KEY POINTS:
Aucklander Nina Rillstone believes a solid three months of training and racing will pay off when she tackles the women's marathon at the World Athletic Championships in Osaka.
The 42.2km journey around the city starts at 10am tomorrow (NZT).
"I've had a consistent three months of training," Rillstone said. "It has gone as well as I could have hoped."
The 32-year-old fulltime runner said her early races over 10km and 12km weren't quite so flash.
"I'm definitely stronger over the longer distances, so the later two races - the Boilermaker 15km in Utica and the New York half marathon - really went well for me and I'm all set to go," she said.
Rillstone has prepared herself well for the hot weather she is likely to face during the race.
"I've been in hot weather for a few months now. I've been in Boulder, Colorado, where it's been very warm, although a much drier heat than in Osaka.
"I think competing on the last day of the championships is probably working to my advantage in that I've had 10 days in the actual conditions," she said.
"I'm feeling okay out there each morning, I'm hoping running at race pace will feel as comfortable."
Rillstone has raced a few of the competitors in the field.
"Catherine Ndereba of Kenya is being considered one of the favourites who I raced in New York a couple of weeks back.
"Gosh, I'd love to think I'd be able to keep up with her. Let's hope so.
"Mara Yamauchi of Great Britain is in very good form and one to look out for.
"The Japanese team, although they are missing two of their super stars, will be very strong."
Rillstone says there will be a number in the race who she feels confident won't be as fast as her.
"So I'll be somewhere. To be honest I'm not out there to run with anybody in particular.
"I'm just out there to get the position I can and I haven't taken a huge notice of who else is in the race."
