I am now at that point in the taper when I just want tomorrow to be race day instead of 2 days away. It seems an age since my last half decent run and my head is starting to play all sorts of funny tricks.It doesn’t help that this will be my first non-city marathon with a small field made up mainly with fast club runners. I did check previous year’s results before registering to ensure there would be a reasonable number of finishers in the 4:30 to 5:00 hr bracket. I just hope they all haven’t drastically improved since last year and come back again this year!

It should be an interesting race from a “psycho” point of view – as it is an out and back route we slower people on one side of the road will be seeing the fast runners on the other side of the road who have already reached the 13 mile turning point and are on their way back.

Also the route is not traffic-free which again, will be another first for me.

So I think to occupy my mind tonight I will make lists – that’s always a useful distraction – and so hopefully will not leave any essential item (such as running shoes) at home!

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Six days of taper to go. I’m still vaguely sane I think apart from the usual fear of colds, injuries etc etc.

So today was a beautiful sunny day – lovely day to sit in the garden and keep out of bother. Somehow I managed to end up off hunting more Neolithic rock carvings in the hills near my home. This involved fording a river with no bridge on slippery stones (potential for twisted ankle) and climbing over two barbed wire fences (further various injuries potential). Fortunately I am glad to report I came through unscathed – apart from a cut hand from grabbing barbed wire by mistake when climbing fence which is not a good idea!

So one day down – five to go. Perhaps I should just go to bed for the rest of the week to ensure an injury-free existence.

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I did 9.5 miles yesterday and by the end I felt like I did after 18! Thinking about it my mileage did increase drastically in March (same as Jan and Feb together) so I suppose all the miles have taken their toll on my legs. So I really need this taper and will be glad of only the shorter runs for the next couple of weeks.

My hamstrings felt tight yesterday so I am now stretching manically. Have acquired the ideal piece of equipment in my office which is just the right height for stretching. It’s okay – I have my own office so my colleagues aren’t committing me just yet!

PS I now really DO have a cold. Not just taper paranoia – I am not imagining it. My other half has had it for a week so I suppose there was a good chance I’d get it. Still trying to think positively…and drinking orange juice like’s its going out of fashion.

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Tapering paranoia is settling in. I was convinced that everyone on the bus into work this morning had a cold. Guy in front of me kept sneezing and blowing his nose so spent the bus trip doing positive thinking – I am NOT going to get a cold – and keeping fingers crossed and popping the multivitamins!

Having been away over the weekend I haven’t done much running – 3 miles on Saturday and 4 miles yesterday. 4 more planned for tonight and then maybe 4 on Saturday and 10 miles on Sunday. This tapering lark is hard work (especially for the head)!

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