's a countdown timer to the start of the race!!! OOOOooooo. How did it get to be so soon?

Quicky - quickly (or something)

did my intervals today - last ones - and some lovely 400's to finish it all off.

Decided to go crazy and do them outside on the track by the gym today - since it was still so sunny.

The track is an old one, it isn't really used any more as there is a swanky rubbery one just across the field - but it is open for anyone to have a go on, and it's perfect for what I wanted!

So, a warm up of 5 laps and then straight into it.

6 x 400ms with 2 min rest intervals - aiming for 1:34min/lap

Did them in:
1. 1:29.9 (fresh legs)
2. 1:32.7 (more conservative)
3. 1:31.0 (feeling the burn)
4. 1:30.5 (over half way)
5. 1:30.0 (sometimes I suprise myself)
6. 1:30.3 (last gasp effort)

Fantastic, and then lots of lovely grass to lie down and stretch on!

In other news, my sponsorship total continues to grow as a number of latecomers join the fun - thanks you guys, it is greatly appreciated!

Still keeping an eagle eye on the weather forecasts for the weekend, but they are so variable that it probably isn't worth the stress.

Jon has organised the cheering squad - currently comprised him, my sister & andrew, Nic & my lovely inlaws. If anyone else fancies a day trip to London to cheer on 35,000 nutters running 26.2miles 'for fun' and wants to meet up with these lovely folks - the plan is to rendez-vous at Tower Hill tube station at 10.30am.

There you have it.

Now, I must shower and then I am going into London to meet an old chum of mine. No beer though. Probably.

:)

The last of the long runs

'Just' the 10 miles today. Left it till 6pm - feeling a little 'sleepy' from last night's beers and then it was way too warm to go running - so I just rested up until it was time to go.

Found it very hard work when I did get going - it's a bit disappointing really, because you definately think - well it's only 10 miles, should be easy - but it just isn't (I think I said about this already).

Overall though, I did average slightly faster than planned marathon pace, and it was hot, and there were hills, and I had beers last night - so .......... well, it's still not good for morale I can tell you!

Anyway, it's done now - just 2 more short runs to do next week, and then - the BIG DAY!

This time next week I will no doubt be enjoying a lovely pint of shandy (or 2) and wearing my medal with pride. All I need to do is get through the next 6 days without injuring myself or getting a cold or anything stupid like that - and I will get round!

So exciting.

Golfing

A beautiful sunny day so Jon & I went up the road for a game of golf.

We haven't played in years really - and you could tell. I was totally hopeless, and got my arse well and truly kicked (7 holes to 2), but at least I didn't have to play any shots out of a tree - like jon did (picture!).

A nice activity though - took us a couple of hours to go round (was only 9-holes) and very quiet. Fab.

A nice pint of shandy in the clubhouse afterwards, and then home to get changed and go out for another couple of bevvies and a nice dinner.

I decided that going on the wagon was a pointless exercise, and instead have been tapering my drinking in the same way I am tapering my training mileage. :)

Fundraising target - ACHIEVED!

As of this morning, my fund raising target of £1000 has been achieved!

This is fantastic news - and I am really grateful for the generousity of everyone that has supported me. Thankyou.

Macmillan Cancer Support will benefit greatly from your donations, but it also acts as a fantastic incentive for me - both throughout the training process and on the day itself - I don't want to let anyone down!

Thanks again guys - you're great :)

Too excited to work!

OK, so it doesn't take much to distract me from my work, but at the moment it seems extra bad. Too much marathon madness - stuff to read, stuff to obsess about, running to be done, kit choices to be made, injuries to manufacture .............. and so it goes on.

Today I did actually run - 10.5km: 3km warm up, 5km fast, 2.5km cool down.

It was very hot and some how it seemed that every man and his dog was out chopping his trees back - which was just great for my tree pollen related hayfever! Anyway, it was hard work but fine - I tired quite a bit on the hill, but at least I know that once that is over and done with, it is pretty much 4km downhill to home!

Made sure to have a big lunch after that as I had 2 hours of dentistry to look forward to this afternoon - a couple of root canal fillings (great) and I was pretty sure that I would be so full of local anaesthetic that dinner might not be an option: absolutely right, can't feel a thing all down the left side of my face. Nice.

Plans are coming along though for marathon weekend - I have bagged my friend Tom and I a place on the coach leaving from Farnborough to take us to the event (thanks Alan!), so we know we are going to get there. The coach does leave at 6am though - so today's thought is - what am I going to do with my porridge? It will be far too early to eat it when we leave the house, so I will have to take it with me for later. Nightmare.

