The challenge now is trying to find both the time and energy simultaneously for long training runs in the one remaining week before we're supposed to 'taper', i.e. reduce, the intensity of our marathon training. Overtraining in the final three weeks prior to marathons is a bad idea; undertraining is the lesser evil because it leaves your energy reserves undepleted. On the other hand, it is important psychologically to have long runs (i.e. c. 12-20 miles) under one's belt prior to a marathon. These long runs are also important physically for conditioning the body to coping with running such distances.

Yesterday (Sunday 26 March) I got my priorities typically muddled and spent the rainless daylight hours working on the computer - mainly on fundraising - when I should have been running. Note to self: do office work in the evening! So I ran, as I often end up doing, by night. Nocturnal jogging isn't everyone's cup of tea, especially as opportunistic predators sometimes try their luck. Tip for other female runners: avoid training in Highbury Fields after midnight. On this occasion I completed a circuit of about 11 miles which took in the City, the River Thames, and the West End. I took the opportunity to check out the final mile of the marathon course. Very good for visualisation purposes.

Today (Monday) I went for the toughest training challenge on my pre-marathon calendar: a 1 hour cross-country fitness run on Hampstead Heath with my friend Faye. Faye is one of the fittest women you could hope to meet, and her two co-runners were no slouches either. Those women are FIT!! The last time I tried to chase them, a couple of months ago, I lasted 10 minutes.

You would think that with a 20-miler under my belt an hour of cross country wouldn't be too tough. Wrong! The terrain is absolutely merciless, hilly, steep, muddy, slippery, prickly, brambly, branchy - you name it. Faye likes to explore almost impassable byways, and I got entangled several times in the ubiquitous vegetation. I had to grab passing trees and haul myself up treacherous banks. There were streams to be forded, fallen timbers to surmount. My trainers, pristine this morning, now resemble mud pies. One can't just pop them in the washing machine in that condition. Oh no. They must soak in the sink first.

The seasoned cross country runners took pity on the novice charity runner and ran in circles until I caught them up. They could see I was doing my best, and it was agreed that I had improved significantly over the last couple of months.

Now afflicted with severe Runner's Knee and generally dead legs, I might give running a rest until Wednesday.

Anyone interested in taking part in Faye's fitness walks/jogs on Hampstead Heath should post their contact details and I'll pass them on to Faye.

With a Wave from the Wild side, Cathy