I am back in Marathon mode. Today was the first time I've gone on a run on my own for about three weeks. There is only a month and a half to go til the race, and you are supposed to wind down the training for the last fortnight, so I haven't got long to build up my muscles and my miles.
I was interested to see if the rowing training would have helped or hindered me and although I only did around six or seven miles I felt that my fitness was much improved. I could have gone on longer, but I wanted to build up gradually and I thought I was getting another blister. I realised that my old running shoes are passed their best and threw them in the bin when I got home. I will have to buy some more tomorrow, which means a trip to the Marathon shop in Covent Garden, with its ominous countdown clock above the door. Last time I was there I had a comfortable 70 plus days to prepare (helpfully the clock alsow tells you how many minutes and seconds remain before the starting pistol); I wonder how long I've got left now. It would be fairly easy to work this out, but I prefer to be informed by a countdown clock. It makes it seem more real when its in red numbers that are constantly counting down, as if to one's own death. Which might be the case, though I will be slightly disappointed if I die right at the start. I hope I at least manage a respectable couple of miles before I keel over, or the other runners are going to think I'm a wimp.
It was strangely comforting to be running down by the river, passed a lot of familiar sites, not least Hammersmith Bridge, where my rowing odyssey ended. I saw a few crews on the water and looked at them wistfully and felt their pain as their coach bellowed at them through his megaphone.
I wondered if I'd see anyone I knew as I passed St Paul's boathouse, but there was just one young man there, putting his boat back on to its rack. Now I am a runner again, not an oarsman, so he didn't give me a second look.
As this difficult month of intensive training gets underway I would really appreciate your support. If you haven't done so yet then please make a donation to SCOPE through the link on this page. If you don't have a credit card then please send cheques payable to "SCOPE" to Richard Herring, c/o Avalon, 4a Exmoor St, London, W12 6BD.
My total is already approaching £3000 which is marvellous, so thanks to all of the people that have sponsored me so far, but I have decided that I'm going to try and make it up to £5000. So I need your help. No contribution is too small (or too large) and it's all going to a great cause. Knowing that I have your support will really help push me through the lonely, dark hours of training and the tedious 20 mile runs that I have to start building up to. So don't delay, sponsor me today! And if you have any eccentric millionaire relatives ask them to bung me a few quid too.
