Town mouse on the New York Marathon

I know you all think I spend my time drinking Champagne and eating canapés. Yes, well, to be perfectly honest, you re not far wrong. But it s all going to change. Call me a damned fool or call me brave, but I ve signed up for the New York Marathon. It s not until November 2, but given that my fastest run so far has been a race between me and a bus, I ve got to start limbering up now. In preparation, I went to a meeting this week at the charity offices of Refuge (for whom I m running) with the runners who ll be attempting the London Marathon. Just a few weeks away from pounding the capital on foot, this hardy bunch came with a litany of injuries. Hamstrings are the least of it. Chafing is rife.

There s no messing with the wrong liquids, and the proper kit is essential. It was when they started talking about timed trials in parks every Saturday at 9am and how many half-marathons they d already completed (one man is running 13 miles three times a week) that I started to quake. Still, I m determined. Cheer me on if you can. I ll be the one at the back.