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

Older and quicker - we'll have to wait and see

Exactly 10 years ago today I was almost certainly wide awake and nervously looking forward to running the London marathon. The training was done, but I had no idea what to expect. In the end I managed a time of 4:01:14. In 8 days I'm going to try and better that time and go under 4 hours.

As you will know if you've followed this blog since January, I am running for Christian Aid. My aim is to raise £2000 - and thanks to many of you I'm nearly there now - remember every little helps. If you want to add your support you can do so at www.virginmoneygiving.com/keithtarring

Each week this year, on Thursdays, I have been posting a short video that demonstrates some of the work that Christian Aid are involved in. As you will have seen Christian Aid often work with small, local organisations that are very aware of the situation 'on the ground' and whose work transforms the communities in which they are based. The money is used to provide communities with the helping hand they need to get themselves out of poverty - and to then stay out of poverty.

One of the arguments used against giving aid is that most of the money is wasted due to corrupt governments. The new Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby countered this argument in his blog yesterday. Click here to read what he had to say.

In a few minutes I'm off out for a gentle 8 miles. Nothing longer than 3 miles next week.

Tax Justice in Central America

In Guatemala and El Salvador low tax revenues are linked to massive levels of child malnutrition and lack of government resources to tackle the problems that poor communities are facing.

The poorest pay a far higher proportion of their income on the equivalent of VAT and other indirect taxes, whilst the business elite enjoy generous tax incentives. Christian Aid is campaigning to end secrecy in the international tax system which costs developing countries like Guatemala and El Salvador billions of pounds a year.




In just over a week I am running the London marathon to raise £2000 for Christian Aid. I still have not quite reached this target. Thank you to everyone who has sponsored me so far - but if you would like to sponsor me you can do so at www.virginmoneygiving.com/keithtarring

Marathon update - 2 weeks to go

This week has been the first week of my taper. A total mileage of just over 30 miles with the longest run of 12 miles. This coming week the runs are even shorter. There are still some faster sections but these are getting shorter and shorter. This week it's four runs of 4 miles and a longer run of 8 miles. These weeks are about not over doing it - so that the body can repair any of the damage from the high mileage weeks that have just gone and get ready for two weeks time.

I'm running for Christian Aid, to raise £2000 for their work. You can sponsor me at www.virginmoneygiving.com/keithtarring