Wake up and smell the facts

No change with the cold.
Ran 3 miles from work, slowly.
Used many tissues.

Two and a half days to go to the race and I need to face facts: I am not going to be able to run a best time if I still feel like this, and I am probably still going to feel like this.

I will finish the race, however, and if I can do it in less than 1 hour 40 minutes that’ll be just about acceptable. Anything over 1.40 and I’ll definitely be questioning the wisdom of Mr Hall and his training plan, phlegm or no phlegm.

It is at about this point before a race that I start to wish I weren’t so competitive. It’s a very handy thing in training, pushing myself to work harder, but more likely to result in self-flagellation than congratulation on the big day. Previously, when a race has gone to plan, rather than being delighted with my new time I just feel relieved I didn’t mess it up.

So, maybe it’s a good thing I’m not on top form. I might actually give myself a break and enjoy the run. A tour of leafy London suburbs with a few hundred sweaty loons on a Sunday morning, what’s not to like?