“Houston, we are go for launch” or "Per ardua ad astra"

So there you have it, training done. Crikey! I’ve just made my last entry in my training log and from 31st December ’06 the raw data is:
Miles: 297.1
Time: 49hrs 43minutes 05secs
Avg Min/Mile: 10.04

To give that some perspective 297 miles is further than Horsham to Carlisle or Newcastle, it’s even further than Nantes in the Loire (assuming I can swim, which I can’t). If all goes to plan by Sunday afternoon I will have run as far as Dusseldorf, actually that would be plain stupid but you get my point.

One of my colleagues asked me if I was nervous, I am not. The best analogy I could summon up was feeling like an astronaut on the launch pad; my training is done, I have completed it to the best of my ability and there is nothing more I can do to prepare myself for the task ahead. Consequently I find myself strapped into a rocket on the launch pad and control has passed out of my hands, someone else has their finger on the button and the only certainty is that when the blue touch paper is lit I will be off. Granted my progress will be slightly more pedestrian than an Apollo rocket but I’m only working with an eighth of a horsepower here.

So if I’m not nervous what are my emotions right now? Well, I’m anxious not to do anything stupid like trip over the cat or fall over putting my socks on. Apart from that I don’t feel very much at all. I’m sure that once I get up to the Expo on Saturday the butterflies will start to kick in but until then I’m trying, and so far succeeding, to keep a lid on things. People who have never attempted something like this look at me like I’m mad, people who have been there before look at me with a mixture of pity & envy. Right now I just want to join the club and be able to say “you have no idea!” accompanied by a maniacal grin.

What do I want from the Marathon? Well, apart from a medal, t-shirt and a space blanket I don’t have any firm expectations. I think it is something I will have to experience for myself before I can pass judgement. Previous participants I speak to have had their own reasons for doing it and have taken their own benefits and lessons from it. I think that is what I am most looking forward to; seeing for myself how I stand up to the challenge and determining what my limits are. I don’t want to get too philosophical about this but it’s a big deal for me on many levels.

And so the countdown has begun, the clock’s ticking and I’m on my way. This won’t be one small step, (in fact I reckon it will be around 42,327 steps) but it will be a giant leap into the unknown. Luckily for me however I will have my own version of Buzz Aldrin at my side for support and guidance plus 30,000 other like-minded loons so I won’t be lonely that’s for sure. Next week will see me post the final blog of my odyssey, let’s hope it’s a happy ending.

N