"Whatever you can do, or dream you
can begin it. Boldness has genius,
power and magic in it."
- Goethe

Yesterday I ran 11 miles back from work at 6m55s pace! My legs are too fresh for a couple of days after the FLM. I should have ran faster.

This morning I really enjoyed my run. I listened to a funny podcast: The Now Show from BBC. It made me laugh out loud which is important.

"We first make our habits, and
then our habits make us."
- John Dryden

"You are today where your thoughts
have brought you; you will be
tomorrow where your
thoughts take you."
- James Allen

Today I ran 4 miles this morning in the rain. I love the summer warm and clean rain it clears the head after a long sleep.

Legs are feeling fine which is annoying because it means I could and should have gone faster at FLM.

Here are some extracts from my journal I kept over the weekend:

26/04/09 7:30 am. Weather in the morning: 7oC, wind 3 - 6 mph. [It got hotter later!].
26/04/09 13:36. Well I've done it. A good time but because I was expecting a sub 2h35m I'm a little frushtrated. Isn't it a strange thing to be good at something and not be pleased. I suppose that's how my brain works -> to get better at something don't become content. That sounds OK but I must also acknowlege my success.

I'm celebrating the result and also celebrating the potential. I feel fresh. I should ahve gone faster between 20 - 23 miles. Next year...

I am pleased but disappointed at the same time. Basically I got to 20 miles in 1h59 and thought that was too fast and might blow up if I didn't slow down. So I slowed a little and when I got to 25 miles I felt OK (tied but OK); it was too late then to do anything; I should have kept it strong back at 20miles. I think also at the 20mile mark the sun was out so I felt a little heat exhaustion.

The stats:

5 km 0:18:19 25 km 1:32:18
10 km 0:36:40 30 km 1:51:01
15 km 0:55:14 35 km 2:09:58
20 km 1:13:54 40 km 2:29:27
half 1:17:57 finish 2:37:51

The five S's of sports training are Stamina, Speed, Strength, Skill and Spirit; but the greatest of these is Spirit. -Ken Doherty

Well yesterday, today and tomorrow morning I will not be eating carbs. This is in preparation for FLM. Then I will carbo load. The thing about this is that no matter how much protein I eat it just does not fill me up. I wonder how people cope who are on the Atkins diet. Don't think I could cut out pasta and muslie everyday.

Today's quote for those of you who like that sort of thing: ?Enjoy life. This is not a dress rehearsal.?

Today I ran only 4 miles and will not be running any more.

Get out well, but not too quickly, move through the field, be comfortable. Strategy-wise, go with your strengths. If you don't have a great finish, you must get away to win. I've always found it effective to make a move just before the crest of a hill. You get away just a little and you're gone before your opponent gets over the top. Also, around a tight bend, take off like holy hell. I've done that a number of times. You should not be flying down the home straight. Most of your efforts should have been put forth earlier. -John Treacy, Ireland's two-time world cross country champion (1978, 1979)

"Do what you can, with what you have,
where you are."
- Theodore Roosevelt

11 days to FLM.

I had a good speed session last night but I must remember to not over do it.

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Einstein.

12 days to go to FLM.

..running to him was real .... the way he did it the realest thing he knew. It was all joy and woe, hard as diamond; it made him weary beyond comprehension. But it also made him free? -John L. Parker, Once a Runner

Marathoning is like cutting yourself unexpectedly. You dip into the pain so gradually that the damage is done before you are aware of it. Unfortunately, when awareness comes, it is excruciating. -John Farrington, Australian marathoner

15 days to FLM. Arrrr

Felt strong today with my 5 mile tempo at 5m44s pace with w/up and cool down. 10s quicker than Marathon pace.

My feeling is that any day I am too busy to run is a day that I am too busy. -John Bryant

This is so true. If I'm ever too busy to run then I'm too busy to do anything. Personally I don't think there is such a thing as being too busy. It's all about what you have the desire to do. Everything else gets left.

"The past cannot be changed.
The future is yet in your power."
- Hugh White

With only 17 days left to FLM it is still in the future but I know that the training for it is in the past. Therefore most of the preparation I can not change but I'm confident that I've done enough.

It's interesting that the future can be changed through what we do today. Even if we think it may not effect the future.

"Success doesn't come to you,
you go to it."
- Marva Collins

18 days to FLM. Started my taper yesterday by not doing one of my speed sessions of the week. It was hard not to go out for run run. I felt lazy! and I'm still going to do about 80 - 90 miles this week! Help I'm addicted to running.

Big occasions and races which have been eagerly anticipated almost to the point of dread, are where great deeds can be accomplished. -Jack Lovelock

Loved this mornings run... 18.5 miles in the Spring sunshine.

The primary reason to have a coach is to have somebody who can look at you and say, Man you're looking good today. -Jack Daniels

23 days to go. I starting to feel a little bit stronger lately which is good considering I have been running a lot.

The human body is amazing. If you condition it you can do anything. Take for example those free divers who can hold their breath for 5 mins or longer. I think it would be good if we could condition our minds also to think more positively no matter what the situation is. Every cloud has a silver lining.

Running: Done 11 miles this morning. Will be a total of about 105 for the whole week once I've finished the long run on Sunday.