Marathon week

2.8 miles in 21:44
Route: Islington circuit 1

Writing that title made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

After a gruelling 7 months of training (and writing this bloody diary) I am now only 5 days away from taking my place on the start line! At the moment, I am far more excited than nervous.

Tonight’s run was a simple affair – 20 minutes of light jogging around Islington. It was a pleasant evening and I took myself around the lovely houses of N1, dodging the gooners on their way to the Emirates (Arsenal were playing Man City tonight). It wasn’t a taxing run, but that’s not the point at this stage. I want to stay free of strains or niggles and keep my legs awake for Sunday.

I saw a piece in the Guardian today written by Frank Keating (former Chief Sports Writer for the Guardian and now a columnist) about his relief at no longer having to cover the London Marathon for the paper. He says:

“The crass mix of metaphor, the mock hilarity, the sanctimonious do-gooder vanities, the plodding, gruesome ghoulishness (and that ruddy BBC theme tune) still induces nightmares.”

Yes Frank, I’m sure it was very difficult for you hauling your fat behind a whole mile from Farringdon to the marathon route to watch 35,000 people achieve something that you secretly wish you had the guts to do yourself. He goes on to say:

“I'll be marking it this Sunday by tucking into a full-English breakfast in bed: with the Archers' omnibus and extra fried bread”

Fine. I shan’t be looking for you anyway Frank. In fact, when your arteries are clogged and you need a bypass, be thankful that there will be hundreds of people outside running the marathon to raise money for the British Heart Foundation!