1 WEEK OUT

Well,

Here we are - one week out from my first 100k run (and walk, I am guessing).

The time is nigh. My nutrition is sorted - I have got liquid food in the right amounts, electrolytes in tablet and liquid form and some solid food, in case it is required.

Looking good.

Marc is pumped, he is in great form and looking forward to the event. He is still saying that we are going to run together. The challenge will be that I am aiming for 20 hours, he is aiming for 18 hours. There is a small disconnect there, and I don't want to hold him up. He is solid, though - I am guessing he is going to try and drag me along for the whole way. I think he has got some work ahead of him, trying to do that, as I am in good shape, but will still struggle to get home in anything less than 20 hours.

My last long run was on Sunday - 35k, and it went ok. It was a real trial run, with all the gear in the back pack that I will be carrying during the event. Now, that made the back pack around 10 kg. That is a heap of extra weight to add whilst running. It made a huge difference, and the legs (and feet) felt the strain. It was a four hour run, in the end, but that was with stops to make sure all was right, to attend to blisters etc (about 6 short stops). Then, it was a walk for about the last 500 metres. Overall, cardio was fine, which was amazing after 4 hours, though I really was fatigued in the legs.

I did get some help from my outstanding physio in Perth, Insun, the little South Korean Acupuncturist. She rocks - and she loves driving those little (though they feel huge at the time) needles into the muscles. She has really changed my running life - helping me to run pain free in the reconstructed knee and hamstrings. I have got a lot to be thankful to Insun for, and every chance I get, it is off to see her. Her stretches are outstanding, and those stretchy bands are the bomb. Go Insun.

Anyway, the trip is planned, nutrition is sorted and life is good. We have got a great support crew, who are all pumped up and ready for action. That will be half the fun. I am going to take a video camera around the course, to capture some of the action. I might see if I can load it up here, in coming weeks.

Anyway, after one more 10k run and one more 8k run, it is off to the Blue Mountains to drag my sorry arse around for 2 hours - and to see if the last 5 weeks (not long) training has both been worth it, and if it has been enough. Time will tell.

Pre race meal, on the evening before the big event will be potatoes, sweet potatoes and pumpkin (high carbs - works well).

See you on the other side.
Anton