Also, today I am wondering what sort of pace should I be running at? Difficult to know how fast I could do it (as I haven't run that far in training) - is a delicate balance between going fast enough to feel that I did my best and not too fast so that I die at around 16 miles with 10 left to go!

So difficult.

Ahhhh, that's better!

Cycled to Aldershot (7km), locked up the bike, did outdoor running intervals up and down Queen's Avenue (lovely, nearly flat, straight road), cycled home.

Intervals: 5 x 1km (3:52, 4:02, 3:58, 3:58, 4:00) with 400m walk/jog rest intervals.

Was alright - not easy, but not terrible either - and over so quickly!

Feeling much more positive now, legs felt much less rubbish than on my last couple of outings.
Brilliant.

In other news, once the Easter weekend was over, I had all good intentions of going on the wagon - unfortunately it looks like that is already blown as I have a beer appointment with one of my old work chums this evening. So weak :)

Easter bunny

On friday morning I decided to do my 13 mile run - previously timetabled for Sunday - and discovered something I really should have known - an evening of beer, curry & antihistimines is not a good base for a 13 mile run in the sunshine!!

It was awful. Truly horrid from start to finish.

I set off down the road, and usually I am leaping and bounding and having to slow myself down - today I wasn't. I think part of the problem was that in my head I expected the run to be a breeze - it was 'only' 13 miles after all - but it really wasn't.

So disappointing.

The only compensation was that I actually managed to get round and home and hit an average pace spot on what I was aiming for. A miracle really - but no way could I have gone any further! Very worrying.

After the run, stretch, shower, etc - me & jon loaded up the van and headed off to the New Forest for a couple of nights.

It was great - love that van - very relaxing.

Didn't do much, went for a bit of a cycle (good old Top Bike) and a stroll on Saturday - definately counted as cross-training - sat around a lot, enjoyed the sunshine, read our books, drank some wine........ perfect really :)

On Sunday morning we headed back home - we had visitors arriving, my mum & george, helen & andrew and michael - all coming for a roast dinner and new back garden admiring.

I had time before they arrived to get out for my run - 5 miles at mid-tempo pace. Not too bad, definately felt better than I had on Friday, but still not as sprightly as I have been on past runs - quite hard work. Saying that though, it was REALLY hot and I wonder how much affect taking anti-hayfever drugs is having.
Anyway, I actually did 10km (~6 miles) and was slightly quicker than I needed to be, so it was all fine.

I got home to find the guests had arrived - and Andrew (soon to be brother-in-law) said he wanted to go out for a little run, so I volunteered to cycle round with him, show him the way and use it as a bit of a cool down. We did 3.5 miles - I was on Top Bike, he was running - I was cold when we got back!!

Anyway, the garden & new furniture was admired, there was a good roast dinner on Sunday, too much wine, some drinking games, chips & bread at 11pm and then bed at 2am.



A great weekend, a real mix of stuff - and FANTASTIC weather.

I must admit to hoping that the sunshine doesn't last though (sorry) - or at least disappears for a few hours on 22nd April - running 26.2 miles in the kind of heat we had over the weekend would not be fun!

Less than 2 weeks to go.......... oooer!

Tapertastic!

The last couple of weeks before a marathon are when you do your 'taper' - basically reducing your mileage, letting your legs recover and get benefit from all the training you have done so that you arrive fresh & ready to go on race day.

Brilliant.

What it seems to mean so far is more eating! I could eat for England - even more than usual. It is very interesting.

Not really noticing the 'reduced mileage' yet though - today's session was intervals (as it always is) and it was the hardest yet I think - 8 x 800m with 200m RI. So tough. I admit to having the incline on 0% today as well, my legs just couldn't take any more than that, so I did cheat a bit I suppose.

Still - I did all 8 repetitions, I did think of bailing out at 6, but carried on to the end like a true hero! :)

In other news, my sponsorship total is nearing my target, and with the news that my future brother-in-law Andrew has whipped up £60 of donations from assorted friends and family, I think I am going to make it!

Thanks again to everyone who has donated so far - is fantastic !!

All downhill (3 weeks to go!)

Friday I ran 8 miles. It was supposed to be at planned marathon pace - but I did it a touch faster.

Not as crazy as usual though because I felt absolutely shattered. My legs felt like bits of wood & every incline was a chore - also it was raining (a lot) and I didn't really feel like running.

Poor old me eh?

Ha.

Not expecting any sympathy as is clearly all self-inflicted - and by all accounts, feeling the strain at this stage of the training programme is pretty normal: it's hard work after all. Also, I think the half marathon last weekend took more out of me than I had appreciated - and that's why my legs are so lifeless.

