March 2012

[Sweder]

An exceedingly pleasant five miler this morning. I confess to feeling in tip-top shape, lack of sleep aside. I fair raced home at well under 8 minute mile pace but then, pace is not the issue, it's distance isn't it? 26.2 on hard roads and pavements will always find out charlatans like me. It's like I've been tapering for a few weeks (which I suppose I have really). I feel sluggish and 'cold' when I go out only to find form on the run, finishing well. Sunday will be my last long run, somewhere around the 16, 17, 18 mile mark. I'd like to have done 20 plus but at this late stage I feel there's more to be gained from rest than from pushing too hard.

I do have a strategy for Brighton; it involves the Mrs standing just beyond the finish line with a cool pint of Harveys held aloft. If I can hold that image above the waves of pain and fatigue I'll be OK.

Off out for a ruby with Moylebird, Tina (Chris's gal) and Rog-Air for a Cape Town/ Paris/ Moyleman reunion. The tears, not the beers, will almost certainly flow, though I expect them to be drowned out by the sound of raucous laughter as the tales rude and glorious take centre stage.