Well, I fly tomorrow to Florence and have just been sorting out what I can and taking it easy this week. Hip isn't completely fine, can still feel it on runs most of the time, but I'm sure it will get through the race on Sunday, so that's not an issue. I don't feel fantastically fresh, but I never so when I taper. I just have to have pure faith in my fitness and know that last time I was in a race (Gosport) it wasn't long ago and I felt very comfortable running a bit quicker than marathon pace, and that was on heavy legs. I will have only got fitter since then and so should be in as good a shape as I can be.

In terms of my plan, well, 2.18 is the aim, and I intend to run it pretty evenly, although everyone always intends to! I'm normally pretty good at keeping it sensible early on and will run my own race and if I feel good, go through the half in 68.30-69mins. Florence is pretty flat and so I have a good chance, as long as the final 10k is kind to me! I don't know of any other Brits running but looking at past results I should have a bit more company than Amsterdam last year where there was an 8 minute gap at one point to the next person ahead of me.

It'll be a new experience with having my own drinks available, and that on its own will be better than trying to pour little cups of energy drink down my throat, where it always goes all over me without fail, and about 5ml ends up in my mouth!

Anyway, I'll be away in Rome for a week after, and I'll try and get a race report in pretty soon, but I apologise if I don't!

Signing off for now

Ben