Overview

I'm heading off to excel this afternoon with the rest of the team. 6 out of the 7 of us have made it through the winter grind, injuries, ups and downs. My thoughts go out to Zoe who will miss out this time through injury.

At the same time I'm thanking my lucky stars that my injured hamstring has behaved itself since I started training at the end of Feb. Its still not 100% but I know that as long as I start runs slowly and get the muscles fully warmed up it should be OK. I've also survived shin splints caused by the folly of training for a marathon over a mere 7-8 weeks. I have avoided running at all in this final week to allow maximum healing time for those. I'm expecting them to be a bit painful after Sunday but by then it won't matter.

This is th essence of the FLM, people going through trials and tribulations, injuries, challenges, self doubt but I know the big day will make it all worthwhile.

I can't wait for tomorrow. The atmosphere, the support (especially the kids with jelly babies and the high fiving), the camaraderie, running/hobblingt over that finish line in the knowledge that you've achieved something that less than 1% of adults achieve in a lifetime. Yes running 26.2 miles is a massive achievement.

So my advice to everyone in the team or reading this blog is:-

1. start slow until your body has had time to adjust

2. enjoy the day, the crowds and the support. there is plenty of time later for pushing your body to the limit and you will need that determi9nation in the second half

3. don't worry too much about target time, run to a comfortable pace especially first half. If a good/ better than anticipated time is going to happen it will happen because you have the energy and staying power over the last 10 miles not the first 10.

4. high five the kids that line the route over the first few miles. smile wave and acknowledge the crowd when they call your name.

5. try to be strong over the last mile, the queen may be watching you as you pass Buckingham Palace. If she is salute!

6. Give yourself a massiv e pat on the back as you cross that finish line

Good luck all

Hugh

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Hi All

This is probably the last chance I'll get to update the blog before the big run this Sunday.

The team had a teleconference this week to cover off the Saturday meetup at ExCel and plands for first thing Sunday morning - all looking good on that score.  We're also on target for our fundraising which is great news as I think it's probably the hardest of tasks!

We hope to get to ExCel for about 2pm tomorrow for registration / expo and look to meeting up with the WellChild lot - maybe stop off at the pasta party too (which seems to be getting more and more expensive each year - I remember when you got a t-shirt thrown in with the meal too!).

I've also been wondering if Flora are doing anything special for this marathon as it's the last one for them (Virgin next year) - it'll good to see what the medal design looks like too.

Just been checking the weather forecast for Sunday - talk about a contradiction...

BBC - Sunny Intervals 16 degrees
METCHECK - Light rain 10 degrees

As a runner I'm hoping for the 10 degrees with some rain, but for the supporters (my family included) I'm hoping for dry - so maybe a compromise 10 degrees and dry?!?  Who knows, maybe it'll be snowing...

Anyway, nearly at my station.  Good luck everyone who's running on Sunday and we'll see you all at the finish line...

Cheers

A.

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Hi All

I can't believe that it's nearly here...all the training: the early mornings, the rain, the snow, the endless plates of pasta and rice...it all comes to a head this Sunday morning...FANTASTIC!

I planned an 11 miler last Saturday and ended up running 11.5 and at a much faster pace than I wanted as I needed to get back to pick Amalie and Emma up from a birthday party (7:44 per mile, which was faster than I ran for Reading).  However, I felt good and spent the afternoon doing family stuff and new car hunting.  All that remains now is to get plenty of rest, and stoke up on some carb-rich foods between now and Sunday morning.

I've arranged a telecon for the team on Weds to discuss any last minute things ahead of registration on Saturday (hopefully we can all meet up at ExCel).  I'm also putting together the itinerary of stuff to bring on Sunday - just trying to remember from experience what I've brought in the past.  I see the weather forecast, according to MetCheck, is going to be fair/sunny with temperatures ranging from 13-16 degrees (hopefully it won't be a repeat of 2007!).

Good Luck to the Bluefin/WellChild Team, and to everyone running London this year....it's going to be a cracker!

Cheers

Andrew

ps.  If you see any runner's with pink hair...give us a wave!

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Halved the mileage this week and set out to do 10 today but miscalculated the circuit and ended up doing 12.65 according to my Garmin. Ran to Heart Rate as planned; started off at 10 min miles as a result and kept HR at or below 138 until about 6.5 miles then gradually increased it to a max of 148 (75%) at the finish. Overall 2:00:08 at an average pace of 9:30 mins/ mile.

Plenty in the tank at the end and an enjoyable sunday morning jog topped off nicely by dimitar berbatov this afternoon.

