I'm a great believer of the above title and never more so has it been apparent than in the last 7 days.

2 things have suddenly given me that "GMR" buzz that was threatening not to appear this year.

Firstly a large envelope containing my start number and wave group..This year I've been allocated orange wave which means I'm in with "big boys"..There some big names again this year.Like Sheffield last October, what an experience that will be. This will be the 2nd time I've been in the elite group for a Great Run event but the first time in Manchester..the world's centre for 10k racing...and thinking it's only 2 years when I was in the bottom group.

Secondly and totally unrelated happened at lunchtime today. On the recommendation of one of my aqua instructors, I've bought myself a pair of aqua trainers to wear in the pool...Today was the first time I wore them & what a huge difference they made. In our aqua classes there is alot of pressure placed on the feet  when we are "jumping" and "bouncing" around and you are always slipping on the floor of the pool but today no such problems, I was able to bounce around quite happily as if a spring was in the shoes and not doing any damage to my feet. But the most surprising thing was when I put my normal trainers back on, I got that wonderful springy feeling in my feet, as if to say "that's go and do a 10K run NOW!" but I didn't, had to get home PDQ..but it gave me such a postive feeling about the battle that lays ahead for the next 2 weeks.

Despite some c**p work shifts this week I've managed to do some training: So here's a brief summary:

Saturday: 4mile run: 30'18"

Sunday:   17mile bike ride with hydration pack...filled with a litre of water...

Monday-Wednesday: Nil

Thursday: 6 mile bike ride to Congleton to have some work done the bike -AM

               Aqua class lunchtime - 1hour

               6 mile bike ride back from Congleton- PM

               Spin class at the gym- 1hour

God know what calories I've burnt today, a good guess would be somewhere between 2,000-2500.The bike "ride" to and from Congleton burnt almost 800 calories.

Plans for Friday is a swimming session with Sarah at lunchtime-might even bike ride to the gym.

Saturday - a morning run.In the afternoon the family are saying our final goodbyes to our Dad. We are burying his ashes at Gawsworth Church. Not looking forward to that. But it's got to be done.

Sunday: Bike ride after work, going to aim for 20 miles.

Next week is complicated by work, hospital and doctors appointments....it's going to be really tough week especially Wednesday.

Well done to everyone who completed the FLM, especially Caz and Alistair, it's more than I'll ever do .For me I'm quite happy with my 10Ks, particularly I've got the GMR buzz once again. I just know it's going to be another great day in the heart of Manchester,showing the world why Manchester IS worth it's gold medal status..this year is made even more special by the appearance of the world's fastest man running down one of Manchester's main streets after we've done our "stuff"....providing he recovers from the car accident he had yesterday in Jamaica....

Take care.. good luck to everybody running this weekend...have a funny feeling it's the Edinburgh 10k Great Run this weekend....

John

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