To paraphrase the Fast Show: this year I shall mostly be running two marathons. They're the big ones too - to my mind at least - being, as they are, London, on the 13th of April, and New York, on the 2nd of November. I won't be running them dressed as a Duracell bunny, although of course I do hope to be able to summon the energy to go on, and on, and on... much as the following message will, in fact. No, running a marathon dressed as a rabbit would be stupid. And to do it twice, well... that would be beyond words.

Instead, I'm wearing a simple running shirt emblazoned with the Yorkshire Cancer Research logo. A stylish affair, you'll agree, and a much more sensible choice. Yorkshire Cancer Research supports important and groudbreaking research in a range of teaching hospitals and universities such as Sheffield and Leeds (of which I am a proud graduate) across the county. This research constitutes an essential contribution to an ever-growing global stockpile of information which is helping the world to better understand the disease.

Contrary to popular opinion, a little knowledge is a wonderful thing; please give as generously as you are able, and help YCR support these institutions. If you stretch yourself particularly beyond your means, I will give you chocolate.*

Thank you so much for your support.  Click the "Sponsor Us Now" link at the top and bottom of the page to pledge your money and pay safely and easily via credit/debit card. The payment goes straight to YCR, and if you're a UK taxpayer the government will add a gratis 28% to the amount through Gift Aid. Bonus!

To do a little research for yourself, you can visit www.ycr.org.uk

Sam

Update: 5/4/2008

A week and a day to go now, and it's really shot by. A little too quickly... At this point in the training, there's not much to do but keep up the short running and cross your fingers, which is what I'm doing. May thanks to everyone who's sponsored me up to this point; it's really great that you've all pulled your fingers out and chucked a bit of cash my way, and I do appreciate every penny, as I'm sure do YCR.

I've got a podiatrist's appointment on the 15th to get my dodgy feet sorted out. Yes, I have dodgy feet and have been referred to an NHS podiatrist, and yes, the podiatrist's appointment is two days after the London Marathon. Very useful, don't you think? The fellow will no doubt take one look at the shattered remains of my lower limbs and immediately call for an amputation...

Here's to London, here's to Victory, and here's to a sub-four-hour time despite it all - and failling that, here's to insufferable calf crampage, plenty of beer and an unsavoury recovery meal at Burger King.

Over and out.

Update June 08

London was fun. Photos on the way... New York, here I come! If I can only remember the way to the gym...