I have always thought of myself as built for comfort rather than speed, and have therefore spent 30 odd years saying that I would never run a marathon. Despite my protestations, I now find myself in the curious position of being signed up to run. Not only that, but I have actually started to enjoy the experience. My wife Philly and I spent our honeymoon in Kenya, and visited the Maasai Mara, where we were fortunate enough to meet some of the natives, visit their villages and experience some of the rigours that are part of their daily life. I truly believe that the cause that we are supporting could not be a better one. The Maasai people are some of the most welcoming I have met, and to be able to give something back is one of the driving forces behind my decision to take part in this gruelling training programme.

Whilst I still regard my fellow runner Peter Morrison as a friend, it is going to be a long time before I trust him when he says he has this "great idea". After spending 6 months pounding up and down the not too gentle hills of East Lothian, I am now looking forward to the relative flat of New York - I may feel differently on Monday 2nd November as I am recovering on the red-eye back to Scotland. Good luck everyone!!