Perilously Close

Suddenly, it's beginning to seem pretty real with the arrival of my information pack from the marathon organisers. I now have my runner number, which could well be their estimation of my race position as I'm sure they aren't expectng more than 8,500 partcipants.

I had a big setback yesterday during my third 12-mile run attempt.  For some unexplained reason, I decided that I would rather just walk after the 6 mile point.  I just couldn't motivate myself to start running, even though I had my stopwatch timimg me.  This was a real psychological setback - and financial.  I made a reverse-charge phone call for support-team recovery from a rural  village  phone-box at a minimum charge of £3.90.  No wonder that BT are removing these Giles Gilbert Scott inspired kiosks from the British street-scene if that's how much it costs to make a call.

But, now I have to enter my tapering phase of training.  That is, reducing the mileage so that I'm in peak, fully rested, condition to tackle the streets of central Cardiff next Sunday.  This means I only have two more, shortish, runs in the next couple of days. And then, it's The Real Thing.

Incidentally, I have my own chip now.  It came as part of the info pack and I have to lace it through my trainers on race day.  It triggers my timed run as I pass the Start and Finish lines.  Conveniently, the result gets sent to my mobile phone by text message.  What will they think of next? 

I'm still trying to raise as much money as possible for my chosen charity, Care for the Family.  Please, if you haven't done so already, would you consider sponsoring me so more families across the UK can be supported?