One Week to Go: Butterflies

I saw quite a few butterflies on today's run by the Royal Canal. They were those pretty little blue ones and then some darker ones that were gone too quickly before I could identify further colour. I had to smile. They were almost an external manifestation of the occasional flutter in my tummy of the past few days. I go from moments of dull dread, to a smidgeon of excitement to just getting on with the rest of life. I could get very excited now, if I left myself.  

Last week and the week I am facing are very strange. I do not feel as if I am running enough. Today I did just 8 miles, I rest tomorrow, Wednesday I will do 2 miles, Thursday I will do 3 and then I will do another 2 on Sunday.  It feels so odd. I have found myself going online to check that this is what I am supposed to be doing. Of course, it depends on the programme you are following, but most do recommend tapering.  I have also considered going for a swim instead or even a cycle. Apparently I am not unique - almost as if reading my mind, the articles warn against doing other exercise in this last week, to resist the temptation.  It's all about building glycogen (from carbohydrate mostly) in the muscles. So, all in all, I feel a bit helpless which, of course, doesn't help the nerves. We're back to that 'control' thing again.

Of course, there are things that I can do. I can drink water. So, like a toddler, my bottle has become a permanent accessory. I can eat sensibly. Last week, I made healthy muffins so as not to be indulging in too many biscuits with their refined sugars. It is recommended, at this end of the week, to eat more protein and by Thursday or Friday to switch the balance in favour of carbohydrates. By Thursday, I should also watch my intake of fruit and veg. Finally, I can do some constructive imagining. I have already checked out the marathon route in some detail. Because it is Cork city where I was born, raised until I was 8, lived at various stages of my adult life, I am quite familiar with much of the route. In fact, I am looking forward to running around a city that I only pass through now, for the most part, en route to Kenmare or Clonakilty.  I had to do a bit of Googling to figure out certain sections of the route, but now have a good sense of most of it. I am relieved. I had some notion that we would be heading out the North Bypass route which would have been a long, slow haul. Happily, we are not. We will head East by the Quays and the train station before running under the Jack Lynch Tunnel. I am also relieved to learn that, on the Western End, we are not running the full length of the Model Farm Road or the Carrigrohane Straight (although we will run significant stretches of both), but turn right from the former on to the latter at Inchigaggin Bridge/The Orchards. Parts of Cork city are fairly hill, but the organisers have worked hard to provide a route as flat as possible. Cork city is also a city built between two branches of a river. There will be lots of watery sights to enjoy throughout and, in those final miles, bridges to count.

But that's next week! In the meantime, I can just focus on the other bits and pieces of life and, to that end, some mindfulness is helpful. I try to go about my business with quiet deliberation, choosing to engage as much as possible so that I do not torture myself into a cranky non-sleeping jibbering mess!