Having policed Brighton for over 20 years, on and off, I thought I knew every hill there was. Therefore when I saw the marathon route early last year, despite never having run one before I thought: "Easy, I can do that - its all so flat." Well either I needed to get out more (what police officer doesn't) or someone has been sneakly changing the topography of this great city!

I am told I am not allowed to call my decision to run in the marathon as a mid life crisis, apparently it's a 'mid life transition' - I bet on April 19 it will feel like the mother of all crises.

Having just got over an IT Band injury which flared up in the Beacon Half (no, I didn't know I had an IT Band either, nor that it could get injured!), I am now back on track trying to build up my mileage steadily, but in time for the big day.

I'm running for the wonderful St Barnabas Hospice where my late father was looked after before he died. They, and the marathon organisers are both having pasta parties on the night before. Not sure whether I should do both and be well fuelled for the race or whether that would be just greedy. I do seem to be burning off the calories at the moment so maybe I should go for it - what do you think?