[Leapy Leo]

Yes, Sarah, I did four marathons in the eighties and I have to confess that the longest run I did in training was about half of the total distance because it gets so boring after awhile and it's hard to find the motivation to keep going when your legs get so weary and you're running alone [the group runs sound like a great idea!]

However, I'm sure any physical training guru will tell you that the important thing is to keep at it, to do that training week in week out from now until the event, rather than exhausting yourself proving you can do the distance to yourself as a big one-off and maybe not training for a week.

I found that on the day of my first marathon [which I'm assuming this is Jeff's] the crowds cheering us on made a big difference, all the others competing help to hold your interest and so boredom is not a problem.

One thing I was wary of was the so-called "wall" that you can hit at about twentytwo miles into the course, I kept well within a pace I knew that I was capable of sustaining, enjoyed the crowd and the scenary and once I'd passed that early twenties peril I knew I was going to finish it. You just know!

Jeff mentioned a 72 year old woman and I can aver that i got a particular inspiration from the golden oldies I saw infront of me throughout the course. It was a case of "Well, if he can do it..."

Good luck with it, Jeff. I know you're about my age and I find your determination inspiring. I keep thinking maybe I'll try a half marathon but my last full one was about twenty years ago so it was easier for me then that it would be now.

My best time [in my 2nd attempt] was 3 hours 13 minutes and 58 seconds but I've never been so tired as i was when I finished that one. I knew I'd never do better than that, and I didn't!