There’s two neat piles on my suitcase: one in the official UPS clear bag with the stuff I’ll get back after finishing, one with my clothes for the race and the hobo outfit to toss away just before the start.

My main meals the last few days consisted of pasta.

I’m experiencing the taper induced weird pain here and there. What’s up with my foot? Can this be all mental?

For the last seven weeks, I’ve been training more volume and more structured than ever before for a single event.

I’m somewhat excited, you could say!

Goals! When I signed up, I said I’d run about 3 hours 20 minutes. Then I realised I could probably be faster. So, by now, the goal is:

A goal: 2:59:59 (because sub 3 is so pretty)

B goal: 3:04:59 (because Boston Qualifying would be nice)

I’ll start out with a 4:14 min/km pace, or probably a bit slower due to all the people, but if I finish with that pace, that’s the A goal. But in any case, I don’t want to suffer so much that I get tunnel vision and can’t take in the atmosphere anymore! It’s New York after all and I’m not coming here every year. (Until now, at least.)