8 Weeks.........

Comes round fast duntit? It only seems 8-9 weeks since crossing the finish line in Manchester (hang on....it WAS 8-9 weeks!) and already the countdown has begun to the 2012 Great North Run! In less than eight weeks....my God....I'm really going to be doing it; running half a marathong (was a spelling mistake, but I thought I would leave it in as it does conjure up an interesting image!); thirteen miles and change. My collies have never wobbled so much let me tell you.
So how is it going, and more importantly am I going to be ready come September 16th? Well as far as the latter goes, I'd bloody well better be, cos ready or not, here it comes!!
This is sure to be the kiss of death, but on the training side, things are going pretty well (why oh why did I just put my foot in it?). The intention is to knock off a distance of 11 miles on the treadmill ('ark at me, using a phrase like 'knock off' like it's as easy as shelling peas!) a couple of weeks before the big Sunday, and considering I am now 'knocking off' 14km (just shy of 9 miles) things are looking good. I am running well, I am running further and most importantly am not feeling in the need of a defibrillator at the end of a sesh. Whatever I am doing; safari?!!! so goodie!! (if you know that reference, you are showing your age!!).
Logisticlalalllyy; B&B is booked (where the hell is Hexham anyway?!) and the plan for the day is set. It is an aspect of this type of running which I never gave much thought to before starting this madcap idea; getting to the start line with all the bits you need, and getting home from the finish. On reflection I guess I thought some magical teleportation device 'beamed' people back home (or possibly clicking your heels together three times?); but I'm learning. The logistics of the Great North are made all the more difficult by virtue of the fact that it is not a circular route, the finish is the full thirteen miles away from the start (that Brendan Foster geezer has a LOT to answer for!). But - touch wood - I know where I am staying, where I am parking, and how I will be dealing with the to'ing and the fromming. In the end, all I want to be worried about on the day of the run; is running!!
On the admin side, the justgiving site is now set up and ready to go (bit pants that I haven't collected all the sponsorship money in yet from Manchester, but almost there), and I will be having a think how I can bump up what looks to be around £500 for the British Heart Foundation into £750 for the Great North. The slight difference this time is that I am now committed to this target (it's a whole 'did you get your own place or is it through us' type of thing). Not sure what happens if I don't manage it....do they force you to sell a kidney? or ironically.......... God knows how I will get to £2000 if I get accepted for the London Marathon!! Between you and me I think I might have to break out the big guns (also known as the 'Aunties and Uncles'!!). Any other fund-raising ideas would be most welcome.
No doubt the next two months will have its fair share of challenges, but right at this moment I feel ready and confident. A few things I need to do - not the least of which is get my diet into shape....not bad but not great - but the schedule I am keeping to is getting me where I need to be so all I have to do is stick to it (simples!!).
To commemorate the eight week mark - and doffing my cap to the up-coming Olympic games - I am investing in an official Team GB wrist and head sweatband combo (designed by Stella McCartney no less! a nice change may I say from my usual George Asda). I really like them, and as the distances increase, I really need them too!!