Anyway, that was in the bag.

Yesterday I cycled to the station (and home later on) - but at only 2 miles each way, I'm not really sure it counts as 'cross training' - but maybe combined with the 5 hours of standing that I did while teaching my OU class, and the walk to/from the tube to the college I might just get away with it :)

Today - the big day - last 20 miler on the plan. Not a great start as I felt tired, legs still knackered, a bit wheezy (am starting to think it might be hay fever) and it was sunshine city. I had a new plan for today - laps of 10, 6.5 and 4.5 miles (I know - that makes 21 miles). My 10 mile lap went reasonably well - I was going a bit fast, and the first couple of miles were a gradual climb straight into the wind ( not nice). By the time I got home though - I was already thinking about stopping! Not good.

The second lap - same 2 miles up hill into the wind, starting to feel really sorry for myself by now - considering turning back and going home. Decided that if I could get to the top of the hill, I would be fine. Got to the top of the hill - enjoyed the downhill that came after it - shuffled back round to the house.

Seriously considered stopping - it was already 16.5 miles after all.

Decided that I would be super disappointed in myself if I did stop - set off for my final lap.

Took decision that a 3.5 mile lap would be fine (and less hilly), although first 2 miles were still a gradual uphill and all the way along I was thinking about stopping & walking - who would know, can the extra couple of miles really make any difference, etc.
I didn't stop though - and having got to the top of the hill (and in reality, it's not really very much in the way of incline - it just felt like it) and being on my way home - I started speeding up!! So much for being knackered.
Kept talking to myself all the way home (if I make it to 30km I will stop and walk, at 30km now - it's too far to walk, if I make it to 31km I'll walk, at 31km now - I'm so close to homeI may as well keep going.....) and was thrilled to clock exactly 32.2km to the front door - 20miles precisely!!

Very happy with that - I felt so tired, and wanted to stop so badly that I think I couldn't possibly feel any worse - and if I can manage 20 miles while feeling like that - hopefully with rested legs and the excitement of race day, I should be OK! Fingers crossed.

Only 3 weeks to go!

Bah

Feeling a bit rubbish today - a bit of a sore throat and a sniffy nose (my weekly 'cold') but also my right hip is super sore. No idea why - it was fine last night - but this morning it was really painful, and it's been sore all day.

Booooo

So many posts, so little time....

Wednesday already - where is the time going?

Recovered well from the race on Sunday - hardly ached at all on Monday, which was great - only problems were my right shoulder (still) and lovely big blood blisters on the end of my two 'index' toes. mmmm. They go well with the already blackened nails on those particular digits though which is nice.

Rest day on Monday.

Yesterday I was thinking about running, but my legs were a little tired feeling, and perhaps a touch more achy than on Monday (as is the way with these things) and then, excellently, a lunch date opportunity presented itself which meant that I had the perfect excuse to cycle over to BAE in Farnborough (cross training) instead of running! Brilliant.

I had lunch in the Park Centre (took a picture for you) with Louise, a friend I made when I worked in internal audit at BAE. Louise is great, her half marathon PB is just over 75 minutes (20 minutes faster than me!) but she is always incredibly supportive, enthusiastic and generally brilliant in making me feel great about how I am doing. She also had some great tips for pacing strategies and the like for marathon day (she is an expert!), which was fab, she paid for my lunch, and of course her company was smashing - all in all - a great trip out :)

I made sure I cycled home the long way (8miles) to justify the trip as cross training - and reckoned it worked out at about 45 minutes of cycling over all - and I was going fairly quickly.

Today. Went up to the gym to do my intervals - 10 x 400m (@15.5kph) with 400m RI.

I wrote 400m RI on my arm (I write what & how fast so I don't forget), but was convinced that couldn't be right, so I ended up doing only 200m RI! Hmm.

Anyway, I did all 10 intervals - with a 1% incline - and didn't die. By the last one I did think I might die, or fall off the treadmill, but I didn't, so that's good news. I like 400m intervals, but today 10 was pretty tough - glad to have got it done.

My legs? Tired still after the weekend - and my right knee (my historically 'bad' one) was feeling a bit odd - but otherwise, all as expected. I will be keeping an eye on my knee and making sure to do more stretching (promise) over the next couple of days. Can't risk getting injured at this stage in the game.

8 miles at PMP to look forward to on Friday now, then a day on my feet teaching at the OU on Saturday, then 20 miles on Sunday. Easy.

Big goal for this week though - to actually do the 8 miles at PMP and NO FASTER. I am getting really concerned that my inability to slow down is going to be my downfall in the marathon (because I will run out of gas too early), so I really need to practice running at the right pace.

