Seeking Ian Painter?

[El Gordo]

The FLM is a great race and I think most people who do it or have done it think the same, so I don't think it's that rare a sentiment, Sweder.

Personally, because I don't do more than 1 or 2 a year, I prefer to try different ones, but I would never discourage anyone from doing London. It's a great race for a first timer in particular because of the crowd support, the carnival atmosphere, and the ease with which (British) friends and relatives can get there. I would hope to do it again sometime, but there are some others I'd like to sample first. It also gives me some leverage on my other half. If I can offer a long weekend or a week in a place we've not been to before, it sugars the pill of several months' training.

If keeping a blog helps people stay motivated for a marathon or other race, I'd support them all the way. It certainly helped me, so I could hardly look askance at anyone doing the same thing.