No more running for me. I'm in Amsterdam until Thursday and trying to get plenty of rest and early nights

Hugh

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With Amalie's birthday weekend last weekend it was difficult to get the distance in even though I got out the door at 7am.  I managed about 15 miles (had planned +20), but was happy to get in what I could - had a friend staying over and my folks coming down around lunchtime and had lots to help organise...I promised that the running wouldn't impact on family life.  The weekend was great...fantastic weather.

This weekend I planned a route to Clevedon and half the route around Nailsea (18 miles) with it being the last long run before the big run in less than 2 weeks time.  I made it round in 2hrs 33mins (8:31 per mile avg according to the garmin), which I was happy with.  Now it's all about the taper and making sure I keep the engine ticking over with some shorter runs between now and London.  Next weekend the the shedule reckons 12 miles which is a relief to the feet, thankfully I've got a deep tissue sports massage sorted out tomorrow lunchtime which will help with the tight legs too.

Looking towards the big day, I can't believe it's nearly upon us...it's been a lot of hard work for the team with fundraising and the training I just hope we all achieve what we set out to do at the middle of last year.  The team will be pleased to know that I've purchased some fluroescent pink hair spray again to help get us noticed...I have vivid memories of last year at the Holiday Inn bathroom in Woking trying to spray my hair at 5am in the morning.  I don't know how I didn't manage to re-decorate the place!

Anyway, hope everyone who is running London is on schedule and managing to be injury free.  It's back to work tomorrow and an early start, so I'd better sign off.

Will no doubt be blogging later in the week.

Cheers

Andrew.

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Another 20 miler or 19.52 miles to be precise. I did this around the time of day that we will be starting in 2 weeks time and in bright sunshine for 3 hours which should also prepare me if there is warm weather on the day. Metcheck currently predicts intermittent showers and quite breezy.

Shins are a little sore but thats 2 in a row and now a 2 week taper.

Hugh

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After the elation of doing 18 miles for the first time 2 weeks ago I had hoped to push on and do 20 the following week and also take advantage of my holiday by getting the consistency of daily running.

Unfortunately the shin splints of 2 years ago returned and curtailed my efforts somewhat. The next week was only 16 miles in total (including long run) and last week I did one 3 miler and a four miler. I could manage no more because of my shins. I rested for 3 days before embarking on yesterday's long run and decided that I really needed to get a 20 miler in if I was to be sure of doing the 26th. So I decided to give it a go and, if the shins didn't hold up, then I'd know well in advance. I decided NOT to wear my calf 'skins' as strangely I was getting the feeling that these were making things worse. I don't know why I thought this it was just a gut feel.

Anyway, off I went. It was a beautiful morning although I set off a little late which meant finishing my run in the midday heat. It was quite successful although I had trouble keeping my speed down which meant that I was pretty weary over the last 2 miles. I completed 17 miles at 9:40 min mile pace and run/walked the last 2.5 miles. Overall I did it in 3 hrs 10 mins but had literally nothing left at the end.

I then spent the rest of the day icing the shins every 2 hours and today (monday) they seem to be the least painful parts of my body! Amazingly they feel better than when I set out to run yesterday morning.

I am greatly relieved and now feel very confident of making a decent fist of it on the 26th without prospect of injury. I'll try to do another 20 miler this coming weekend which then allows for a 2 week taper which should be OK given the reduced training schedule I have undertaken so far.

No more booze until the big day and then see whether I can lose a couple of kilos before carbo loading starts.

It really feels like the countdown has begun and I'm starting to get a bit of a buzz of excitement. Can't wait for the marathon weekend...I hope everyone else is feeling likewise? 

Hugh

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So that is it then. I have just completed the last long run. The next 3 weeks will be light training, and full of anticipation of the main event. Bring it on! I will be very relieved when it is all done, and welcome all the extra time I will have for doing things that I haven't been able to do in the last five months. Like doing nothing at all ;-). 

Todays run was the longest so far: 24.75 which took me 3.26 hours. I still had last weeks half marathon in my legs, despite two easy training sessions earlier this week to recover. Still, I am quite pleased that I could run all the way so this, and my last weeks result in the half marathon gives me the confidence I can do the full in 3.30. 

One of my major challenges over the last few months has been to stay motivated. I do like running, it really gives me a buzz, but running 3 to 5 or occassionaly 6 times a week is a bit too much for me. I am really, really looking forward to decrease the amount of training after the raise, get back on my bike, play squash again and, most of all, a big beer after the finish line and a big night out soon after that!

Jan

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