I'll let you know how I get on!

Reading Half Marathon #2

For all of you that are wondering (and I know there are many of you) - Jon also did Reading yesterday, ran all the way round and finished in a very respectable 2hrs 3 minutes.

On the basis that he has run once (last weekend) in the last, let's say, 3 months - I think that is sickeningly good.

Damn him.

:)

Reading Half Marathon

One of my all time favourite events today - the Reading Half Marathon.

Most brilliant because you finish by running into the Madjeski Stadium, which is full of spectators, all cheering & stuff - amazing, just like being in the olympics - makes you feel great!!

Anyway, I was a bit worried.

I did 10 miles on Thursday - did them too fast (obviously) and was a bit concerned that I had worn my legs out (they felt very tired yesterday), also I managed to go over on my left ankle while we were visiting Petworth Park yesterday (making use of our new National Trust membership!), the clocks went back last night, I had stomach ache............etc. So, I wasn't sure how it was going to go.

Anyway. We got parked up and bussed to the start - I managed to get a race number (despite apparently sending 2 out to me - I never actually received one) and after a good 15 minute wait we managed to get our bag into the baggage tent. When we got to the start area we split up - I went into the 1:30 - 1:40 area, Jon disappeared off up the back :)

Quite a conjested start - reasonably narrow, and, as usual, plenty of people being a bit optimistic and starting too far up the field. Still, it does have the advantage of slowing me down (a bit) in the first mile!

I was basically running too fast - but I felt great, and even when I tried to slow down, I just sped back up again - plus, going slower didn't seem to be any easier - so I decided to just keep going, and then slow down naturally when I got tired. It seemed to pay off I think - I was going really well to about 10 miles, and then I started to flag a bit - but managed not to slow too much.

Lots of great things about the course at Reading - only a couple of small hills, lots of crowd support and a couple of brass bands (brilliant).

Anyway. From the 10 mile point you end up on the A33 - a dual carriageway - which everyone, apart from me I think - hates. I like it - you just get your head down and get on with it - and you know it's nearly over. The much worse bit is the last 2 miles, running through Green Park, a business area with not much in the way of support, and that feeling that you really want it to be over now. Please.

Still, a small slope out of there (so cruel), round the back of the stadium, in through the big doors, down onto a track alongside the pitch and through to the finish. My time? A rather marvellous 1:35:49 - 4minutes faster than Fleet 2 weeks ago - and 11 minutes faster than my time at Reading last year!! Brilliant. I was well chuffed.

I can even gloss over the fact that I was beaten over the last 400 m by a man dressed as a penguin! All big respect to him though - that is one fast penguin :)

On a mission

I was cross-training today, wanted to go out on my bike (well, not strictly wanted - but you know what I mean) - decided I needed a purpose.

Is a funny thing - when I go out for a run, I just "go out for a run" - obviously no purpose, just running round in a circle. When I go out on my bike, I like to have a reason.

So, today I decided I would cycle up to Reading - or nearly Reading - to check out the carpark we are booked into for the half marathon on Sunday, and whether or not it has height barriers (you just don't notice these things until it becomes a problem!).

The answer is - no it doesn't.

I'm sure you will be relieved to hear.

It was 'only' 21km each way - but my legs told me it was much further, and also - oddly - it was uphill all the way in both directions and the wind was in my face all the time. How can that be so? :) My cycling legs continue to be rubbish.

Still, it was 1hr 40 minutes of exercise - and now I can rest easy about whether the van is going to get in the car park or not.

Phew!

I got my number!

Well, my marathon registration letter arrived yesterday with my race number on it (52359) - plus a copy of the 'Marathon News' with all kind of useful 'tips' and information about race day - things like the availability of toilets (v. important), whether the water will be in bottles or cups (bottles), where to go, what to do, what to expect, etc. I loved it - I like to know all that kind of thing, stops me worrying!

Anyway, I will be running from the red start (depends on your number) with 20,000 other people! All getting a bit close and a bit real now. Am very much excited - but also really quite nervous. :)

And today I did my intervals - my last lot of 1600's - 3 x 1600m with 400m RI - I hate 1600's (they seem to go on forever) so I am glad to see the back of them. Happy to have done the session though - wasn't sure how keen my legs would be after the big run on Sunday - and they were tired, but managed to keep going admirably.

Current worst complaints - my stomach/insides are still upset with me after Sunday (I couldn't eat a thing all of Sunday night - very unusual), I have a blister on my left foot which is a bit sore and my shoulder is still incredibly painful.

Luckily - my legs are fine though.
Which is nice.