One month to go...

I visited the Guide Dog training centre in Leaminton Spa last Friday and heard lots of heartwarming success stories about dogs that had changed people's lives. What a great cause.

The training is going much better than I had feared a month ago. I managed 17 miles last weekend, my longest ever (run a mile, walk a minute from Kings Langley to Denham and back to Maple Cross on the Grand Union Canal). Ali, my 21-yr old daughter, ran with me for the first 8 miles and then swapped out with Nick, my 23-yr old son, for the second 9. I really felt honoured that they wanted to support me. I limped around with new aches and pains early this week and only got back over a 5 mile run on Friday! But if I run 5 again today I'll be back to 35 miles for the week.

So this Sunday is only 10-12 miles before I press ahead for my max 20 mile run next weekend (three weeks before the FLM)..... Arg only a month to go! I've got new podcast episodes hoarded for the run tomorrow, so I'll brave it by myself.

My new Nike Pegasus feel great but I'm trying to wean myself from using them now so that the newness is not gone for the marathon. I've put in just over 100 miles on them now with no sign of blisters.

I started looking at the London Marathon course yesterday and thought I might try some long runs along the course - but it follows busy streets. There's no way I'll suck in all that exhaust and noise! I'll just have to keep running London parks, the Grand Union Canal and trails near home and wait for the Sunday they close the roads for the Marathon and be surprised.

The marathon seems to have taken over my life but maybe that's the same for everyone the first time.