I have a place in the Edinburgh Marathon, Sunday 11th June, 2006. Approximately six months from now.

At this point in time, I can run for about 25 - 30 minutes on the treadmill at the gym. This is about 2½ miles. At the end, I feel like I'm literally about to expire.

When I got the email to say I had a confirmed place, I felt excited and terrified. How the hell am I going to go from 2 miles to 26 miles in six months? I've been doing some research, and without exception, everything I've read says that a marathon should not be attempted without at least a year's solid running experience behind you. At least. This, apparently, is in order to build up a certain level of muscular strength, endurance and mental stamina. Any less than this, and the risk of injury, possibly permanent, is very high. One book described it as 'almost inevitable' that anyone launching straight into marathon training from scratch will spend most of the programme battling various injuries.

I don't really like being told what I can and can't do.

I'll be fine.

I am going to run a marathon next year.