Good luck to all FLMers

[El Gordo]

Yes, and good luck from me too.

I've just returned from a few days in Yorkshire without web access, and seem to have a flurry of emails and PMs regarding meeting up for a meal on Saturday evening and/or a beer on Sunday. I hope this will have gelled into a single arrangement by the time I've finished reading them.

But anyway, I'm sure everyone will have a great day on Sunday even if, as usual, you don't start to appreciate it until midway through that first post-race beer. At the moment it's looking unlikely that I'll be at the race as I have to be in London Friday and Saturday already, but will look forward to hearing all about it.

For the veterans, there's nothing I can say that you won't already know. For the first-timers, I'd just say remember that the race is the reward for the training, and not the final piece of discomfort and stress. Which isn't to say that you won't experience those things on Sunday, but they're not the main course. The other thing I'd say to the first-time marathoners is don't cause yourself unnecessary aggravation by giving yourself a strict target. If you've not run the distance before, you'll have no idea how long it will take, so just take it steady, and let the marathon take you where it will. You'll not be the same person at the end as you were at the beginning, that much is sure.

Get those hankies poised for that final pull up the Mall.

Can't wait to hear the reports. (That includes you Mick )

Once again, good luck to everyone running on Sunday,

Andy