It begins...

Well, I, along with thousands of people have been accepted into the 2009 Flora London Marathon. I applied back in August and heard I had a place in October. Race Day in on April 26th this year, 15 short weeks away. So, the question is... why?

I had always wanted to run the London Marathon - an ambition that I achieved in 1998. Since then many, many things have happened but two of the most significant in relation to this escapade have been 1) my general deteriation in fitness and 2) my mate Roger.

Without boring everyone to tears I used to be a lot more active, fitter and lighter and with work commitments and lifestyle have somewhat let myself 'go'. This saddens me as I know how I can be and look and I want to get that person back. A couple of years ago I came to an agreement with my best mate, Roger, that we would fight off the on-set of middle age and achieve an 'ambition' each year. In 2007 we completed the Three Peaks Challenge together with a great team (climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in 24 hrs), in 2008 we ran the Cambridge and Royal Parks 1/2 Marathons and this year we have hit a problem. The aim was to run the London Marathon - together. The problem was that I got accepted and he hasn't, which is gutting for both of us.

So we have decided to carry on regardless, me running London and he has a place in the Paris Marathon. After that we will do something together - probably the 12 Tors in Yorkshire. So, aside from some training I'm on my own on this one!

What concerns me is my drive and focus. Those of you who know me well enough know that I can become somewhat 'targetted' on acheiving things. The problem is that I have already done this race once. I've acheived the ambition and crossed it off my list. So I need a motivation and focus.

It's fair to say that Roger has attained a level of fitness to which I now aspire. He is already talking about Triathlons and other activites which I am in no state to consider - yet. So that is the first driver.

Last time I ran in 5hr, 33minutes. This I want to beat.

The more commitment I make to this the better the chance I have, so I have chosen a special Charity to run for which I will talk about in another post. However, this is a local group so the fundraising means so muuch more. Another driver.

I also don't like to fail in what I set out to do. The more public I can make this then the less likely I am to quit when it hurts.

So... this monsterous preamble brings me to where I am now.

At the start. The beginning. Day 1.

It's Sunday night on 11th Jan. I have opened the London Marathon Magazine and browsed through. I have decided to buy a good pair of trainers and also found and printed off a training schedule. I have made contact with the Charity to get sponsorship moving and also started this Blog to chart my progress.

Why the Blog? I am certainly no niaeve enough to think it will be a help or inspiration to others, but it would be great if it is. It's more to make public what I am doing so that it drives me forwards. Maybe then I can also look back at what I hope to achieve at the end.

So, here's to you Ahab - he's to dark nights, weight loss, stamina, Garmin Footpods and dodgy knees. But most of all, here's too Roger and I hope to God he has to go through all this crap too!