It's a bit unfortunate that I have not posted any updates from December until now.

It's been a difficult few months. I have had 4 colds since January, and my health has not been exactly marvellous. I feel that my fitness has been eroding since January.

On the positive side, I managed to win the Jimmy James Handicap competition of Reigate Priory Athletic Club for this season, and also obtained a PB in the Jimmy James Handicap in January, although I was slower on running the race in March.

I also obtained a PB over 10 miles of 1 hour 11 minutes and 3 seconds when running the Tadworth 10 in early January.

I have since run the Dartford 10 and the Chessington 10K, but could not obtain PB's from these races.

My main marathon build-up race was to be the Tunbridge Wells Half, but unfortunately it was cancelled due to the weather conditions. The weather was fine in Reigate, but as we approached Tunbridge Wells, the snow started, and Tunbridge Wells was under a heavy snow fall. In the event we came back to Reigate and ran out to Brockham.

I have put in some long runs. From memory, on subsequent weeks, a 14 mile run, followed by another 14 miler, followed by a 16.75 mile run, followed by an 11 mile run (I ran out of steam), followed by a 19 mile run, followed by a 10 mile run (my knee felt dodgey). I hope that this will be enough on the day.

This year, having been plagued with colds and also leading a busy life, I have not run as much as I'd have liked, and the result is that I have not done as many long runs as I'd have liked as well as being slower than three months ago. I have a problem with my left knee, and if I had run more, may be this problem would be worse, so it may be just as well that I have not run more anyway.

The marathon is now a week off, and I will do very little in terms of running this week. I hope to just run a gentle mile each day followed by some stretching. Hopefully I'll get over my current cold which started last week on return from our trip to Paris. Just an easy week will hopefully make me feel less run down.

The charity collection for the Arthritis Research Campaign has been going well, and the total currently stands at about £1250, and I hope to be able to pick up the remaining £250 I need to reach my target this week.

I hope to register for the marathon at ExCeL on Wednesday evening.

My plan for the race at the moment is to take it easy, but to try to stay on a 8 minute 30 seconds pace, so to try for a 3 hour 45 minute marathon, which will be a personal best over the distance. We'll see.