Marathon update - only 6 days to go!

Less than a week to go now. The most frustrating thing about this last week was being on holiday in Devon and only having short runs scheduled. When most of your running is done on the pavements of NW London having a 12+ mile run with four miles along a disused railway through the woods, followed by six miles along the coastal path makes for a refreshing change. Unfortunately my longest run this week was 8 miles - but at least I got one run up the estuary.

It wasn't this warm or sunny!

I did run a few miles too many this week - a couple of the 4 milers were closer to 5 so that I could take in most of the sea front.

This coming week I only have three x 3 miles and one 2 mile run scheduled before Sunday. All the hard work is done. Now it is just a case of having an easy week, getting enough rest and sleep, and making sure that come Sunday I am as fresh as possible. Eating is also important this week - building up energy levels by getting the right amounts of the right kind of carbohydrates - plenty of pasta, bread, rice etc.

The theory is that the hard work is already done. If not it's too late to do anything about it now. I started specifically training for this marathon at the beginning of November. Since then I have been out for 105 runs, covering 760 miles. That has taken a total of 111 hours 46 minutes and 4 seconds. 53 of those runs have been before 7am. The average temperature of those runs has been -29*C. Three of these runs were between 20-21 miles. (One of these statistics might be a slight exaggeration.)

Is it enough? I guess we'll find out on Sunday!

Later this week the Marathon Expo opens where all runners go and pick up their number and other essentials - as well as having the opportunity to spend hundreds of pounds on vital running gear!

Pop back later in the week to find out how you can track my progress online during the race.

If you would like to sponsor me you can do so at www.virginmoneygiving.com/keithtarring