Whooops
Sorry about the time between entries, but I thought I had posted the last entry, only to find it in draft-form and not posted!
As the title says: 'the clock is ticking' and as I write this it's 18 days and 18 hours to go.
Am I on track with my training? I thought I was, having done the "long run" a couple of weeks ago. It was a 20 miler and I was feeling quite smug as I sat back and rested on my laurels. The only problem was that a week later I did a 12 miler and was totally stuffed. If it had been the London Marathon I would have battled to finish.
I felt awful, my legs where lead and I just felt dreadful.
I gave myself a couple of days off. Then I had a light and steady run of 10 miles and all was well, thank goodness.
It may sound as if I'm getting neurotic, and I suspect I maybe, but that is how it gets.
I phoned my old training partners in South Africa,a husband and wife team. They 'retired' at the same time as me, and I asked for their advice re my training schedule. They never gave me any advise at all - apart from abuse. It became a "do you remember when ?" session, not entirely helpful but great fun.
I have revised my marathon finishing time. Iin reality I would like to finish in four hours. My best marathon was three hours, four minutes, 20 years ago, but a lot will depend on the day and the crowd of other runners.
Here@s hoping! Just a thought: if I finish in under four hours, thirty minutes, I will have qualified for this year's South African Comrades' Marathon! Now there's a scarey thought!!!!
As I sit here, I can tell you I have reached one thousand pounds in sponsorship, which is a third of my goal, but I do have pledges for more and I still have almost three weeks to go. This will include a street collection on the 5th April in my local town centre. I still have my fingers crossed!!!
One more thing, my daughter has set me up on Facebook, and I believe you can donate from there. I am not sure how but that's kids for you.
I wonder if I need to get an A-Z of London for my sightseeing jog!!!!!!

I have to thank our local radio station, Wessex FM, for their fantastic plug about the run. It was a recorded interview and went out in three formats, and thanks to some clever editing, I didn't sound like a total prat.
I have great respect for people who can give a clear and concise interview with out to many ummmms and arrrrrrsss.
But like most people who hear themselves on air I didn't recognise the voice as mine !!!! It was recorded over a phone-line, but I still think it sounded a bit strange. I was hardly a candidate to read the news.
I had a brilliant run last weekend in warm sunshine. It was through one of the prettiest vales in Dorset, from Burton Bradstock through Litton Cheney, Long Bredy, Little Bredy, Hardy's Monument and Winterbourne Abbas up to the Roman Road and home to Compton Valence. Although it was just 15 miles, it was like a spring day with birds singing, people out working in their gardens, all in all it was beautiful!
I was happy and knackered at the end.
I have finally eventually bought a new watch; a Polar RS200 with a heart monitor. All I have to do is work out how it operates, that should pass an hour or two!
I bought it on-line, having failed to get one locally. I picked the watch from a website, then phoned them to check the details etc. In passing, I mentioned that it was offered by another company for less, but their site was not as comprehensive. Without hesitation the gentleman offered to match the price. Result! I would still have preferred to buy local, but I suppose that's life.
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