Envious plodder: I ran M'cr last year as my first marathon and I'd say it's a good one, unless you prefer undulating terrain - it's very flat. The support last year from local residents was fantastic, despite the abominable weather. The race organisers do appear to have listened to last year's complains so I think the baggage will be better organised. And the weather is almost certain to be better than last year!
If you're wanting to do this, then start training NOW, increasing your mileage and the length of your long runs. If you want to follow a schedule closer to the race, then whichever schedule you choose, (a) when you start the scedule you want to already be running at least as much as it says you need to run in the first week, and preferably more; (b) start the schedule at least two weeks early (e.g. start a 16-week schedule 18 weeks before the race) to allow for illness/injury time. If you don't need the time off, you can always repeat a couple of weeks late in the schedule and be better trained than you would have been otherwise.
