Wed 3 April 2002

Monday and Tuesday I rested. Today I was up before seven to do a 4 miler though it didn't quite go to plan.

Last night I'd worked out a 2 mile route around the block which I planned to do twice. However the busy stretch of road that I'd chosen to form one of the long sides of the rectangle turned out to be horrendous: no pavement, bumpy grass verge, too close to the traffic roaring past. I still ran it - once - but decided not to attempt the second circuit. Instead I detoured up the canal again for a further 3 miles of total serenity.

This evening I discovered some thought-provoking and rich prose on the subject of running, and of running marathons. I'd come across the name of Austin "Ozzie" Gontang a few times on rec.running but not read anything by him until tonight. Anyone reading this who plans to run in London, or any other marathon, or indeed do any running at all, would do well to visit Ozzie Gontang's website and do a bit of reflective reading in these long lonesome days of the taper.

Thurs 4 April 2002

My midweek 'long run' has now been tapered down to 6 miles. It came early this morning, before buckling down to yet another day of joyless wallpaper-stripping. It was warm and sunny even at 8 o'clock this morning. I walked and jogged down to the canal and began my run from there. A supremely restful experience, despite the physiological trauma. Fabulously bucolic: trees laden with songbirds, the canal a sleeping glass snake. Just the birds and the rhythmic crunch of my feet on the sandy towpath; no other sound was heard.

Sun 7 April 2002

This evening's run was one of the most important of the entire training programme. As far as the marathon preparations go, the last few days have not been good. The house move and the drudgery of a week of DIY have twisted my routine and my diet, and I've been feeling increasingly unprepared for the big day.

Today I felt fatigued and unmotivated. Wandering past Thornton's in Reading, I had a sudden urge for one of their luxurious double ice creams, and within moments I had one of these offending articles in my hand. It was a magnificent treat: Strawberry Surprise and Toffee Crunch, full of fat and sugar and cream. One-nil to the Devil. Tried cheering myself up by buying 8 chairs from an antique pine shop but I still felt fat and bloated and wretched, and almost talked myself into not bothering with my final long weekend training run when we got home.

But I did it. Eventually I got into my running togs and pattered off towards the canal for my 8 miler. The sun was still out, and - running westwards - the strong glare from the water meant a four mile squint rather than a four mile sprint. It was another negative in a clumsy, lumbering start, but by the time I got to Aldermaston and started the return leg I was feeling much better. That awkward, bloated feeling had begun to drain away and a rhythm was developing.

It wasn't my fastest 8 miler but it was one of the most significant. I'm more conscious than ever that this is now a 'mind thing'. The past week has seen an uncomfortable dip in self-confidence, and without this run it might have developed into a disastrous obstacle. But it's been dealt with. The run reminded me that despite the problems of the past week, the benefits of putting in the training over the last four months are still there. It was a wake-up call: my last chance to get this right. If I can get my diet back on track this week and get the rest I need, I will be OK.

Next week >