Hi all,

Sorry I've not been amazingly present with blogs - have been busy with work, finding a new house and eating flapjacks. Since coming back from Portugal Nick has been holding me back and I've felt fresh but I always get twitchy when I'm not being tested regularly as you start to wonder if you're still fit! It's stupid: I know it's stupid and when other people say the same thing to me I tell them they're stupid too, but it's still something you can't stop from going through your mind. Am I losing fitness? Did I peak already? Obviously the answer is no, and that's when I remind myself I'm being an idiot and of all the training I've done and that this easier period is needed for the last few weeks to settle in. That said, I'm looking forward to racing this weekend, just to run hard again and be competitive as well as (hopefully!) reassure myself that I'm in great shape!

The last 2 marathons I felt I hadn't done enough going into them. Amsterdam I was worried I didn't have enough long runs under my belt and I wasn't in fantastic shape anyway, in my opinion. I think the altitude broke up my training a bit and for Florence I got injured at a crucial time and only had a week to taper or so. This time I feel like I've done all the hard work and am obviously in better shape than I have been before - so I just need to relax and keep reminding myself of that.

On the house note - my lease expires on the day of London marathon which is a bit of an annoyance but luckily I found somewhere last weekend and I will be homeless technically the week after London but can move all my boxes into the new house, just not live there yet. It was a worry for a while but I'm all packed now and moving the boxes should be easy enough and will do it mid next-week. It was a close call that I may not find somewhere but the last house of the day was a winner and so all was ok. Even sky sports included in the price! 

Tapering is frustrating. I enjoy the not running, and I understand that I shouldn't be running and don't feel I need to be out training all the time but I do get confidence from good sessions and races and when it goes a few days/weeks since the sort of session that gives you confidence for the marathon, and a month since my last race. 

Still, as I would tell anyone else. Stop being a fool and thinking anything negative. Your last race was a massive PB and you've done awesome training since then and been just ticking along since then. All is good!

Hopefully a good race on Saturday and a strong result for AFD!