A week to go.........

One week to go to the big event, time to make sure everything is place, get the last few training runs in and get some rest!

It’s not been perfect build up in the last couple of weeks, we’ve moved house and I’ve been picking up extra shifts at work so training time has been at a premium. Since coming back from travelling in December last year we’ve been looked after and made to feel incredibly welcome at in-laws. However, it’s nice to finally be somewhere we can put some roots down after moving around quite a bit in the last few years. The move actually went very smoothly, thanks to some very hardworking and helpful friends and family, and we’re now settled in to our new home. An added bonus to our new home is that it’s surrounded by some of Cheshire’s beautiful countryside. I made good use of this last week with run of just under 30 miles, It took around 5 ½ hrs, with a short break in the middle to fill up my water bladder, and to learn that drinking a pint of milk then trying and run to is not a good idea! That will be my last long run before the Ultra and It felt pretty comfortable so I’ll be going into the 69 miles feeling confident. I did develop a blister on my heel which will hopefully be gone by next weekend. I’ve not done any other running but have played some squash, rugby and done some weights sessions.

Turning my thoughts to race day, I’ve been going through the compulsory kit list, needed to pop out and pick a few little things up to make sure I had all the boxes ticked. I didn't realise that I would need a survival bag and emergency whistle for a run! I've also been going over the course details, set out a rough plan for how long each stage will take me; prepared my halfway kit bag with extra supplies and spare trainers etc and we’ve got hotels booked for Carlisle and Newcastle.  All that’s left is to run 69 miles! I've found that having this blog and the fact that people are sponsoring me to raise money for Cancer Research UK has been a useful tool to keep me focused on my goal. Everyone at work thought I was crazy to attempt this, when I first signed up I think I probably felt the same, however as with any targets you set or goals you want to achieve its been a case of building up week by week setting short term targets with an eye on the bigger target. The main lesson I've learnt from training and building up to an Ultra Marathon is exactly that. Despite setting myself a pretty daunting target by breaking it down to smaller short term targets and hitting them I'm now seven days away and feeling really confident! I've kept telling myself that I can do this and I think the positive mindset has really helped, I'm a firm believer that 'If you think you can, or you think you can't, your probably right.' And I know that at least one of my friends is now planning on doing a marathon next year and is keen on doing an Ultra Marathon and whatever happens next weekend I'm already thinking about what my next Ultra event will be...  

I’ll be working nights Sunday to Wednesday and then travelling up to Carlisle on Friday with the fiancé to register. I’ve enjoyed writing this blog and hope someone out there has enjoyed reading it, my final post will be after the run weekend providing I survive the ordeal! 

...and don’t forget that I am undertaking this challenge in an effort to raise funds for Cancer Research UK, please visit my just giving page at www.justgiving.com/runchinmanrun and give generously!