Hi All!

I'm back form the Algarve now and managed to stay in one piece; train hard with Tom; and even feel good when I get back so a very successful 18 days I would say. Tom and I seemed to complement each other pretty well. We're both pretty sensible when it comes to training and so we weren't trying to kill each other on steady runs and we're both in pretty similar shape I'd say and it even worked out that when one felt tired - the other normally did too. I was a little bit worried that with the extra volume, it would be tough to get in the easy runs as one of us would always feel better than the other and so we may find ourselves pushing a bit harder than we wanted quite often, but it worked out great and we helped each other on sessions too. We're also quite relaxed people and managed not to go stir crazy being cooped up for nearly 3 weeks and get obsessive at all! I only had 2 alcoholic drinks, a cocktail and a Carlsberg. That was when the girls wanted a 'night out' and I very much doubt those 2 drinks have harmed my chances!

I feel like I just want to race it and get it over with now. I feel in great shape, the hard work is all done and I just want to race. I'm having to tell myself that my fitness isn't just going to all go away on the next 3 weeks and that I should enjoy it and I'm going to reap the benefits of the mileage and tough runs from the Algarve. Obviously, Tom and I discussed London a lot while we were away and it's almost made it more real for me now. Previously I'd been ticking off the hard long runs that stood between me and race day and now they're all gone I just want to race. I'm certainly extremely confident of a good run, boosted by the PB in the Hague, and by the training with Tom. He's run 2.17 and is also in PB shape for the half and there was just one session where he got away. Doing so much training on my own, I often wonder how I'd fare training with the other guys in the frame for a fast time and so it's boosted me just to know I can cope with the training that my rivals are doing and should have on fear come race day.

In terms of what I'll be doing between now and London - the mileage will drop with 80-90 miles this week and just a session on Wednesday and Thursday with the length of steady runs dropping also. It's about feeling fresh when I run now, not training on tired legs and the 2 consecutive weeks will follow a similar pattern. I don't need to risk anything; I don't need to cram in sessions or do them for the sake of it and nor do I need to catch up any training, as I had to with florence. I'm fit, and just need to remain focussed and confident. I'm itching to race and just have to bide my time and relax for another 20 days. 

Ben