Thanks Travs. 10 years here so I'm well on the way to being native, but still looking forward to getting some runs in back home at Easter.

The race may prove to be too much too soon... the pace to avoid getting DNF'd at the CPs is about 8:45/km - I run faster than that but not by much so I won't be able to afford too much walking. The first two CPs are no problem, the one at 24k worries me most, it comes after the big climb from the harbour to 440m. But it is not overly technical, and flagged, so unlikely to lose time getting the map out. There is a (neutralised) boat ride across the harbour at 8k, which must be quite novel!

I did carry a lot of cycling fitness over, I know they say it doesn't really translate but it did help at first. But I lost it quite quickly, going from 20h a week on the bike to about 6 or 7 running at very low intensity, then recovering from assorted tweaks and niggles. It has been, as you say, a war of attrition! Very little of that comforting DOMS ache, and plenty of angry tendons in the feet/ankles/knees - but at 44 I did expect it.

But very worth it so far. I know the local hills well from riding MTB, and you get a totally different perspective. The ridgeline-then-forest descent from Mt Jaizkibel is amazing on a bike, but on foot it lasts about an hour! Last week I stumbled upon a venue (?!) of 'bonebreaker' vultures feeding on a wild pony carcass - the sheer force of half a dozen of them taking flight (they're about 3m across) at close range was something I'd not have witnessed with a buzzing freewheel to scare them off!
Hopefully I can at least start some gentle jogging again over the weekend.