Getting there in fits and starts

Bonjour Bloggeurs and Bloggeuses

Less than two weeks to go, and things in Geneva are looking up a bit. I have had a good week running-wise, although getting up at 5am to train is still no fun. Christina has been able to increase the intensity of training, and so far, her foot is taking the punishment ok. We aim to carry on training for the next 10 days or so, building up the distance gradually so we minimise the risk of injuries. Then we'll pack it in, rest up, and hope that the atmosphere on race day will get us round.

I will be glad when the race is run. It's been a long old slog just to get this far and my slightly haphazard training plan has seen me running in Geneva, France, Monaco, Nairobi, Istanbul, Izmir, London, New York, Washington and Jersey (of course!) The coming week was looking disastrous from a training perspective - I was supposed to be in Beirut for 2 days, London for one day, and then on to Jersey for 2 more days. As it happens, no Jersey, no Beirut this week and I can cope with a day in London! Hopefully Christina and I will have a solid week's training to set us up for the event.

Time has passed very quickly and it doesn't seem like a year since Ian left us and Tim had the idea of doing the run. A fair bit has happened in the interim - babies, weddings, funerals, injuries, hefty medical bills, learning new words (still not sure what overpronating means), creative excuses and loads of gripes. Ian would not have let us get away with the last two on that list.

Team Atko is made up of lots of different folks with one thing in common - we all think Ian was a top bloke. It is for him and because of him that we're prepared to put ourselves through this, for the benefit of a cause that really meant something to him. As race day gets closer (thanks for the countdown thingy Tom!!) its important that we stick together, train hard, and help each other to the all important finish.

I am pretty sure that Ian is keeping an eye on our efforts, and I am also pretty sure that he finds them a good source of amusement....