Just days away now.

MONDAY

4 miler tried to run at race pace. Couldn’t get slow enough

TUESDAY

REST

WEDNESDAY

5K tune-up run – used the workout programme on my Garmin and forced myself to run 5:50 – 6:10/K. felt slow. Probably a good thing.

THURSDAY

19.5K cycle in about 90mins. quite up for most of it.

FRIDAY

REST

SATURDAY

Some walking of the route and maybe a bit of Cricket.

SUNDAY

RACE DAY

We are travelling up to Marysville tonight (Friday), which should give everybody a good day’s worth of time to get used to the surroundings and generally prepare for the run. Although I have tried my very hardest to run more than I said I would do this week, I have been good and stuck to the taper plan – it’s not been easy though – I have caught myself running in my sleep a few times.

Preparations

I am feeling ready for this. I had a play with the workout settings on my Garmin but found the incessant beeping of the watch when I was running too fast, or too slow quite irritating. So I will be Sharpie’ing my race plan onto my arms at some point over the next couple of days. This is how the revised plan is looking at the moment:

*All times are per kilometre.

1 – 10K : 5:50 – 6:10 (this will stop me running out too fast at the beginning).

10 – 15K: 5:50 – 6:50 (this is the first ascent, getting gradually steeper).

15 – 21K: 5:00 – 5:50 (the first turn around. This is all the way down hill to the start/finish and the 21K mark. Looking for a gravity assist and maybe making up some time).

21K – 2 hour mark – If the gravity assist works.

21 – 29K – 5:50 – 6:10 (this is flat, then gradually rising. Some time to get my pace and energy under control).

29 – 33K 5:50 – 6:50 (second big hill climb).

33 – 37K 5:50 – 6:10 (course flattens but looks like single trail and we are high up. Easing in to the final stretch).

37 – 42K 5:00 – 5:50 (the final segment. gradually down, wide trail path. Give it all I’ve got to the end).

If all goes to plan, I will finish somewhere between 4hours and 4hours 20minutes.

I have decided to run with my Camelbak with a mix of sports drink and water (Doha measures – 1:5). I will have a spare bottle pre-mixed at the 21K mark so that I can refill, if I have to, and some smaller, fresh bottles of mix at the aid stations after the big climbs. For energy; I will be using dried fruit and plain almonds (that has worked before). I plan on eating a small handful every 60-90 minutes – may need to tattoo some notes about this onto my arms too.

Right. Will report back on Sunday, post MARATHON!