So it’s Thursday. One more run left on the schedule, which was 2 miles. I thought I would run down to Old Isleworth to see the Queen’s Royal Barge, “Gloriana” as she was lowered into the Thames. I timed it to perfection to arrive in sunshine but as the weather had been a bit iffy, donned my goretex running jacket, complete with thumb holes (my favourite thing!) and off I set. It was a bit further than I thought, 1.6 miles away but that’s alright. I was hopefully going to see Stuart down there too, had a catch-up with a fellow Ranelagh Harrier and we waited to see the barge lowered.

Sadly, just as the bells from All Saints Church started to ring (I never knew the oldest part of the church dates from 1398), the skies went black and the torrential rain started. As Gloriana went up into the air on the crane, the thunder started. As she was hovering 3 feet above the water, the hailstones began. So Stuart and I ran away! Well, I ran, he cycled. The hail continued as I ran for over half a mile, stinging my hands – then I remembered my thumb holes :) So my hands were saved, except when I had to pull my hood forward again. It seems every time I say to Stuart, “The weather looks fine…” it decides to prove me wrong! Sorry!

Crazy weather day. I hope it is better on Sunday – not so much for me, I will just plod along – but for the supporters. It will be miserable to be wet and cold stood by the side of the road for hours, cheering on both loved ones and strangers. I know people still will, in the same way that I would and have done, but still…less rain would be good :)

In other news, it’s only been a little bit smoky a couple of times today ;) thanks to messages from some of my Pirate pals. They have been so supportive of me through my training and have put up with me rambling on. I am very pleased that I have people in my life like this – even if their kind messages do make me cry!

3 days to go and I have done my last run until Sunday. Now I have to relax and, as all the experts and coaches say, “Trust my training”. I can do no more.

Bring. It. On.

Only 4 days. So 4 miles on the schedule for 4 days to go, had a nice little run – got soaked the first 2 miles but then dried off a bit on the way home. Strangely, the time I don’t think much about the marathon has been when I am running. However, for some reason today as I was running along I started to think about what it would be like to see that, “385 yards to go” sign. It was a little bit overwhelming to be honest. I must confess it got a bit smoky ;)

We were going up to town to meet up with Tom (co-presenter of the Marathon Talk podcast, which I have listened to on many of my long runs) and Helen (his beautiful wifey, also running London on Sunday) for dinner, so we decided that we would go to the Marathon Expo to collect our numbers and timing chips for Sunday. It’s a fiddly journey from this side of London to that side but we eventually arrived.

All of a sudden, we were there! Walking in. To the number collection points. Goodness. My hands were shaking a bit as I collected my number. They shook a bit more as I was given my timing chip. Then that was it. Done. I was ready to go.

David & Sharon collect their numbers

We had a bit of a wander around, I managed to source my favourite flavour of gels (apple, if you’re interested), so on Sunday I will have apple on one side of my race belt and citrus on the other. I also went and said, “hello” to the Macmillan stand and signed in my little section on their wall of runners. I never intended to raise money when running London but one of my colleagues said I really should, so I did. I’ve done pretty well I must say (and thank you so much to everyone for their generosity) and I am sure Macmillan will be glad of every pound raised.

Sharon's space on the Macmillan wall

Somehow I found myself stood on the, “Depress-o-meter” as David named it. In other words, those fancy scales that tell you how much fat and muscle mass you have. It turns out I have too much fat (what a shocker, not!), I am however 48.7kg of muscle – so well over half of me is muscle and more so in my right leg and left arm, odd. I wonder how I’ve improved since losing 3 stone? I am relying on my right leg to drag me round on Sunday then ;)

We went along to listen to Martin Yelling (husband of Olympian Liz Yelling and the other voice of Marathon Talk!) for some last minute advice and calming for me. Unfortunately, the aforementioned, “385 yards to go” sign was a slide in the presentation…and once again it got a bit smoky ;) Dear oh me.

Sharon listens intently to Martin's every word, "Don't go off too fast..."

Dinner with Tom, Helen, Rosie Pink and Martin and we set off home. I had tear-filled eyes 4 times today. Terrible! I think I just need it to be Sunday now. I have laid out my kit, I have my number and chip. I have my last tiny run tomorrow. I have my race plan – including what I will do if things don’t go how I would like.

I’m ready. Bring it on.

Today was my last day at work for a while. I decided a long while ago that I would take the week after the marathon as annual leave (mostly because I don’t think I will be able to get down the stairs, so I just won’t bother) and I wanted time beforehand to rest and get to the marathon expo without any pressure.

On my schedule for today was 3 miles. I set off with Marathon Talk in my ears, which I wouldn’t normally do for a short run, but I wanted to listen to the Katherine Switzer interview. Firstly I heard the, “You know it’s nearly marathon time when…” and Tom was talking about Over-Analysis Paralysis. This is me. I have literally thought of nothing else for quite a long time now. I am paralysed with fear at the thought of it – although I don’t think that’s what Tom meant by the paralysis bit! The only time I forget about the fear is when I am running, so I am hoping that works on Sunday…

Then Tom was talking about doing a short, intense session in the marathon week. So I thought I would try and do my 3 miles a bit harder than I intended, to check my legs still worked. They responded well and I had a good run, with each mile faster than the preceding. Happy days.

Sitting down to dinner, David pressed, “play” on the Sky+ to show me the Sky Sports News Marathon Special he had recorded especially for me. Nice. He’s so thoughtful ;) Flipping heck, I dread to think what he has planned for tomorrow night! It is not helping with the Over-Analysis Paralysis :)

Another day of thinking about nothing else apart from the marathon.

Yesterday we watched the start of the Paris Marathon live at 8am, then I went for a run and arrived home to catch the finish of the Rotterdam Marathon. Then last night we watched the BBC London Marathon highlights program from 2009.

Today I watched the Boston Marathon on telly. Twice. Don’t ask. Each individual watching was split up by a massage.

Suffice to say, my “thinking about nothing else apart from the marathon” problem has not been helped by my recent viewing.

On Tuesday I plan to go for a run to clear my head.