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When Terry met Dwain

I won't be dressed as chicken, a rhinoceros or a spaceman and I won't have one of those comedy ostriches. I'll just be the fat one! So if you see a bloke plodding round looking like Rik Waller's stunt double, you'll know who it is...

Terry O'Connor
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Well, it's finally here... and boy I am nervous. And that's the polite way of putting it.

Actually it's more apprehension than nerves and as the London Marathon gets closer, it's not getting any better.

I used to get butterflies before Play-Off games, Test matches, Grand Finals and the like, but nothing like this - and all I've got to do is run (hopefully no-one is going to tackle me).

In those games though, you knew you were going to get through, one way or another. And you knew you had your team-mates with you. This is just little old me. Or big old me.

I have been told that the 30,000-odd runners will become my team-mates for the day and they, along with the crowd, will help us get through it. They say it is an experience you never forget and I am sure that is true. Whether it's a pleasurable experience, remains to be seen.

As you might have seen on Boots 'n' All, me and Barrie McDermott went to get some advice off Dwain Chambers this week, which kind of helped and kind of didn't. Dwain is a top lad, but he did nothing for my confidence when I told him I was running the marathon and he just burst out laughing.

And all through the interview, he kept looking me up and down. Either he was very concerned about my weight or he fancied me. Either way, it was a little unsettling.

Backside

The one thing he did confirm was what I knew all along... all I have to concentrate on is putting one foot in front of the other.

Mind you, Dwain was more help than Barrie has been. He has been telling me to take my camera to get some snaps of all the sights, and giving me plenty of stick, but there is no way he would get his fat backside down to London to run for a bus, never mind a marathon. He completely declined the offer and doesn't want to get involved in the slightest.

I did say I would go through it all again next year providing Barrie agreed to do it with me, but I really do think his weight would be an issue. He was never the slimmest player and he has really let himself go since giving the game up.

He did offer to stand in the middle of the Sky car park and let me run round him five times, but as I have already passed the 20-mile mark in training, it was time for me to say no.

With the marathon being so close, I have just done a short six-miler this week, after a 14-miler last week, which was not too bad. I said all along all I wanted to do before was get past the 20-mile mark in my training and I have done that. The last few miles on Sunday might be torture, but that's when the crowd and the adrenalin will hopefully come into it.

Before that though, we are all travelling down to London on the Saturday where we have to pick up our race pack - I keep telling everyone it's not a race, but they won't listen!

After that it will be back to the hotel to put me feet up and watch the Huddersfield-Wakefield game and hopefully get an early night.

Heatwave

I don't even want to think how I am going to feel come Sunday morning and I am not setting myself any targets in terms of time. As long as I finish the bloody thing and get back to see my wife and kids again, that's all I am bothered about.

I am praying London is not gripped by a sudden heatwave because that is the last thing a big lump like me needs, and I am also hoping it doesn't chuck it down either. Cold and grey will do very nicely, thank you very much.

All I am really focussing on is crossing that line and collecting my giant piece of tin foil and medal. I don't care what time it says on the clock. Then it will be straight back to the hotel for the odd drink and as we are travelling back up on the train - unless St John's Ambulance have other ideas - we might well have another couple on the way.

I only hope I don't doze off and wake up in Scotland!

Finally, thanks for the good luck messages both on this blog and from people I have met out and about at games. I am sure they will spur me on when I'm struggling and the bloke in the deep-sea diver's suit has just overtaken me.

If you are popping down to watch and want to recognise me, it won't be hard. I won't be dressed as chicken, a rhinoceros or a spaceman and I won't have one of those comedy ostriches... I'll just be the fat one!

So if you see a bloke plodding round looking like Rik Waller's stunt double, you'll know who it is...

To sponsor Terry, Steve, Chris or David CLICK HERE.

To find out more about Steve Prescott and the Steve Prescott Fund CLICK HERE

To send Tez a good luck message or comment on his blog, fill in the feedback form below...