THE closer it gets to the big day the less of a good idea it seems to be running this year’s London Marathon.

Having completed it four times before I know exactly what will soon be coming my way but that only adds to my apprehension.

You see I am far from a natural runner.

I struggled with anything further than 400 metres at school and possess about as much spring and bounce as a clapped out old mattress.

But that makes the challenge even greater and means reaching the finishing line, still in one piece, is hugely difficult.

The first few miles are great and even the most miserable of people cannot help but be caught up by the atmosphere which creates an adrenaline surge like nothing else I have ever experienced before.

You suddenly become some kind of Beyonce wannabe and slap hands with the thousands of supporters reaching out from the side of the pavement.

Fast forward three hours though and even the side of the pavement seems an incredible distance to travel.

You start to ache in places you never knew were possible caked in Vaseline, you lose track of where you are and become incredibly emotional.

And, just when you think it cannot get any worse, you find yourself overtaken by somebody in a hideous fancy dress costume.

Now fair play to those running in unique attire but words cannot express how it feels being passed by a giant Bob the Builder or having an epic hour long battle with a camel along the Embankment.

Yes, I would have got the hump if I had lost, but that feeling of euphoria when the finishing line is in sight eventually makes up for the mental and physical suffering.

And it is that fantastic feeling which keeps on drawing me back.

Training this time around has been quite straight forward and I have managed to avoid too many mishaps.

In the past while running I have got lost, fallen in dog poo, made friends with a dog who then ran with me for six miles and collapsed outside Anne Summers in Southend high-street in incidents which would have been well suited to a Miranda style television show.

There have, of course, been a few hiccups including ripping my shorts and singing out too loud to 5ive when unexpectedly confronted by a group of strangers around the next corner!

But I am about as prepared as possible and, above all else, I am thrilled to have already raised more than £5,300 for Havens Hospices.

Now it is just about making sure I get round.

I am not too concerned how long it takes just as long as I do it.

After all, I can always do what I did last time and find someone with the same name who ran it much faster!

>Chris can be sponsored for the marathon online at www.justgiving.com/cjp1982

>Chris is also being sponsored for this year's London Marathon by FWG, now part of BTMK Solicitors. They now have new offices at 1 Church Hill in Leigh on Sea.