While I was away in France one of my clients ran her second half marathon and knocked 8 minutes off her previous PB - how marvellous is that! a very proud coach.

I have been trying to decide when I should have my sleep during my world record attempt in October.  When I did JOGLE once I had eaten at the end of the day, had a massage and every other day had a shower (I can't tell you how funny it was trying to get my body into the shower! trying to reach my feet became a problem so I would sit down, wash then struggle to get myself up again!) so by the time all that was done and dusted it was approximately 1.30 - 2am and I was always woken up at 4.30am to start running at 5am, this seemed to work well.  Obviously during this WRA I will be running longer hours so think for me the best time to have my sleep is between 2am and 4am - at home I always seem to wake up at about that time anyway!

Today was another day spent doing some running on the Treadmill, did 2hours at a constant pace, felt comfortable although will have to find ways to get over the boredom of running for 7 days!  Someone asked me the other day what I thought about while running - the answer is lots of things.  I write my blog in my head, always sounds fantastic and I even catch myself laughing on occasions! I write my book that will never be published and also think about family and friends - there are other times when my head is completely empty and I find that I have been running for 3/4 of an hour and didn't realize - MARVELLOUS! (and no I'm not having a Blonde moment!)

My back has been playing up since I did the GUCR at the end of May, I didn't notice anything while running, but according to my Osteopath my brain must have gone into my old pattern with my left foot which caused a lot of problems during JOGLE, of firstly my badly twisted ankle and secondly because of the camber of the road.  After a somewhat painful session with Ken I will hopefully start to feel the benefits in a few days.  Apparently I have done some damage to a ligament in my back on the left hand side - I won't bore you with all the technical details as you will fall asleep and also to be quite honest I can't remember!!!! 

I felt very tearful today, finding myself crying or wanting to cry for no particular reason, I think its the disappointment of the UTMB coming out, as I always say, better out than in - although feeling tearful while selecting a few carrots really looks silly - onions I could understand!

Have been looking for a race for December just to have something to aim for, think I have found one and it even fits in with the family - HWMBO is busy on the Saturday and doing his thing, so I will do my thing on the Sunday - marvellous!!!

I got very excited today - discovered a PINK 6L backpack - its wonderful to know that there are some companies out there that realize that some girls like PINK! (besides BUFF who have supplied me with the most fantastic collection of PINK BUFFS!)

Hope you all have a great weekend.  Good luck to Oliver Sinclair, Tobias Mews, Linda Doke and Ryan Sandes who start the 8 day Trans Alpine Race tomorrow.

Happy training.

I'm so not a happy pink person.  Just in case you haven't read my race report on the North Face Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc, the race was cancelled 2 hours into the event due to extreme weather conditions, high winds, mud slides and rain, so you can imagine my devastation.

This is where I wish I was good at writing, to try and get across how it felt to arrive at a check point to be told by a friend that the race was over - cancelled - no more, I just couldn't believe it, in fact even now while writing this it still hasn't sunk in.  It's not just about the race, but the training, planning and the time spend away from my family, who always find it hard when I go away.  I know that the race organisers had to put the safety of the runners first, of course that is the right thing to do, but for me it was the chaos afterwards.  Cancelling the UTMB, TDA and the CCC which was stopped 18hrs into the event there was bound to be some chaos, but everyone you spoke to would give a different answer.  For me the hardest part was for my friend who three years ago had a place on the UTMB which he had to pull out of as he found out he needed to have a hip operation, three years later he has trained hard, is amazingly fit and managed to get a place this year on the ballot, for him its far more devastating - anyway enough of my ramblings, read my race report for more information!

My training for my World Record has started, running on a treadmill is not exactly the most exciting thing I can think of, but am looking forward to the challenge, something different, after all that's what running is all about, different challenges.  

So, the next few days will be spent ringing people, organising and making lists so I don't forget something - thankfully I live close to Ashford so can get HWMBO to drop anything off that I forget!!!

Off now for a glass of wine - marvellous!

Happy training. 

The flight from London to Geneva went well, especially for me as I talked for the entire flight, poor Guy was wishing he had brought his ear defenders!

On arrival in Geneva we had arranged transfers to Chamonix, unfortunately this didn't exactly go to plan but after about 3 hours of hanging around and drinking coffee we set off for Chamonix.

