London Marathon: Should You Take The Challenge?

They're both distractions. If you can run even two miles now, you're a long way ahead of thousands of people who can barely make it round the block as late as January. With a little consistency, you'll be able to achieve more than you ever thought possible by April.

"What a day! Fantastic – I did it in 6 hours 41 minutes, first time. To do that I have had to lose nearly five stone in weight, combat asthma, deal with a medical history of quadruple heart bypass, all since a year ago when I saw my daughter run the marathon and I said, 'I wonder if...'"—Norm, age 60

... But don't underestimate the need for solid training. Of course a handful of people wing it with a week's preparation. But you'd have a 2% chance of an enjoyable marathon like that. Build up using a little intelligence and you have a 98% chance.

Enough of the lecture. Here are some pointers to help you make up your own mind:

Here's what it's like when it goes well

"The crowd numbers and support are absolutely AWESOME and the whole event gets under your skin. I never tire of playing the video; I smile, I choke back tears, my skin tingles."—Slotwin, 4:17

"I learnt a great deal about myself – my inner strength and my sense of determination! I would recommend this event to anyone looking to achieve a goal in life: you will never match the high."—Lesley Fitzgerald, 5:02

Even when you've run many marathons, the feeling of crossing the line is extraordinary. It's public and private at the same time; unassailable proof that you've dedicated yourself to months of hard training and had the willpower to pull yourself through a race of immense highs and lows. For many it symbolises a confidence they've never had before; a proof to doubters; possibly a huge change in lifestyle.

Here's why it can be agony

Undertraining
A six-mile walk is a long way. A six-mile walk with legs like lead, a pounding head and a knotty stomach can feel like forever. Now picture the sorry souls who have to drag themselves over 12, 14 or more miles like that. Most of them simply didn't train enough.

"My training had gone well, up to a point. That 'point' having been five weeks before the day of the marathon, when work and backache conspired to prevent much happening in the crucial period of build-up... By mile eight I had gone..."—Richard Sanders, 4:50