Martin Parnell's alter ego, Captain Clot Buster, is looking forward to this Saturday (May 27) as he sets out to run the Calgary Marathon.

After following Parnell for nine weeks, it is hard to believe we are mere days away from the 150km run in honour of Canada's 150th birthday.

Martin continued to nurse his injury this past week; running only 9 km, Parnell has his fingers crossed as he approaches the start line at 6 pm.

"I have got the bulk of my running in, I mean I have 700 km in so I am not totally devastated but obviously concerned about getting to the start line. Last week I had a deep tissue massage and he found a spasm in my muscle in my right thigh so he found what the issue was. I went swimming, did a lot of stretching, plus I am in my taper. So all in all, it was a good week for what I needed to do which was rest this leg."

Parnell, says the Captain will not be making any modifications to his approach Saturday. "Nothing will change. I've got a plan, literally a spreadsheet with where I need to be after each 10 km. I know where I need to be, I have a nutrition plan, hydration plan, gear plan; a lot goes into this as we move toward 150 km, it's almost 20 hours it is like planning a long weekend camping trip except I will be running for 20 hours."

As the Captain gears up, Parnell is hoping donations also ramp up. Still sitting at $4566, Parnell is hopeful people head to his website www.martinparnell.com to donate.

"It is actually Captain Clot Buster who is running the race, I am doing all the training and he's going to take all the glory. He really wants folks to step up and support Right to Play, and support what he's doing in trying to bring the gift of hope to kids around the world. Whether it's $20 or $50, we're coming to the crunch time."

Parnell's last fit tip, is race day preparation.

"This is the big one. Basically for any kind of race you have coming up whether it's a 5,10k, half marathon, marathon...a couple of tips. The night before have something relatively light, I will have some salmon, maybe a little bit of rice, and a salad that would be a good evening before meal. The next morning I like oatmeal with honey and bananas, that is my go to race morning breakfast, and then just before the race about a half hour before have a drink of water and maybe a gel or a banana to have something in your stomach. During the race hydration, nutrition, and electrolytes are very important as you go through the race."

Parnell says packing items like a hat, sunblock, and glide to prevent chafing are also key. If you are running under a half marathon, Parnell shares, you can sometimes be less disciplined with nutrition and hydration but not at long distances. "You have to be disciplined right from the start you can't wait an hour and then decide I am going to start drinking water and taking in nutrition, it is too late. You will hit the classic wall, you will be sick, you will get cramps, and it is not a pleasant thing. You really don't need to do it if you are disciplined right from the beginning of the race."

Parnell, says he is in the hands of the Gods as he likes to think he has a 50/50 chance of completing the distance in the time allotted.