Modest wish to get back on track lures runner into marathon endeavour

MY training campaign for the marathon has been top secret. So, much so that I only admitted to myself recently that, yes, I was going to do it.

It all started harmlessly enough, exactly six months ago. A realisation that I badly needed some exercise. A handy schedule in the Irish Runner which had the marathon as its ultimate goal.

Starting the first three mile jog, I was not going to admit to myself that running 26 miles and 385 yards was on the agenda. The idea, I told myself, was just to have a schedule which built up gradual and an incentive to get me out of the door in the morning.

I managed to fool myself for a while. But somewhere during the 700 or so miles jogging in the meantime, I had to face up to it. After all, I thought, if I was doing the training, I might as well do the race. It Is a piece of reasoning I know I will profoundly regret after about 18 miles today.

The point of no return came about a month ago. I casually announced at home that I was planning to run a 20 mile race around the back of the airport the next day. And if it went OK ...

OK it wasn't. I was lucky they hadn't locked the gates and all gone home by the time I reached the finish at Santry stadium. Butcrawling the last few miles home on a scorching day, I decided the marathon itself could be many worse. Another theory to be proved wrong today. An old saying among marathon veterans is that 20 miles is only halfway. And it's true.

I know because it's not the first time I've run the marathon. But the last one was 11 years ago, and the memory cannot fully conjure up what those last few miles felt like. There has been a lot of idleness and a few stone put on in the meantime. An injured knee forced me to give up altogether for a few years and a damaged heel scuppered the first comeback. Running mainly on grass has been the key to survival this time around.

Trying to come back has been a sobering experience. Runners I would have left in my wake in races years ago are now cooling down in their tracksuits as I finish. It will take me about an hour longer to run it today than last time.

But it's been fun, too. Running races I haven't run for years. Improving slowly. Going training with friends. And just enjoying jogging around the fine parks of north Co Dublin where most of the miles have been put in Malahide Castle during the week and Argillan Park past Skernes at the weekend. The Parks Department should be sponsoring me.

I'm not sure how to answer people who ask why I'm doing it. After all, it can't be that big a deal if a few thousand others of all shapes, ages and sizes are doing it as well. And in answer to inquiries from concerned colleagues, no, I won't be wearing the Linford Christie shorts.