Wednesday April 22, 2009

To tell you the truth I didn't really know what to write this time.

It's very hard, almost impossible to explain and describe the exact feelings and emotions I've experienced during the many months of training for the London Marathon. Elton John had trouble putting down one word, SORRY, imagine what I've had to put up with dealing with a whole bunch of the suckers.

What's incredible is the fact that Michael and I are facing the last four days and there's nothing we can do about it. No more training, no more running for risk of injury and basically no more practising. Rehearsal time is over, the curtains are about to be open, the show is about to begin.

A helluva show it will be too. Twenty six and a bit miles all tucked into five hours of intreague, suspense, compulsion and hopefully the inevitable happy ending. This isn't a musical so as far as I'm aware there will be no singing and dancing and sources have informed me that it shouldn't be too much of a horror so there will be no murder or gory bits either. Actually I'll get back to you on the last one, never say never and all that.


I must point out that I may be a little fatigued afterwards, therefore an encore is probably out of the question.

Looking back at the last two months of training gives me great pleasure. We put in our best efforts during this time, raising the bar and exceeding our expectations at the same time. The aim was to reach twenty two to twenty four miles which our training schedule would cater for. I was good but not that good, I was ready to be pushed, I was ready for whatever Michael had to throw at me. I could no longer get away with completing fifteen to eighteen miles, I had to reach a little higher, aim for an altogether different target. I was relying and trusting on my muscle memory factors to come into play. Michael knew that I could achieve such mileage, all he had to do was convince me. Give him his due, he was pretty good at convincing me that there was a runner hidden inside me, lying dormant, ready to be awakened, ready to pounce. I knew the great man spoke only of the truth, words which would echo within the surroundings of my being.

With the wind in my face I began leaving the miles behind me, I was picking up a decent pace from time to time as well. It was going to be a gradual process, not an overnight phenomena. Knowing all too well that speed had become a distant relative, someone who you can be bothered with every now and then but always communicating easier from a distance. This didn't stop me in my tracks or halt me in my proceedings, It just made me more determined than ever to accomplish my mission, to make the impossible possible.. We worked on my stamina levels which were begging to be pushed. I realised that Michael was coming to the end regarding what he could teach me, I knew almost everything there was to learn, he would still be my compass, pointing me in the right direction but it was up to me now, I had to put in the hours, force myself to gain the mileage and increase my capacity for speed.

I was now running between thirty to forty miles a week. One week I ran the duration of fifty nine miles, that was too many miles too far, a mistake which I learned the hard way. Think my body took a break and went on holiday without me that week. I was no good to myself, Michael or anyone. Guess I was trying too hard, not expecting the inevitable consequences. Now I expect the unexpected when I run, the adventures never fail to surprise me.

Week after week we were improving, before I knew it we had reached twenty miles. Reaching this amazing milestone I now felt so much closer to the possibility that we could do this, we can complete this marathon, we can achieve this goal, we will reach the finish line, with only six miles to go I now had the end in my sights.

Over the last couple of weeks Michael and I concentrated not only in increasing and improving the distance to a gigantic twenty one point three miles but also on my speed levels. I was now running at much higher speeds, feeling fitter and able to hold a conversation without losing breath at eighteen plus miles, something which Michael informs me I found difficult at a mere three miles back in September.

With Support from Michael, self belief, exercise and a little energy boost, in four days I have a date with the London Marathon. A date with the hardest road race in the world. A date with destiny.

An extra thing to say:

I was talking to my girlfriend about the marathon the other day when I asked the question "What do marathon eaters run?". It was obvious that I got the words jumbled up but what made my girlfriend laugh so much was the fact that I had been so sincere and serious. She found it funny anyway. Just thought I'd share it with you.

Thanks to everybody who has supported me on this venture. I will taking you all with me for the race of my life.

To find out more about donating, this blog and my videos visit the Create Yourself Run London 09 page here.