6 weeks to go...

My 13 mile run tonight brings the weekly training miles invested into the bank to a total of 80 miles, and many of them very wet ones. I am feeling strong, and the calf strain is easing, and hasn't hampered my efforts which is good news.

Rory Coleman (pictured left) my friend and Ultra running mentor has agreed to crew for me during Spartathlon, and I really can't tell you how much it will mean to have his level of experience (9 Times World Record Breaking Ultra-Marathon runner, 572 marathons and 150 Ultra marathons) to call upon when the race gets beyond my experience base.
Rory has had a great impact on my life so far, and I know he will tell me what I need to know, not what I want to hear, that makes all the difference when you are deep in the struggle, and forcing your body far beyond its previous limits.

It means so much more, because it means Caz my wife will be able to live the experience of the race also, which she couldn't have if it wasn't for Rory offering to drive the 153 mile route in support from Athens to Sparta. It will be fantastic to have her welcome me over the finish line, and it will be the first time she will ever have seen me finish an extreme ultra.

I am in a happy place right now, and the price I am paying is delivering results. It can be very lonely pushing yourself to the limits on your own, long miles lost in your thoughts, fighting the failure monsters, and hoping that you have done enough to be able to perform on the day.

Having the responsibility of not wanting to disappoint the crew, (Caz & Rory) but also having them looking after my needs at the 10 designated team checkpoints (the only points in the race where crew members can interact their runner) is a great Yin and Yang balance.
In 44 days we will know if I had what it takes to run in the footsteps of Pheidippides...
more later.