The Road to 2009 by Barrence

Shoes - Check

Socks - Check

Shorts - Check

Tops - Check

Garmin - Check

Bib and Pins - Check

Jelly Babies - Check

Bananas - Check

Gatorade - Check

A day of lounging.  Less than 12 hours to go until heading off to the start.  Racked with nerves and self doubt.

Woke at 3.30 am and rose at 4.15 to read and watch TV.  Headed up to the the Marathon Runner store at 7am for a 4 miler with the Saucony team. A good start to another warm day. 

I kicked myself for not hitting the streets with my camera earlier as the final preparations for the finishing line on Monday were being made.  I did manage tro get some shots of the tape marked FINISH being fixed to the road and bagged some T-shits and tags for the kids.

Walked the city for much of the rest of the day covering most of the area.  I can't believe how quiet things are until I return to the hotel. The convention centre was a human zoo with themajority of runners swinging in to register and shop.

Grab a couple of hours sleep at 5.30 but have to force myself out of the tempatation of back to slumber at 9.15 for double portions of pasta.  The weather's much cooler in the evening but still very pleasant.  My legs moan that I overtaxed them today.

Hope I can sleep through until 7 tomorrow.  Plan to watch the US Women's Olympic Trials, maybe some swimming and a lot of relaxing.

Good flight out from T4.  I was seated next to a fellow runner from Hants who is running back to back with London last week. 

BA had an onboard movie about 16st guy training and running  London a few years back.  Very entertaining.  Followed by Daniel Day Lewis' latest where he plays a turn of the 20th century oil baron based on the Upton Sinclair book. Dark stuff

Boston is enjoying the hottest day of the year.  Clouds and showers are expected on Monday.  I certainly hope so.

Registration is right next door to the hotel.  The two of us spent the afternoon on some running gear retail therapy.  2 pairs of Sauconys for $80. Bargain.  I was intending to buy some new ones last week.  I'm glad saved my money. 

Friday night is tough. The place is buzzing and there's a bar called Bukowski's up the road but it's pasta and water for me. 

I'll probably be too tired to have much to drink on Monday night.

The big plus is the finishing line is less than 5 minutes walk away. 

The adrenalin is starting to pump.  Early night ready for a run at 7.30 in the morning.