Now the nerves are starting to settle in.
I'm not nervous about finishing the marathon - well, maybe just a little. I'm nervous about all the things surrounding the marathon. When I think about it, everything is in hand and I know that - deep down, it all makes perfect sense - but I'm slowly being gripped by maranoia, those pre-race jitters.
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| Stay calm, stay calm, stay calm... |
I'll be travelling to Manchester with my family on the train. We're staying in a hotel roughly in the middle of the start and finish areas. We're travelling back on the train the following day.
I'm nervous about the travel, the commuting, the unfamiliar surroundings. I've briefly visited Manchester once before, years ago, but didn't explore much of the city. Will there be things to see? Landmarks to check off in my head? The race ends at Old Trafford stadium, but what else is there to look out for?
Will I be able to spot my family on the way around? None of us know Manchester all that well and it's not like they can hop on the tube and rush to the next point on the map. I'd hate for them to travel all the way up only to see us at the start and end of the run.
What about water? There are only eight stations on the route, so I'm going to need to bring my pack. What about gels? I need to keep a handful on me...
Will I get enough sleep the night before? Probably not, based on past experience. What will I eat the night before and the morning of the race?
Again, I know all the answers to these questions. I've already gone over them in my head dozens of times. But the closer race day gets, the louder they get and the more maranoia I start to experience. I feel ready and willing to get this race underway. All I have to do is get through these next ten days and keep my head down.
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