Is that the time?

Really is getting close to bedtime. Up with the larks / clubbers tomorrow morning - a 6am start to get to Reading for the Half Marathon. Nerves are jangling and carbs have been loaded to the point that pasta is oozing out my pores.

Hard to believe it's finally here - I've been training since Christmas and signed up for the race way back last autumn. And yet here we are. It's almost the end of March and the big day is just the other side of midnight.

Euan and I spent the afternoon helping friends move flat, then sitting with them in the pub whilst they got steadily drunker and we debated whether or not to have another OJ and Soda water. Old age and commitment to the cause meant I didn't really feel I was missing out. And I got to drive home - I'd almost quit drinking altogether for such a luxury.

Prior to race day, a quick run down of the other 4 members of our 6 strong "team":

Murray - met expectations and admitted defeat in his attempts to fit a training schedule round his heavy workload. Is instead aiming for the British 10K in July.

Craig - has done a Craig. Maintained (to me) that he was still doing the run right up until a few weeks ago, after which he went completely silent and failed to respond to any of my texts. Seemingly finds it harder to admit he's quit the run to me than to others, as confirmation was received from Murray and Andy the other night (as if any was needed) that he'd decided he wasn't doing it as long ago as early February.

Andy - also called it quits in early February, with the reasoning that he'd "only entered to make myself start running, and now I am running, so it's served its purpose". Is ranked higher than Craig because, whilst they both decided on the same day, Andy at least admitted it upfront.

Colin - arrived down from Aberdeen late last night in preparation for the run. Went straight out on the piss, finishing around 3am with a 'Samosa Bagel' (I don't know either) substituting for dinner. Woke up on a mate's floor at 11am this morning. Returned to the pub for a few more pints. Met us late this evening for another few beers (Euan and me excepted), before getting a train through to Reading for a night on a mate's sofa - to ensure he's 'fresh' for the run tomorrow.

Colin and I are in the same starting group tomorrow. He may beat me. This is what will keep me awake tonight.

Wish me luck.