Enter the bubble

Don’t put off till tomorrow something you can put off till after Marathon Day.

That has to be your credo for the next 10 days. If it can be postponed, postpone it. If it can be delayed, delay it. If it can be avoided, do your best duck-and-dive and just avoid it.

Nothing else in life matters between now and Marathon Day.

Well, maybe one or two life-threatening emergencies involving the end of the world as we know it, but not a whole lot else.

Everything else can just wait.

As I said last week, you are now 99 per cent (physically) ready.

Now it’s about cutting out undue mental stress so that on the day you show up mentally fresh and utterly and completely willing to run till you drop.

If your boss dumps more work on your desk this week, keep detailed notes of exactly where you are going to tell him he can put it, but postpone the confrontation till after M-Day. Your blood pressure doesn’t need that kind of topsy-turvy workout right now.

It would send your hormones into overdrive and your race performance would nosedive.

I refer to this period as entering the bubble.

Imagine one of those glass spheres you see at Christmas... the ones you shake to see the snowflakes fall. Nothing is allowed in the bubble that does not add, in a good way, to your race preparation.

You own everything inside of the bubble and nothing gets in that is going to upset you either physically or mentally. Everything negative in your life can just wait outside. Until Marathon Day, inside the bubble it’s nothing but sunshine and blue skies.

As mentioned last week, registration for local athletes will take place on a number of days, as follows: today from noon to 4 p.m.; Wednesday from 7-9 p.m. and Thursday from 7-9 p.m. There are approximately 1,300 local participants; although the organisers will do everything possible to make the procedure as quick and hassle-free as possible, you must expect to spend some time in a queue.

If there are any overseas participants in Malta on those days and at those times, they may also come along and register.

Fun run info

Fun runners, kids and parents are to assemble at the Sliema Ferries on Marathon Day.

The whole event starts off with the Fun Run animation at 8.15 a.m. The Fun Run itself starts at 9 a.m. Those who wish to join in at the last moment have to register at the Ferries at 7.30 a.m.

A goodie bag and commemorative medal will be given to all those who complete the Fun Run.

Approximately 550 runners are expected to take part.

Errata

Allow me to correct any misunderstanding arising from the article printed in The Times last Thursday.

My wife, Carol, was the female winner of the 2010 Malta Half Marathon and not as was printed in the article. That was Carol’s 16th time as first female overall in the Malta Half Marathon.

Unfortunately, a recurring injury prevents her from being on the start-line next week to defend her title. She would like to thank all those who have wished her a speedy recovery.

See you at registration.

johnzwalsh@yahoo.com