<p>So the story goes that Pheidippides runs about 24 miles from the battle at Marathon to the Senate in Athens to announce the Greek victory over the Persians and then keels over dead from the exhaustion. To be fair, he had supposedly fought in the battle before running a marathon.</p> <p>But some historians say that he actually ran from Athens to Sparta to ask for help and then pegged it back to Athens before also keeling over after a 300 mile round trip.</p> <p>I reckon it's pretty weak to fight a battle, jog 24 miles, chew the fat with some politicians and then keel over dead. It smacks of the wrong kind of training.</p> <p>So in honour of the ultra distance legacy of the marathon I've decided to run my first and second ever marathons (Paris and London) in the same week. I've also decided to do both in under 3hrs 30mins (7 hrs total).</p> <p>The cause is obviously dear to my heart. I'm the head of Fundraising at Friendship works. Please give generously - no amount is too large, every huge donation counts.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>