The atmosphere here is electric, runners everywhere and even the non-runners look fit! (I don't mean "fit" as in good looking, although there are a few!_

The views are amazing, how lucky am I to be in such a beautiful place.

I have now registered, although trying to find the place put my navigational skills to the test, Guy of course saying I was talking too much and not concentrating - MEN! 

This is going to sound silly but finally looking at my race number was so exciting! 2994. It did make me giggle seeing my proper name Marina on it rather than Mimi, that will confuse people no end.

Once registration was over we went and said hi to Estienne and Edward at the KAEM stand then back to sort out our kit. 

Today is race day, its tipping it down with rain. We received an SMS from UTMB to say the weather was going to be cold, windy and wet - bang goes my suntan! Guy has worken up with a cold so his tourettes is back with a vengance.

Well, that's it from me until after the race - please send lots of positive thoughts in this direction. I'm very nervous but also excited about this tough event.

This will be my last blog until Tuesday - oh thank goodness for that I hear you all say!

My job this morning was to sort BM's results which meant a call to the school.  I was going to do this at 9am but received a call saying that there had been a cancellation so if I wanted to have my body sorted out there was a free slot.  Of course I jumped at the chance, any help to get my aging body across the finish line in Chamonix is definitely required.  The lady who pulled me in all directions also does triathlons so completely understands what and why I do what I do.

Not a good day to call BM's school as it's GCSE results day today, however I thought it was important so rang anyway, spoke to the lady concerned and now await a call back (gulp!).  While waiting for the call - they had home and mobile number - I popped into Tenterden to get my Euros, did the food shopping, got legs etc waxed then returned home to do the housework!

Packing is now completely finished, hurray! clothes ready to put on tomorrow as we leave the house at some ungodly hour in the morning and I will of course have to have a bath and do my hair first - well, can't fly looking like a scruff!!!

So, here's to hoping I have a successful race.  If you would like to follow me you can do so on my tracka and on the UTMB website www.ultratrailmb.com my race number is 2994!

Good luck to everyone who is taking part in the UTMB, Guy Jennings, Mark Woolley, James Adams, James Elson, Dan A and Neil Thubron (I'm sure I have missed people out for which I'm sorry)

Happy training.

That's it - TIME TO PANIC!!!

I had a fantastic weekend with Luc and my two beautiful nieces, we did laugh which was just what the doctor ordered.   My trip down didn't go according to plan.  I was supposed to be bringing lunch, unfortunately due to excess traffic on the M25 I arrived after 1.30 so we had my lunch for supper.  There must be something about me driving to Wiltshire, I either get lost or the traffic is appalling.

Essential TV viewing was the Xfactor, I cannot believe some of the acts that put themselves forward - who has told them that they can sing? Surely you know if you can't hold a tune, perhaps not, but the one thing I couldn't or would ever do would be to tell my kids/friends that they could do something that quite frankly wasn't true! however, it did make us laugh.

Sunday morning the sun was shining so I took myself off for a 14k run along the Canal - I felt fantastic, even the breathing wasn't too bad, I could have kept on running but had to be sensible as I'm on taper.  After a lovely coffee with Luc sitting beside the pool, I went home to prepare for the arrival of HWMBO.

HWMBO had left Scotland at 5am, which meant that he and I arrived at Sissinghurst at the same time.  As I had to go and collect the dogs we met in a lay-by (umm interesting!) where I handed over the house keys.  I know, he is old enough to have his own set, but he always looses them!

Today was my last run before the UTMB - the dogs and I did a very easy 8k, no pack, no water just me and the dogs, fantastic.  I still have a worry about my chest, but nothing I can do now, so will hope and pray that all will be well.   Have finally finished packing, seems to have taken ages.  All my running kit and essentials are in my hand luggage, together with some kit for a friend, my case seems to be packed to the top with lots more stuff - well, I have to cater for all types of weather and make my decision of what I take, put in my drop bag once I have arrived in Chamonix.

So, that's it, there is no more I can do.  My training has gone OK, not quite as well as I would have hoped because of my breathing, but these things happen.  As long as I get to the end I will be a very happy pink person. 

I would like to wish Ryan Sandes and Linda Doke from South Africa lots of luck in the forthcoming Transalpine Run which starts on the 4th September.  These guys are awesome runners and a better pairing I don't think you will find.  http://www.transalpine-run.com/alps_cross_start.htm

Happy training.