Well was away in Ireland for a few days seeing my mother and celebrating Saint Patrick's day (well not with drink anyway). I managed to get to the gym twice for runs as it is not suitable for road running at home. Managed 14.5k on Thursday and that was in an hour. I ran for two hours on sunday and managed 27.5km.

It means I am now almost at the target of a 32km run three weeks before the marathon. I've had to take a few days off as have a niggling knee pain at the moment. Will resume running tomorrow. I'll do an hour and about 14km again with another long run on saturday.

On a happy note I think I'm at around £1000 raised for Cancerbackup and I went over to Backup and got my vest for running. Spoke with them for a while and they said there would be a reception after for the runner. Nice.

Sorry I haven't posted in ages. Its just not been easy to get online!

The link to sponsor me is at www.justgiving.com/conal4backup

A bit late in posting Monday's news for several reasons. Firstly, I felt a bit dodgy on Monday and; secondly, I was really bloody ill yesterday morning.

I just went to the gym for a treadmill hill programme session in Monday evening after work. It is too flat where I live to have any impact from hills to help with running. Whilst I am sure the wind resistance along the Thames Path has been significant of late I'm sure some hill running will help.

Doing the backwards running, as recommended by Sam Murphy, is also a no-go as really it is just too urban in Brentford and if any kids see you do that they'll have you down as a nutter.

At the gym I did a 30 minute programme and covered 7.33Km so that just under 5 miles. Not brilliant I suppose but with feeling a little dodgy I felt it was wise not to push it.

On the way home I bought some chicken to go with some salad I made for for dinner on Sunday. I ate that and went to bed an hour later. I awoke at 2.30am with cramps and spent most of the night making trips to the loo. Very unpleasant. I had to call into work sick.

Slept whatever it was off and drank gallons of water. Whether food poisoning of a short sharp gastric flu it was unpleasant. So no exercise on Tuesday and certainly none today. Stomach is still sensitive and need to be mindful that the long run on Saturday is most important to be ready for. I hope I can do 18 miles then.

I won't be blogging until friday or saturday as on a work thing in Bisham Abbey. I hope to get a get gym session there and do an hour on the treadmill.. 15km - I think should do it. The training plan says 9 miles so that'll help if I am well enough to do it in Marlow.

If you want to sponsor me I'm at http://www.justgiving.com/conal4backup

Started out at 11 and did today's 17 miles in 2hours 5 minutes. When I started felt a bit like I was runnng through custard not air at first. Sometmes i do feel like that. I think its the thought of a long run rather than any physical sluggishness. Yeah, its the psychological stuff taht does this i think.

No major problems with dogs off leads on the thames path for once. It really does seem that people don't give a crap for the physical safety of others at times. Usually it is Richmond types that are most guilty.

Seven weeks to go today (sunday) It'll all be done. I am scared of not be prepared.

2hrs 5mins
circa 17 miles

Well this is the first entry in my blog about preparing for the marathon. I have come along way. At the moment I run three times a week. I'm now at 7/8km on Tuesday, 14/15km on Thursday, and 23/24km on saturday. Since a marathon is 40km i'm not doing too bad.

I have my good days and i have my bad days. Today is a good day, legs felt light and did the 14.7km in 60 mins. Not bad at all really. I am getting there.