Sub 3.30 2011

Do the celebs line up ahead of us hard working mortals? And general question for everyone who's gone off the green start before - how congested is it at the beginning and does merging with the blue start cause any problems?

I think the celebs set off just away from us which is good as some of them are slow so won't get in our way.As for the merger it's a great part of the race and nothing to worry about.There's a bit of banter between both groups and we run alongside each other for a while before we merge seemlessly.

I'm enjoying the rest this week.I've a slight sore throat but it only gets worse when i think of the race so i'm thinking it's more psycological.

Katie Price(ran) it in 7hrs 11 mins last time out.It annoys me that she gets a place yet plenty of good runners miss out.

Cheers folks, that sounds quite manageable.

O4S your confidence for that 0.2 made me laugh. 

Two marathons in a week Andy?!? I've done two in four weeks and that was hard enough, good luck for Sunday

There's still time Daren, I did have dreadful cold the week before Barcelona and got on just fine on the day! Make the most of the rest, plenty of fluids and hot drinks, load up on fruit and veg, take a bottle on antibacterial handwash to use whenever you can, keep washing your hands, more vitamin C, lots of sleep.... maybe a few whiskeys.... you'll be fine!

Sounds like a well organised run HH!  Wonder what they change your time to? Could you think of anything worse than finishing 3:30:05 and later finding out the course was 26.6 miles?

Thanks for the link Wobbled, it's always nice to see who are celebrities this year and see how few I recognise.  Not many, although my old habit from years ago of reading celebrity magazines  has remember Calum Best!  He was always a bit of a ladies man so watch out at that Green Start girls.... love the bit that says 'Calum has also launched his own fragrance'  Who have you met?  Congestion - I was in Green pen D last year, over the start in less than a minute, merge about a mile in with Blue (cue lots of booing from both sides) - still not too busy, merge with red after a few more miles (cue more booing) - busy but you can still run, it was a bit squished in around Cutty Sark but they've taken that bit out this year.  I'd say GNR is worse at the beginning.  And my first 5 or 6 miles last year were in the region of 7:40, so I can't have been that held back!

Is the Emmerdale bloke the one who always does VLM and GNR?

The 0.2 part is awesome at London don't you think O4S?  Knackered legs, the endless run up Birdcage Walk, cheering crowds, hobbling runners, then that lovely '365 yards to go' sign as you turn into The Mall...  All the Union Jacks hung from the flagpoles, more crowds, cameras, cheering, the finishing clock up ahead ticking away, the man on the tannoy, more cheering, then crossing that finish line (is this where you vomit on Daren's shoes?)

Marathon haircut accomplished tonight, I now have a list of things to pack. 4 miles done last night, 0 miles covered tonight, only 8 left to run before Sunday!

First time i did London i was gutted when i got to the end i was enjoying it that much.I turned that final corner to the finish and the bloke on the mike said raise your hands to cross the line so i did.The trouble was i'd still a long way to run and had to put them back down well before the line.

Carrot:  I love that finish stretch!  I'm going to try and clear the finish mat before throwing up on Daren's shoes - wouldn't like to prevent someone's chip from recording!  I have made out my list and just remembered to add alarm clock.  Haircut Thursday so will probably look like a convict on the day.  The temperature today was perfect so really disappointed to see it is set to rise - 16 degrees is a bit too much for me.  Still I have now got to the point that I just want to enjoy it and never mind the time, anything under 4 hours and I am determined to be positive, so will start a bit slower than usual and hopefully not blow up as soon!!

When are you at the Expo?  We are going around lunchtime / early afternoon Friday.  Mr O4S's first expo as I usually go up on Wednesday on a cheap bus ticket and collect both numbers.  We then typically stayed at the Travelodge on the M4 services [£29 if booked well in advance] and drove in to Notting Hill area on Sunday morning.  This year we are making a weekend of it, but must try not to do too much on Saturday.

Brilliant DK, great news.

Brilliant DK - congratulations. Also brought a lump to my throat when I read your news. Awesome timing.

Is your wife running on Sunday as well?

Congratulations DK.You can now run free from worry of missing the birth.There's many things in life we think are important and then when you see your child come into the world your views change.

I'm off to the Expo Saturday afternoon after i've checked nthe hote.I'm stopping near Buck house so it's just a little jog from the finish,although i may do a loop.

I may get a 2.40 wrist band to wear on the tube gonig to the start and put the real one on later.That way i can hold the rail with a smug look on my face.

Not long now is it?