| 'Why I'm running a marathon' |
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This Sunday, 35,000 people will pound the streets of London, beginning their 26-mile journey from Greenwich to The Mall in the Flora London Marathon, the world's biggest such event.
Among runners are a small band of celebrities, who are hoping the cameras won't linger on them looking red in the face and out of breath. Here, we talk to some about how they got in shape, who they are raising money for - and discover their tips and fears. DONAL MCINTYRE Donal MacIntyre, 37, investigative journalist I DID the Dublin Marathon, unregistered, aged 15. I came home bow-legged and dead on my feet. I've done four other marathons - similarly without much training with a best time of three hours, 45 minutes. On one I hit "the wall" at five miles and on another I hitched home at the halfway mark because I was knackered. In recent weeks I've run between six and 20 miles a week, depending on work and drinking commitments. I don't have a trainer - just a couple of personal shrinks to address the sanity of doing the race. I don't have a technique either. I rely on brute ignorance and putting one foot ahead of the other. And I don't exactly diet. I admit to significant caffeine abuse and I'm reluctant to endure a drug test in case it's discovered I'm over the alcohol limit. I'm running for Mencap, the leading learning disability charity. I think my best advice to fellow runners would be: "Don't do it, pull yourself to your senses man." Femail.co.uk |