The agony continues

Two weeks today I will have (hopefully) completed my 1st marathon. This is scary stuff - considering I discovered I got in last June and have constantly thought - 'I have ages till this run.' Alas, I now do not have ages and am now in my last 2 weeks of training, which in my world translates to 'eat as much as you want and occasionally run.' Last week I thought I would weigh myself, only to find that I have gained weight - yes, perhaps through muscle, but I fear this may be partly due to my excessive appetite. Indeed, whoever thought to hold a marathon just before easter is, in my opinion, insane - do these people not understand the temptation behind a creme egg?
Anyway, yesterday I did 15 miles (my first long run of the taper), the first 10 at a slow, easy and conversational pace (the conversations being with myself) and the last 5 at marathon pace. I was really pleased that I hit the last 5 at quicker that marathon pace. So pleased in fact that afterwards I went on a hugh chocolate binge.
This week I have a week off, giving me a great chance to hit the roads in the morning and with the weather being nice, I now have a chance to improve on my slightly weird looking tan lines.
This weekend is my last long run before the race - a mere 8 miles...who knew that I would now look at 8 miles and think that it's nothing! My race day kit is tried and tested and now I cannot wait to get out there and do it! Also, yesterday was my first long run without my iPod (these are not allowed at the marathon) - and it was like a breath of fresh air - I concentrated on my running much more and as a result, felt so much better about my pace.
This running malarkey is something else. In seriousness, it does tend to give you a feeling of invincibility. I have a new found respect for people who run, so much so that I cried buckets at John Bishop's documentary and cry equal amounts of buckets every time I read a new blog by some randomer I found on Twitter. And although this training has meant that the marathon is the only thing I talk about, I hope that me doing it will encourage other people to get out there, after all, if anyone said to a 17 year old me that by the time your 24 you'll run a marathon, I would've looked at my 5 foot 2, slightly immature and very moody self and laughed, a lot. Talking to other people who are training for a marathon just goes to show that anyone can do it if they put their minds to it. Plus it's great, you get to eat loads....