1 Week To Go!

As I write this I have 1 week to go!

I would hope that I feel very similar to very other first time marathon runner. I am petrified! I definitely don’t feel like I have done nearly enough training, everything hurts, knees, ankles, muscles, the lot. I am worried that I am going to trip up every crack in the pavement, injure myself and have to drop out and I am concerned about what will happen if I need to go to the toilet half way round!

I have to keep my eye on the prize though. I may only be 7 days from the actual race but that also means I am only 7 nights away from a takeaway curry and a beer. I can’t quite believe it but I haven’t had an alcoholic drink for over 4 months. I am going to be a very cheap date when I do eventually go out.

There is nothing more now that I can do regarding training. I am not going to get any fitter now, it is not like revising for A levels when you cram in last minute revision. The trick now is to actually not do anything. Believe it or not, this is actually quite hard to do because all you want to do is keep running, but (especially at my age) it is vitally important to rest.

This is the week I have been most looking forward to in my training plan. I have told the wife that it must be total rest, even running the hoover round the house is too strenuous, we will see if I get away with that one! It is also important to fuel properly this week; carb loading (which I am extremely looking forward to) will mean mountains of pasta and rice together with lots of hydration with plenty of water I will probably put on half a stone before I get to the start line!

This week is also my chance to get all the logistical bits done. I have already sent my T-shirt off to get my name printed on; apparently it can give you a big boost when complete strangers are shouting out your name saying things like ‘come on Rob, stop crawling’.

I need to sort out my kit make sure that it is clean as the training gear I have been using for the past few months could probably walk to London on its own, if you see someone in the crowd of 40,000 runners with nobody within a 5 meter radius that will be me because my stuff smells so bad. I also need to think what I am going to wear to get home. I need something light and that will show off my medal best; I hope you all appreciate that I probably wont take it off for at least a year!

I have also got to go to London Excel this week to collect my number and kit bag. I know they have been doing it for a few years now and should be good at it but the London Marathon seems to be extremely well organised. It is a massive global event now and they have got it down to a fine art with different starting zones and times, all of the things on the route and then at the end taking over all of Horseguards Parade for the family meet and greet area afterwards.

I am still a few hundred punds short of my charity target of £2,500 although people have been extremely generous. If you did want to top up the kitty it would be very much appreciated.

My online sponsorship form can be found at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Robert-Kahl

Thank you following the trails and tribulations of my London marathon training. The next blog I will do will obviously be about the aftermath but then I promise never to mention it again (much) and normal service will resume with my updates on the local property market and tips and advice on selling your home.

This article is by Rob Kahl at Scott & Stapleton.
Tel: 01702 471155 

To read all of Rob's previous property blogs, please click here