It was the Sunday before the marathon and my schedule said 8 miles and for once I felt ready for it and more than confident I could do it! All the resting and short hard training sessions were just what I needed and I felt fresh for a change!

I headed out through the village and down the big hill to past the Mill where I realised I’d not started the app (estimated 0.5 miles)! A quick pause to get Strava going then off we (me & the dogs) went again down to the bottom of the hill and across Lochlibo Road. We took it steady going up the very steep incline for the next mile and past the car park where we’d done our hill training earlier in the week. I found it very tough getting up some of the steeper sections of road but eventually we made it to the top and had a bit of recovery jogging across the undulating top road. I passed a man out running and though ‘he looks like a marathon runner’ only to shock myself that within the next week I too would be a marathon runner!

The big hill back down to Lochlibo road was, dare I say it, enjoyable as I listened to my dance tunes, and for the first time I felt that this marathon was within my reach… I knew I could complete it! I crossed the road and went up towards Uplawmoor with the dogs jogging happily along beside me. We turned right on to the main road and then turned left up through a farm, admittedly pretty slowly but at least we kept moving up this long hill!

The road flattened out past another farm and then climbed up again to the highest point on the route where, elated, I ‘Woooped’ in celebration and relief to the dogs and we ran full pelt down a short steep section and back up the other side before a 90 degree left turn on to the straight mile. We took the ‘off road’ path allowing the dogs to get a swim and a drink then headed back to the main road and back home again. Bring on the marathon!

Once home I thought it would be good to buy a personalised vest for the event with the logo etc on so I went on line and ordered it from http://www.personaliseyourvest.co.uk.